Building Blocks
Building Blocks is a podcast by Granite Asia that deconstructs how innovation transforms industries, society, and the systems we live in. Each season dives into a timely theme, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to discuss how technology can drive progress.
The first season, Living Machines, focuses on the convergence of AI and automation—how intelligent systems are reshaping industries from healthcare to logistics, energy to manufacturing. The series goes beyond the technology itself, exploring how AI-driven automation can be harnessed to create more efficient, resilient, and human-centric systems.
Building Blocks
Inside the Mind Behind Singapore’s Smartest Robots
Can a robot save lives — or learn from a spider?
In this episode of Building Blocks – Living Machines, host Rita Yang sits down with Prof. Mohan Rajesh Elara, Provost Chair Professor at SUTD and Co-founder of LionsBot, Singapore’s home-grown robotics company.
From a dragonfly robot that traps dengue-carrying mosquitoes to a spider-inspired machine that crawls, rolls, and climbs walls, Prof. Mohan shows how nature is quietly shaping the next generation of automation. Together, they discuss how bio-inspired design leads to smarter, more adaptive robots — and how the rise of AI-powered machines can still keep humans at the center.
They also explore his journey from researcher to entrepreneur, scaling thousands of robots globally, and why he believes the future of robotics is not about replacing people but creating new jobs, compassion, and creativity.
🎧 Listen to how living machines are learning from life itself.
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