Learn about open source robotics company Willow Garage, a leading edge risk-taker on PBS: America Revealed. Follow the company on Twitter @willowgarage.
Steve Cousins is CEO at Willow Garage in California. Willow Garage makes personalized robots, robots that do chores, such as load the dishwasher or take the dog for a walk. America Revealed host, Yul Kwon, met with Steve and some of the android creations at Willow Garage.
Steve explains to Yul how taking risks and investing in future technologies is what drives manufacturing forward.
America Revealed is a unique look at what makes America tick, what it takes to keeps the biggest food machine in the world going, the delicate balance that keeps our supermarkets stocked with groceries and fast food restaurants supplied with fries. How we keep America moving with its vast and complex transport systems. How we propel ourselves through energy, what maintains the constant supply of fuel and electricity to our homes and businesses and finally how we keep up with the ever changing world, the import and export infrastructure that shapes our manufacturing industry.
All of this original data visualization is used to demonstrate how our systems work, discovered by looking through the eyes of individuals who all play a part in keeping America fed, moving, powered and making goods.
The series is presented by technology expert and communications attorney, Yul Kwon, but we probably know him better as the winner of Survivor: Cook Islands 2006.
Missy Schmidt
Since early 2012, Missy has directed marketing for xTuple business management software, including the global user conference, inbound and outbound content marketing, lead generation, sales campaigns, website design and digital strategies. She has ties to the business and economic development, startup and entrepreneurial communities in Virginia and nationally. Prior to joining xTuple, Missy was VP of strategic communication and marketing for Hampton Roads Partnership, a public-private corporation that worked to improve the region's economy within the international marketplace. Before that, Missy spent 25+ in sales, including product development, within the industries of telecommunications, retail, industrial food service, government contracting, contract packaging and manufacturing. Missy holds a B.S. from James Madison University. She and her husband, Bert, who is president and CEO of WHRO Public Media, reside in the "innovation corridor" of downtown Norfolk.