John Gruber nails it in a recent Daring Fireball post. He refers to a news item quoting incoming Apple CEO John Ternus saying Apple has always shipped products, not technologies. Steven Levy writing in Wired ripped Ternus for not laying out a plan to ship AI. But AI is a technology. Apple will continue to add AI into products that we will find useful and enjoyable.
Check my preceding blog post about “Physical AI” humanoid robots at the upcoming Automate show. Looking at that market, A3 president Jeff Burnstein told me that the developers are throwing out a technology hoping users will find a use. The major AI companies are doing the same thing. Flailing around searching for a market to justify billion-dollar investments.
I was taught, and still believe, that product development means looking for potential user pain points and solving them with a product probably using the latest technologies.
Few trade show/conferences exist in our market anymore. I attend only a few of them. I will be at Automate at Chicago’s McCormick Place next month. If you’d like to meet for a coffee and chat while I’m there, send me a note.
I will see Keegan (didn’t get the proper spelling). I walk into a Starbucks in Elgin, IL Thursday for my doppio espresso with cinnamon and spot a guy wearing a Cognex shirt. Turns out he works for them and will be at Automate. They have lots of new products to show, he told me. Stop by and say hi (not a paid announcement).
As an aside, you should get used to the term “physical AI” replacing the old term “robotics.” I’m hearing that often.
The first thing Burnstein promoted for the show was humanoid robots. Check out the pavilion and forum that Nvidia sponsoring. A3 have an annual conference on humanoids. There will be much to discuss.
I asked about applications. I talked with the general manager of a company division designing and building humanoids. I asked him why. His reply, “These are build for bench assembly tasks, and existing benches are designed for humans. Rather than rebuild an assembly station, just buy a robot built to human dimensions.”
Back to Burnstein, “Companies are putting the technology out there hoping for customers to find applications.” I may have written recently this idea concerning the AI LLM product mindset—instead of searching for a customer need and designing a solution, we produce a solution and hope that customers will discover applications. I’m interested in pursuing these inquiries during my time at the show.
Burnstein further commented, “AI is moving more rapidly than we expected.”
He told me that A3, the organization, is doing a lot with government, testifying before Congress and working with agencies. An official of the US Dept. Of Commerce will be speaking at Automate. A3 are pushing for a government central strategy for development and application of robots, to incentivize adoption. This should be a national priority since right now China dwarfs us in the manufacture and application of robots. Further, government also as a major user, lots of applications. Part of the personal initiatives is sales. Government can also stimulate companies to build robots here.
Why the push on robots? Major shortage of workers. Burnstein told me currently the number is 438K. Analysts state the shortage could be 1.38M by 2033.
A3 encourages government to invest in university and private research. This was an interesting comment given I’d just read a blog post by Kevin Meyer regarding the current administration efforts to cut such funding.
He concluded with a request for people to accelerate robotic safety standards for humanoids.
Automate 2026 At-a-Glance
North America’s largest robotics and automation event
June 22-25 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Free to the public (ages 12 and up)
50,000+ attendees, 1,000 exhibitors, 450,000 sq. ft. show floor
Automate brings together automation professionals from around the world to explore the latest technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, motion control, and industrial automation.
For more information and to register for Automate 2026, visit automateshow.com.
Facts about A3:
For more than five decades, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA-Advancing Vision + Imaging (AIA), and the Motion Control and Motors Association (MCMA), along with A3 Mexico, have played a key role in helping automation technologies become among the most critical tools of the 21st Century. As these technologies have converged, our association has had a convergence of its own. We are now the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), one trade group for the entire automation ecosystem.
Here’s a chance to meet me and share your thoughts about what I should really be writing about. Plus getting the latest updates from Inductive Automation and its partners.
The Ignition Community Conference, ICC2026, will be held again in Sacramento September 22-24. Tickets are now available. See you there.
This news release falls clearly into the category of Duh!!!
Human social engineering and humans gaining unauthorized access while serving as contractors and the like have long been known to be a cybersecurity risk. But, I’m happy to note that an august group has perceived the obvious.
The Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG) has released a joint industry perspective highlighting a critical truth in industrial cybersecurity: secure communication is not determined by protocols alone, but by how they are deployed and managed in real-world environments.
Or, maybe, it’s along the lines of “it’s not all our fault?”
The ISHG—comprising leading industry organizations including the FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International—collaborates regularly to align security concepts across Ethernet and non-Ethernet communication protocol technologies. Their shared mission is to reduce complexity for end users and promote consistent, effective cybersecurity practices in industrial automation systems.
I once set at an industrial communication organization meeting where an end-user pleaded for application guidelines. He was studiously ignored.
Industrial communication protocols serve as the backbone of modern automation, enabling seamless connectivity between devices, systems, and applications across both process and factory environments. However, many widely used protocols were originally developed without cybersecurity as a primary design consideration.
It now emphasizes a more practical and realistic approach:
Security is context-dependent — It relies on how protocols are configured, where they are deployed, and the surrounding operational environment.
Built-in security features are not sufficient alone — Even advanced protocols require correct implementation and maintenance.
Compensating controls are essential — Network architecture, segmentation (zones and conduits), monitoring, and physical safeguards play a critical role, especially for legacy and non-Ethernet systems.
Most of the time this blog traces new technologies or products.
Sometimes I come across thinking about current events that troubles me. These are things I’d like to pass on as thought experiments for you. Or perhaps bring to realization something you just pass by.
One reason I quit watching TV news decades ago, aside from an acute dislike of emotional manipulation, was the answer to this question—Do I really need to know that?
First Banksy and then Satoshi. Something about their unmasking is not sitting right with me. I am bothered by it. I am annoyed by it. And even more annoyed with myself because as a former journalist I should understand, but I don’t. I am referring to Reuters’s meticulous investigation and unmasking of Banksy, and John Carreyrou’s in-depth report labeling Adam Back as Satoshi, the creator of Bitcoin.
Both investigations are technically impressive. Both raised the same question I keep turning over: what exactly was accomplished here, and for whom?
The journalist gets a career-defining scoop. The subject loses something they can never recover. Anonymity, once broken, doesn’t come back. There’s no correction that restores it.
Aside from the ego of the reporter, was any good derived from this? How much do we see or read that really adds to the quality of my life?
There are things and events that I really do need to know about. That makes news media such a conundrum. In electrical engineering we discuss finding the signal amidst the noise. That is the problem. I need the signal. But finding it amongst all the noise is distressing.
I try to provide maximum signal with minimum noise. I hope I generally succeed.
I have been involved with recycling since the mid-80s. I hate waste—whether as in Lean or as in throwing stuff away. This news came to me from a company called Woodchuck—a clever play on words since they recycle wood. Also a good example of effective use of AI.
Grand Rapids, Michigan – March 24, 2026 – Woodchuck, the AI-powered climate-tech startup redefining how construction and manufacturing industries handle wood waste, today announced a joint sustainability initiative with Walbridge, one of the nation’s top industrial and automotive constructors. The program supports Ford Motor Company’s construction waste-reduction efforts at its new manufacturing facility in Marshall, Mich.
In the first three months, the program has given teams a clearer view of the materials being discarded, diversion rates, cost reductions, and operational efficiency — already achieving 40% of the project’s projected materials-related savings. This early progress offers Walbridge a powerful solution to address customers’ waste management needs and lays the groundwork for a new standard operating procedure for future large-scale construction projects.
A Legacy Builder Confronts a Modern Waste Challenge
For more than a century, Walbridge has delivered some of the most complex automotive and industrial projects in North America. As Walbridge’s customers expand their sustainability commitments, construction waste management is a growing priority — particularly on megaprojects where the volume and variability of materials can shift daily.
On the Ford project, wood waste quickly emerged as one of the most unpredictable waste elements. Crating, dunnage, international shipping pallets, and custom rigging arrived in wide-ranging sizes and material types, creating a diverse and constantly changing waste stream.
These complexities revealed opportunities for innovation. Walbridge saw the potential to elevate efficiency, reduce hauling expenses, and strengthen alignment with Ford’s sustainability goals. The need for real-time visibility into container levels and the makeup of each load became a catalyst for adopting a smarter, data-driven solution — one that made waste handling more predictable, cost-effective and sustainable.
“Our partnership with Woodchuck is built on collaboration. Transparent and real-time communication allows our team to adapt quickly to changing material waste streams on the ground. Detailed information about each load provides complete visibility not only into what is diverted from a landfill, but also into its end destination and intended use, delivering transparency and enabling measurable sustainability outcomes,” said Sander Mathijs, Walbridge Sustainability Manager. “Another key program feature is its ability to scale, allowing us to calibrate capacity and scope to meet the waste‑diversion needs of the project.”
Woodchuck’s AI Platform Delivers Immediate, Scalable Impact
Woodchuck.ai leverages its AI platform across the Ford project to track, report and validate the diversion of wood, cardboard, plastic, and metal; all with minimal onsite labor and seamless integration into Walbridge’s existing workflows.
Walbridge saw meaningful improvements within the first quarter diverting thousands of tons of wood, cardboard, plastic and metal; reducing waste, reducing landfill dependency, and reducing costs. Over the course of the project, Woodchuck will divert 8,000 tons of wood and 1,000 tons of cardboard, plastic, and metal from landfills.
Woodchuck’s detailed reporting also strengthens accountability, giving Walbridge clear data documenting recycling and reuse for both internal tracking and customer sustainability documentation.
Because the Woodchuck platform is designed for large, multi-phase construction programs, the improvements seen at the Marshall project can be replicated at scale. Whether deployed on a single megaproject or rolled out across multiple sites, contractors gain the same visibility, control, and cost efficiencies, making the solution a powerful model for nationwide waste management and sustainability performance.
“Our partnership with Woodchuck has been a game-changer,” said Ross Linton, Group Vice President, Walbridge. “In just a few short months, they’ve helped us transform our waste process to one that’s measurable, trackable, and easily managed. Our team is empowered to plan ahead, driving efficiency and sustainability. We’re excited about the future possibilities this collaboration brings.”
Creating a New Standard for Future Walbridge Projects
Based on early results, Walbridge expects the Woodchuck-enabled process to become a foundation for future large-scale builds across automotive, manufacturing, technology, and advanced industrial sectors.
“Walbridge is demonstrating what it looks like when a contractor treats waste as a strategic input rather than an afterthought,” said Todd Thomas, CEO of Woodchuck. “By embracing real-time data, AI-enabled insights, and a commitment to measurable sustainability outcomes, they’re proving that smarter waste management isn’t just good for the environment — it’s good for productivity, cost efficiency, and project certainty. Their leadership on Ford’s Marshall project shows what’s possible when innovation becomes part of the construction workflow, and they’re setting the pace for how the industry will operate going forward.”
About Woodchuck
Woodchuck is a climate impact start-up dedicated to empowering contractors, manufacturers, and biomass energy producers by streamlining wood waste diversion and processing. We are committed to leveraging advanced AI technologies to transform waste into valuable resources, reduce landfill usage, and provide a steady, sustainable supply of biomass. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Woodchuck is funded by an investor syndicate led by Mason Fink, Beckett Industries, NorthStar Clean Energy and Alloy Partners. For more information, visit https://woodchuck.ai/.
About Walbridge
Walbridge is one of America’s largest privately held construction companies founded in Detroit in 1916. The company offers construction management, engineering, and real estate services for customers in manufacturing, hyperscale data centers, automotive, defense, higher education, health care, and government. Walbridge employs more than 1,500 professionals in North America. Visit www.walbridge.com or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.
Process Description
Woodchuck uses AI in two fundamentally different—but tightly connected—ways: at the job site and in the data layer. Together, they turn what was once an opaque, manual waste process into a real-time, measurable system.
1. AI at the Job Site: Shifting Sorting to the Beginning. Traditionally, construction waste sorting happens after the dumpster is full—if it happens at all.
That process is:
Manual and labor-intensive
Expensive to perform at scale
Logistically inefficient
Often skipped entirely
The result? Most mixed construction debris—especially wood—ends up in landfills, even when it could have been reused or converted into energy.
Woodchuck flips this model.
Instead of waiting until the end, Woodchuck uses AI-enabled image recognition at the point of disposal:
As materials are placed into dumpsters, cameras and sensors identify what’s being thrown away
The system distinguishes wood from other materials in real time
It guides proper usage of containers and flags contamination early
This front-end sorting approach changes everything:
Reduces contamination before it becomes a problem
Eliminates the need for costly post-collection sorting
Increases diversion rates dramatically (from <30% to >95%)
Ensures clean wood streams that can be converted into renewable biomass
In short, AI moves sorting from a reactive, end-of-process activity to a proactive, in-the-moment decision.
2. AI in the Data Layer: Turning Waste into Intelligence
Once materials are collected, Woodchuck’s platform continues to track and analyze everything that happens next. This is where the second layer of AI comes in: data aggregation, modeling, and reporting.
Through its dashboard, Woodchuck provides construction companies, developers, and asset owners with full visibility into their waste streams, including:
Material tracking
Exactly how much wood was collected, where it came from, and how it was processed
End-of-life transparency
Clear documentation showing where the material went—whether to biomass facilities or other reuse pathways
Carbon impact metrics
Precise calculations of:
CO₂e emissions avoided from landfill diversion
Carbon benefits from renewable energy generation
Energy output conversion
How much renewable energy was produced from their waste (e.g., BTUs generated, equivalent homes powered)
Operational insights
Trends across projects, contamination rates, and opportunities to improve efficiency
This transforms waste reporting from a rough estimate into a verified, auditable dataset—something increasingly critical for:
ESG reporting
Regulatory compliance
Winning sustainability-driven bids
Internal performance benchmarking
3. From Waste Management to a Measurable System
What makes Woodchuck different is not just the use of AI—it’s where and how it’s applied:
At the edge (job site): AI drives behavior change and improves material quality in real time
In the platform (dashboard): AI converts operational data into financial, environmental, and strategic insights
The result is a closed-loop system where:
Waste is captured correctly from the start
Materials are tracked through their full lifecycle
Outcomes are quantified and reported with precision
Construction companies no longer have to guess what happened to their waste—or treat it as a cost center.
They can see it, measure it, and increasingly, use it as a source of savings, energy, and competitive advantage.
Check out the sidebar ad about the Carbon Almanac. Written and edited by a hundred volunteers, this book contains many ways to help solve the carbon waste problem.
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