# 21. AI Rescues Firefighters, NASA Prints Spacecraft Parts, Plug & Play Prosthetics

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-06-08
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasas-ultrasonic-additive-manufacturing-plug-play-prosthetics-THjTp2oR

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss three engineering stories: an AI model by NIST that predicts flashover in fires using sensor data and simulations; NASA’s use of ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) via subcontractor Fibrosnic to create complex, dissimilar-metal heat exchangers; and Levitate, a company founded by an amputee in partnership with the Technical University of Denmark, which offers affordable, plug-and-play athletic prosthetics using proprietary composite materials.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics#t=0) Introduction and NIST Flashover AI
- [3:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics#t=205) NIST Simulation and Real-World Testing
- [9:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics#t=593) NASA Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing
- [16:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics#t=979) Levitate Prosthetics and Business Model

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- NIST (company)
- NASA (company)
- Fibrosnic (company)
- Levitate (company)
- Technical University of Denmark (company)
- Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [A.I. in Additive Manufacturing with Omar Fergani of 1000 Kelvin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2024-04-09-a-i-in-additive-manufacturing-with-omar-fergani-of-1000-kelvin) (Additive Snack)
- [Ep 207: Modular Furniture, Plastic Prosthetics, and Your Data on YouTube](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-02-24-ep-207-modular-furniture-plastic-prosthetics-and-your-data-on-youtube) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [NASA Update: Master Class, Alloys, AI & the Future Engineering Generations](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-08-06-nasa-update-master-class-alloys-ai-the-future-engineering-generations) (Additive Snack)
- [How NASA is Leveraging AM to Accelerate Space Exploration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-02-16-how-nasa-is-leveraging-am-to-accelerate-space-exploration) (Additive Snack)
- [From Hypersonics to AI Workflows: How Ursa Major Is Scaling Rocket Production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

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