How PSYONIC’s Bionic Hand Empowers People and Gives Dexterity to Humanoid Robots
Automated Podcast 54:50
4,660 views · 21 likes Watch on YouTube ↗
From lab experiments to NASA’s Valkyrie, Aadeel Akhtar is leading a new wave of robotics that puts people first.
What began as a University of Illinois engineering project has grown into a startup aimed at improving lives.
Psyonic CEO Aadeel Ahktar discusses the company’s journey from human prosthesis to humanoid manipulation.
Discover how PSYONIC’s bionic hand went from empowering amputees to powering humanoid robots and what it means for the future of human + machine design.
Key Moments
00:00 – The Robocop moment: pride, power, and owning the bionic narrative
02:00 – From pre-med to prosthetics: merging medicine and engineering
04:30 – The trip to Pakistan that changed everything
06:10 – How a patient made a pinch for the first time in 35 years
09:00 – Teaching AI to understand muscle signals
12:00 – Learning to be a CEO: from lab to startup
13:30 – When 3D printing meets real-world durability
16:45 – Soft robotics and the breakthrough in compliant design
18:56 – Why PSYONIC’s hands can survive impacts and dryers
19:50 – Making bionics affordable and globally accessible
22:00 – NASA Valkyrie and the crossover between prosthetics and humanoids
25:00 – The startup grind: raising capital, storytelling, and resilience
33:00 – From human hands to superhuman robotics
37:00 – Science fiction meets reality: Comic-Con and cultural change
42:00 – Shark Tank, viral media, and what visibility means for innovation
46:00 – Crowdfunding, creativity, and keeping accessibility core
51:00 – $200 in the bank to a $200K grant: startup survival story
Connect with Aadeel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aadeelakhtar/
Learn how Psyonic is helping: https://www.psyonic.io/philanthropy
Psyonic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@psyonicinc
Sharktank episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saQV4F-rJz8
Hacksmith Industries vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMjrr87sVjo
MKBHD vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTs8wnMsh0k
60 Minutes episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YktLFrcBmI
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@automate.org.
You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automate.org/podcast.
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation. Subscribe today on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
You can also find us on:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/
Subscribe to the Automated Newsletter: https://www.automate.org/automation/newsletter-automation-roundup
What began as a University of Illinois engineering project has grown into a startup aimed at improving lives.
Psyonic CEO Aadeel Ahktar discusses the company’s journey from human prosthesis to humanoid manipulation.
Discover how PSYONIC’s bionic hand went from empowering amputees to powering humanoid robots and what it means for the future of human + machine design.
Key Moments
00:00 – The Robocop moment: pride, power, and owning the bionic narrative
02:00 – From pre-med to prosthetics: merging medicine and engineering
04:30 – The trip to Pakistan that changed everything
06:10 – How a patient made a pinch for the first time in 35 years
09:00 – Teaching AI to understand muscle signals
12:00 – Learning to be a CEO: from lab to startup
13:30 – When 3D printing meets real-world durability
16:45 – Soft robotics and the breakthrough in compliant design
18:56 – Why PSYONIC’s hands can survive impacts and dryers
19:50 – Making bionics affordable and globally accessible
22:00 – NASA Valkyrie and the crossover between prosthetics and humanoids
25:00 – The startup grind: raising capital, storytelling, and resilience
33:00 – From human hands to superhuman robotics
37:00 – Science fiction meets reality: Comic-Con and cultural change
42:00 – Shark Tank, viral media, and what visibility means for innovation
46:00 – Crowdfunding, creativity, and keeping accessibility core
51:00 – $200 in the bank to a $200K grant: startup survival story
Connect with Aadeel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aadeelakhtar/
Learn how Psyonic is helping: https://www.psyonic.io/philanthropy
Psyonic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@psyonicinc
Sharktank episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saQV4F-rJz8
Hacksmith Industries vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMjrr87sVjo
MKBHD vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTs8wnMsh0k
60 Minutes episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YktLFrcBmI
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@automate.org.
You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automate.org/podcast.
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation. Subscribe today on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
You can also find us on:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/
Subscribe to the Automated Newsletter: https://www.automate.org/automation/newsletter-automation-roundup
Playback is via YouTube's official embedded player. Data from YouTube; Exumo is not affiliated with YouTube.