Robotics is entering a new era of AI-driven automation, where machines must not only act intelligently but also see intelligently. Today’s optical systems — with fixed optics and mechanical beam steering — limit speed, reliability, and scalability. These constraints are especially visible in large-scale operations like warehouses and manufacturing facilities, where global leaders such as Amazon are now deploying millions of autonomous robots.

This talk introduces programmable optical semiconductors, a transformative approach that makes light as adaptable as software. With Light Control Metasurfaces (LCMs), vision systems dynamically reconfigure scan patterns and regions of interest in real time. This enables robots to self-optimize their perception, adapt to changing environments, and support multiple tasks — all with a single sensor platform.

Topics covered will include:

• Overcoming mechanical and fixed-optics limitations in robotic vision.

• How software-defined scanning enables more reliable, efficient, and safer robotics.

• Scaling 3D perception across diverse industrial environments using a single, chip-based platform.

• Lessons from large-scale deployments driving the next wave of intelligent automation.

Attendees will gain a forward-looking view of how programmable optics will power the next generation of AI-driven robotics, reshaping industries and infrastructure worldwide.

Speaker

Sam Heidari CEO Lumotive (United States)

Sam Heidari brings over 30 years of leadership experience across a range of technology sectors. He is currently the CEO of Lumotive and serves on the board of Morse Micro. His previous roles include CEO and Chairman of Quantenna Communications, CEO of Doradus Technologies, CTO of Ikanos, and Venture Partner at Cota Capital.

Dr. Heidari has contributed significantly to the tech industry, serving on the Global Semiconductor Alliance Board of Directors and the advisory boards for the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments at the University of Southern California.

His achievements have earned him numerous recognitions, including 2014 Executive of the Year by the Golden Bridge Awards, finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, and 2017 Executive of the Year by UBM. A senior member of IEEE, Dr. Heidari holds more than 50 U.S. and international patents.

He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University.

 

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Event Details

FORMAT: Oral presentation followed by audience Q&A.
MENU: Coffee, decaf, tea and water will be available nearby.
SETUP: Theater seating.