There’s a New Robot in Town!

How did you come to Menlo?

After 2 years of studying mechanical engineering in New York, and 4 years of robotics and manufacturing development at Tesla, I decided to finish my bachelor’s degree. Menlo offers a great entrepreneurship program so I quit Tesla to go back to school full time and so far I’m loving my experience here. I’ve even considered switching to an accounting major to better equip myself with a skillset that will help me manage my own businesses.

Tell us about your company.

Fueled by our passion for robotics and AI, my friend and I founded Dystopia Robotics in September of 2021. We initially aimed to create an autonomous robot dog with an arm that could be used for virtually anything, but particularly for use as a mobile security and surveillance robot that could also take packages inside the home. We soon realized that the market was not ready for such a creation, but then we discovered another thing the robot could do. The land adjacent to airport runways was in need of surveillance to monitor for wildlife such as bird nests (to avoid potential bird strikes upon aircraft takeoff) and to monitor the secured perimeter of airports.

How did you sell your first robots?

After this discovery of a market ready for a robotic product that we could offer, we reached out to several airports, who could save money and effort by using a few of our robots rather than employing a whole team to watch screens and ride expensive golf carts. Our robots were far more accurate, efficient, and safer to use near runways than people. We partnered with another company that develops AI for autonomous vehicles and began redeveloping our own robots to endure the harsh conditions of the outdoors. An airport in Ohio purchased six to use for security surveillance and monitoring of their perimeter.

What activities have you participated in here at Menlo?

I am an active member of the Oaks Innovation Club where we have recently set up a makerspace with various tools and machines such as 3D printers and laser cutters. I also provide sound systems, lighting equipment, and DJ various events from OAKtoberFest to student-hosted festivals.