Symbotic, a leader in AI-driven robotics for the supply chain, has appointed Dr. James Kuffner as its new Chief Technology Officer, following the retirement of George Dramalis. In this role, Dr. Kuffner will oversee the advancement of Symbiotic technologies and lead efforts to drive the company’s long-term growth strategy. Dr. Kuffner brings more than 30 years of expertise in robotics, having held key roles at Toyota, Google, and Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute. His extensive background in robotics and software development is expected to contribute significantly to Symbotic’s innovation.
Dr. Kuffner has a notable track record, including 125 publications and 40 patents in robotics, 3D graphics, and autonomous vehicles. He is particularly recognized as the co-inventor of the Rapidly Exploring Random Tree algorithm, a key development in robot motion planning. Before joining Symbotic, Dr. Kuffner served as a Senior Fellow at Toyota Motor Corporation, where he led the Software Development Center and held various leadership positions, including Chief Digital Officer. Symbotic CEO Rick Cohen expressed excitement about Dr. Kuffner’s appointment. “James is a visionary leader whose cutting-edge research and development have accelerated the world’s technological solutions. We are excited to welcome him to Symbotic and look forward to his development of innovative solutions that will unlock Symbotic’s next phase of growth,” he said.
