Rob Whitten

Robert Whitten is the co-founder of p!ng, an autonomous coffee shop drive-thru powered by automation and physical AI. p!ng delivers personalized beverages with speed and convenience, perfect for life on the go. Driven by a desire to fundamentally change the drive-thru experience after many frustrating visits to quick service restaurants with his three daughters, Rob’s mission is to transform the industry with automation. With a degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Master’s in Program Management, Robert has successfully led teams in solving complex challenges across the defense, consumer electronics, and e-commerce industries. After his military service, Robert took on key roles at BAE Systems, iRobot, SharkNinja, and Amazon Robotics, working on advancements in autonomous manipulation, robotics sortation, and grocery automation. He was also the owner and operator of his breakfast food truck, Morning Salute, for several years.