Contact

I frequently speak at conferences and with media outlets about topics including robotics, autonomy, machine learning, and open source. Select public speaking and media appearances:

Bio and Headshot

Melonee Wise is a globally recognized leader in robotics and automation with over two decades of experience building, scaling, and commercializing robotic systems. She brings deep expertise in hardware-software integration, go-to-market strategy, and enterprise automation, with a track record of creating transformative products across industrial and emerging markets.

Melonee currently serves as Chief Product Officer of KUKA SW & AI.

Previously she was the Chief Product Officer, where she led the product and engineering organization and strategy for the world’s first commercial bipedal humanoid robot, Digit. During her tenure, she played a key role in transitioning Agility from a R&D company to a commercial robotics solution provider, helping to define the product roadmap, scale engineering operations, and drive customer-facing solutions. Melonee also led the creation of ISO 25785, a new international safety standard for humanoid robotics.

Prior to this, she was VP & GM of Robotics Automation at Zebra Technologies, where she integrated and scaled Fetch Robotics following its acquisition.

As the founder and former CEO of Fetch Robotics, she led the development of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that reshaped warehouse and logistics automation. Under her leadership, Fetch became a category-defining company and was acquired by Zebra Technologies in 2021.

Melonee was a foundational contributor to Willow Garage, where she helped develop ROS, TurtleBot, and PR2—platforms that catalyzed the modern robotics ecosystem. She also co-founded Unbounded Robotics and has served in multiple industry leadership roles, including chairing the International Federation of Robotics’ Service Robotics Group.

She is a recipient of the Engelberger Robotics Award, recognized by MIT Technology Review’s TR35, and a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned degrees in mechanical engineering and physics.

Headshot

melonee.wise [at] kuka [dot] com

Press or media inquiries: press [at] kuka [dot] com

Melonee Wise
Former CEO of Fetch Robotics. I have been designing, building, and programming robotic systems for the last 20 years. If you'd like to talk robots, send me an email.