The “Working at Rapyuta” series celebrates some of the best minds at Rapyuta Robotics. Through interviews with employees, we bring you the real story that you won’t find elsewhere
Vol. 1
Yu Okamoto – Senior Software Engineer (Simulation)
For this interview, we would like to introduce Yu Okamoto, who works in the engineering team.
>Hello, Yu. You work in the Simulation Squad. What kind of work did you do before you began working at Rapyuta Robotics?
Previously, I worked at Yaskawa Electric corporation’s research laboratory, where I researched motion control and automation technologies. I joined Rapyuta Robotics in 2015, partly because a senior colleague from my university research lab was a friend of Rapyuta Robotics co-founder and CFO, Arul.
>At that time, Rapyuta Robotics was not yet developing logistics robots such as AMR, right?
Yes, Rapyuta Robotics was mainly developing drones when I joined the company. I was looking for a new opportunity because I wanted to study a wide range of robotics-related technologies and I was attracted to the company’s expertise in robotics and cloud computing. Since then, our main target has changed from drones to logistics and I feel that this change has allowed me to dig even deeper into my expertise.
To explain why I was interested in the field of robotics in the first place is that I always think, “I wish I didn’t have to work and a robot would do this for me.” Then I could always spend my time doing what I want. To create such a future, I think the only way is to develop the field of robotics. To create my ideal future, I am focussing on making robots accessible. People around me say that I am a workaholic.
>What exactly are you developing now at Rapyuta Robotics?
We are developing simulators for robots. It is a technology that can be used on the “rapyuta.io” cloud robotics platform and can configure simulations for multiple robots in the cloud.
As you can see in this video, it is possible to simulate the movements of multiple robots in the cloud. Using the resources of the cloud, even if you don’t have an expensive PC in hand, you will be able to verify the movements of 10 or more robots for robot development and calculate the cost-effectiveness of introducing robots. (He presented a ” Distributed robotics simulator with Unreal Engine” at ROSCon JP that was held in Kyoto, Japan this October)
>What is your impression of Rapyuta Robotics as a technologically interesting place to work?
I had never worked at a startup with global members like Rapyuta Robotics before, so I was a bit confused about communicating in English at first. I went to Switzerland for training right after joining the company. I stayed at the India office of Rapyuta Robotics for about three months while I managed to catch up on my English as well as my understanding of rapyuta.io.
Now that I am better at communicating, I feel comfortable with the flatness that only a global organization can offer. I also find it rewarding to be entrusted with a wider range of work than in a large corporation. In a large company, because there are so many people, you tend to specialize in a certain field and deepen your work in that field, working vertically.
For example, the same goes for technology, and while working at Rapyuta Robotics, I was able to learn about drones, AMR, robotic arms, system integration, cloud computing, and simulation.
I would like to further increase my range with “rapyuta.io”, which aims to connect with a wide variety of robots in the future.
> Thank you, Yu! Lastly, do you have a message for potential recruits at Rapyuta?
Rapyuta Robotics is an opportunity for robotics engineers to experience cloud technology and for cloud engineers to experience robotics.
We are taking on so many different challenges that it is hard to believe that we are a startup. An environment where you can think across technologies and focus on your areas of interest among them is an attractive place to work. If you are interested, please come and talk with our robots.
Thank you very much, Yu!
We’re hiring!
