# Robots Everywhere with Aaed Musa

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2026-01-20
- Length: 58m
- Episode: 712
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/712-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=0) Introduction: Aaed Musa and Robotics Background
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=218) The State of Humanoid and Quadrupedal Robotics
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=353) Actuator Design: Brushless Motors and Gearboxes
- [9:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=563) Quasi Direct Drive and FOC Controllers
- [13:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=808) Sensing and Precision: Ball Balancing Robot
- [18:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=1133) Capstan Drives: Rope, Dyneema, and Zero Backlash
- [23:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=1426) 3D Printing vs. Machining in Design Process
- [28:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=1689) Engineering Education and Purdue Experience
- [34:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=2048) Electronics, Libraries, and Reusing Code
- [39:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=2346) AI, ChatGPT, and Modern Engineering Tools
- [48:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa#t=2897) Kara 2.0: Open Source Quadrupedal Robot

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Kara (product)
- Spot (product)
- Atlas (product)
- Figure One X (product)
- Tesla (company)
- MIT Mini Cheetah (product)
- Dyneema DM20 (material)
- FOC (tool)
- ChatGPT (tool)
- Purdue (other)
- James Bruton (other)
- Mark Rober (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [534: I Think We'll Add a Head](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-17-534-i-think-well-add-a-head) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep037: 2 Flavors of Robot Dog, Fitness Tracker Hacks, Clocks Wind Themselves, Helicopter Chainsaws](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-09-27-ep037-2-flavors-of-robot-dog-fitness-tracker-hacks-clocks-wind-themselves-helico) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [The Robot Report Podcast Ep. 1: Agility Robotics on Legged Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-06-02-the-robot-report-podcast-ep-1-agility-robotics-on-legged-robotics) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [142: New and Improved Appendages (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-20-142-new-and-improved-appendages-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [201: Accidentally Incredibly Dangerous](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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