Hardware Podcasts

Robots Everywhere with Aaed Musa

The Amp Hour · 20 Jan 2026 · 58m · Episode 712

What this episode covers

Aaed Musa, a mechanical engineering student at Purdue and YouTuber, explains how he builds low-cost quadrupedal robots like 'Kara' using off-the-shelf brushless motors and custom 3D-printed capstan drives to achieve high precision with zero backlash. He details the engineering trade-offs between torque, speed, and cost, noting that optimizing these factors allows him to build a robot for $1,300, significantly cheaper than commercial equivalents like Boston Dynamics' Spot. Musa also discusses the importance of integration in robotics, the role of AI in simplifying kinematics, and how his hands-on projects serve as a practical portfolio for his career.

Most relevant to

founders before launch

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Boston Dynamics, Tesla
Products
Kara, Spot, Atlas, Figure One X, MIT Mini Cheetah
Tools
FOC, ChatGPT
Materials
Dyneema DM20
Also
Purdue, James Bruton, Mark Rober

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 13m

    534: I Think We'll Add a Head

    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.

    Robotics & autonomyMaterials & manufacturing processes
    8 chapters

  • Hackaday Podcast · 56m

    Ep037: 2 Flavors of Robot Dog, Fitness Tracker Hacks, Clocks Wind Themselves, Helicopter Chainsaws

    Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss recent community hacks, including Ben Katz’s ‘Mini Cheetah’ robot dog, which uses brushless motors and planetary gears to achieve fluid movement on a budget. They also cover a Kenyan engineer’s air quality sensor for indoor pollution, a 100-year-old self-winding atomic clock synchronized via telegraph, and various other projects like 3D printed meat and fitness tracker hacks. The episode highlights the intersection of low-cost hardware innovation and practical engineering solutions.

    Robotics & autonomySensors & measurement in products
    8 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 02m

    The Robot Report Podcast Ep. 1: Agility Robotics on Legged Robotics

    Jonathan Hurst, Co-founder and CTO of Agility Robotics, discusses the engineering philosophy behind their bipedal robots, Cassie and Digit, contrasting their electric, passive-dynamic approach with Boston Dynamics' hydraulic systems. He details the evolution from the Atrius research platform to the commercial Digit V3, explaining how design choices like backwards knees and inertial actuation via arms solve stability and control authority issues. Hurst also addresses the challenges of scaling production, targeting a $35,000 price point, and current real-world testing with Ford for last-50-foot deliveries and warehouse logistics.

    Mechanical engineeringEmbedded firmware
    9 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 15m

    142: New and Improved Appendages (Repeat)

    Kinetic artist Sarah Petkus discusses her work building robotic art installations, including the 'Robot Army' of miniature Delta robots and 'Noodlefeet,' a quadruped robot designed to interact with humans. She explains her transition from illustration to mechatronics at SAIC, detailing how she used Algodoo for simulation and 3D printing for rapid iteration. Petkus also covers the business side of her hobby-turned-company, Robot Army LLC, including their Kickstarter campaign and the challenges of self-promotion as an introvert.

    Prototyping & iterationRobotics & autonomy
    9 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 20m

    201: Accidentally Incredibly Dangerous

    Shaun Meehan, an avionics lead at a stealth rocket startup, discusses his hobby of acquiring and restoring industrial robots, specifically his one-ton ABB IRB-2000 named Fred. He details the engineering challenges of building a custom FPGA-based controller for the robot, explaining the differences between stepper motors and servos, and the role of inverse kinematics in robotic motion. Meehan also shares anecdotes about the robot's destructive capabilities and his experience working in small, agile teams at companies like Planet Labs and his current rocket venture.

    Embedded firmwareMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.