Hardware Podcasts

534: I Think We'll Add a Head

Embedded.fm · 17 Sept 2026 · 1h 13m · Episode 534

AI in practice: one real use of AI described

What this episode covers

Aaed Musa, co-founder of the robotics startup Mecha and a popular YouTube creator, discusses his journey from 3D-printing servo robots in his parents' garage to designing advanced quadrupedal robots. He details the mechanical evolution from high-backlash servos to custom capstan drives using Dyneema DM20 rope, and explains how his startup uses NVIDIA Isaac Sim and reinforcement learning to train expressive, home-friendly robot dogs. Musa also shares insights on his YouTube storytelling process, the importance of industrial design in making robots approachable, and his vision for a platform-based home robot that bridges the gap between toys and industrial tools.

AI in practice

Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.

Engineering & simulationNVIDIA Isaac Simhundreds of thousands of simulations

The team used NVIDIA's simulation environment to train reinforcement learning policies for quadrupedal walking gaits, replacing hard-coded step sequences with AI-driven movement.

“In simulation, it is running many, many, many simulations, hundreds of thousands of simulations, and it is trying to hit those targets. … Over the course of every simulation, is essentially trying to hit all of those rewards. When it hits all of those rewards, then we have a functioning policy.”

Aaed Musa · Hear it at 15:50

Most relevant to

founders before launch and early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Mecha, Ghost Robotics
Products
Boston Dynamics Spot, Sony AIBO, Unitree Go2
Tools
NVIDIA Isaac Sim, OpenMV
Materials
Dyneema DM20

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