Ryan Pickens | AI Tools You Can Use Today for Hardware Development

Send us Fan MailWhat if AI could help you take a hardware product from concept to production in a fraction of the time? In this episode of Being an Engineer, Aaron Moncur sits down with Ryan Pickens, founder of Pickens Cycles and former Director of Engineering at TE Connectivity, to explore how AI is transforming the way engineers design, develop, and launch physical products. Ryan shares his journey from corporate engineering leadership to entrepreneurship, where he's using AI-powered tools to develop high-performance recumbent trikes. He discusses how tools like Zoo.dev, SimScale, and ChatGPT have accelerated everything from CAD modeling and FEA simulation to market research, product strategy, and business operations. In one example, Ryan explains how he completed a design task originally estimated to take two months in just three days. The conversation also explores the importance of engineering judgment when working with AI, the challenges of designing lightweight mechanical systems, and how engineers can start incorporating AI into their existing workflows. Whether you're developing a new product, managing an engineering team, or simply curious about practical AI applications, this episode offers real-world examples of what's possible with the tools available today.  LINKS: Ryan Pickens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-pickens-9151a811/  Pickens Cycles website: https://pickenscycles.com/ Pickens Cycle's E-Assist Finder: https://pickenscycles.com/pages/e-assist-finder  Aaron Moncur, host  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailWhat if mechanical engineers could automate motors, pneumatic actuators, and testing equipment without needing to write complex code or rely on a dedicated controls engineer? In this episode of Being An Engineer, host Aaron Moncur welcomes two members of the Pipeline Design & Engineering team: Ruben Inzunza, Director of Automation, and Mark Blakey, Senior Mechanical Engineer. Together, they take listeners behind the scenes of Easy Motion, an automation platform developed to simplify motion control and make automated testing more accessible to engineers. The journey wasn't without setbacks. Early versions of Easy Motion encountered hardware limitations, programming challenges, and integration issues that nearly brought development to a halt. Mark and Ruben share how they revisited previous engineering work, combined existing technologies, and collaborated across disciplines to overcome these obstacles. Their experience highlights the importance of rapid prototyping, learning from failure, and creating an environment where engineers feel comfortable experimenting and asking for help. The conversation also explores how Easy Motion is being used in real-world engineering applications, from automated cycle testing to production equipment. One particularly impressive example involves a customer testing solar panel tracking systems. By implementing Easy Motion, the customer reduced a testing process from approximately 10 months to just 2 months—an 80% reduction in testing time. Beyond the technology, this episode offers valuable lessons about engineering teamwork, effective communication, and knowing when to simplify a problem rather than overcomplicate a solution. Whether you're a mechanical engineer exploring automation, a controls engineer looking to streamline development, or an engineering leader trying to improve your team's efficiency, this conversation offers practical insights into building better products and accelerating innovation. Learn more about Pipeline Design & Engineering and explore Easy Motion at https://teampipeline.us/ LINKS: Mark Blakey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrblakey/ Ruben Inzunza LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-inzunza-852978110/ Website: https://teampipeline.us/ez-motion/  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailGhulam Murtaza is a Controls Project Engineer at Vanderlande with a background spanning industrial automation, robotics, controls, data science, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Vanderlande, he worked as a Senior Automation Engineer with CBRE supporting Amazon fulfillment operations, where he developed tools aimed at improving equipment reliability, troubleshooting, and maintenance efficiency. His journey into automation was far from straightforward. Growing up in Khairpur, Pakistan, Ghulam developed an early interest in computers but initially followed a different educational path. He later taught himself programming, endured multiple graduate-school rejections and visa challenges, and eventually earned a master’s degree focused on robotics and artificial intelligence from the University at Buffalo. That persistence carried into his engineering career. While working in fulfillment operations, Ghulam looked for recurring problems experienced by technicians and controls engineers and began developing his own solutions. One example was a parts lookup system that brought together information from more than 1,200 pages of vendor data with internal equipment and inventory information, allowing technicians to locate components much faster. He also developed tools for equipment monitoring and technical-document searching, including systems designed to help engineers diagnose faults without manually digging through large manuals or PLC logic. Today, Ghulam works at the intersection of traditional controls engineering and newer software technologies—PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, industrial networks, robotics, Python, AWS, data analytics, and AI. His career offers an interesting example of how controls engineers can extend their impact beyond keeping machines running and begin building scalable tools that improve how entire engineering and maintenance teams work.  LINKS: Ghulam Murtaza LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghulam-murtaza-ms/ Ghulam Murtaza website: https://gmurtaza57.github.io/TechSavvy.github.io/  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailEron Flory has built a career around turning difficult engineering problems into real products—and, increasingly, around helping other engineers learn how to do the same. His background crosses custom automation, robotics, manufacturing equipment, medical-device R&D, process development, and engineering leadership. Before recently stepping away from full-time engineering, he spent more than six years at Medtronic working on steerable delivery systems for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid heart valve replacement while also mentoring and recruiting engineers and developing knowledge-sharing programs.  His career before Medtronic included leadership roles at Merit Medical, Osseon, Direct Flow Medical, and Production Robotics. Across those organizations, Eron worked on everything from transcatheter heart valves and vertebral compression fracture devices to automated manufacturing equipment, test systems, Nitinol devices, and manufacturing process development. That breadth has given him an interesting perspective on the value of engineers bringing knowledge from one industry into another rather than spending an entire career inside a single technical silo.  Eron's path into engineering was also highly hands-on. Before earning his mechanical engineering degree, he worked as an automotive technician and raced motorcycles, eventually becoming a national champion. He later earned a master's degree in robotics from the University of Texas at Austin. Today he still coaches high-performance drivers and has even worked with autonomous-vehicle engineers to help them understand vehicle dynamics and how skilled human drivers respond near the limits of a vehicle.  Mentorship has become an especially important part of Eron's work. He teaches engineering at Santa Rosa Junior College, mentors its Baja SAE program, and has spent several seasons coaching students through FIRST Robotics. He has described FIRST as an environment where students can learn not only engineering, but also collaboration, communication, leadership, and decision-making under real deadlines—sometimes developing those abilities remarkably early in their careers.  Now, through teaching, mentoring, and his consulting work with Eron Engineering, he's putting decades of engineering experience toward helping both companies and younger technical professionals succeed. His consulting work continues to draw on his experience in medical devices, automation, manufacturing, and solving unusual engineering problems. LINKS: Eron Flory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eron-flory-480a431/ Eron Engineering Website: https://eronengineering.com/services (Guest note: I am creating a website for my consulting, and you are welcome to use any photos you want from that site; product photos are under the "Services" link. These are not Eron Engineering products; these are examples of things that I designed and built)  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailDr. James Bryant, Ph.D., P.E., is a dynamic force in the engineering and leadership development arenas. With a robust background in civil engineering, James has spent over 20 years leading multimillion-dollar projects in the transportation sector, contributing to technical publications, and serving on national committees. His tenure at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies saw him providing executive oversight for over 22 volunteer technical committees, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field. Transitioning from engineering to executive coaching, James founded Engineer Your Success LLC—a boutique firm dedicated to helping engineers and business owners align their professional ambitions with personal well-being. Holding certifications as a John Maxwell Leadership speaker and a Master Certified Professional Coach, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients, guiding them to achieve sustained growth and work-life harmony. James's philosophy centers on the belief that success in business should not come at the expense of personal fulfillment. Through his coaching programs, he empowers clients to clarify their values, set purposeful goals, and develop strategies that lead to a balanced and fulfilling life. His approach is encapsulated in his free resource, "The Engineer's Blueprint for a Balanced Life," which offers actionable insights for engineers seeking to thrive both professionally and personally. As the host of the Engineer Your Success podcast, James shares his insights and interviews with industry leaders, providing listeners with practical tools to navigate the challenges of engineering careers while maintaining personal well-being. His engaging style and depth of experience make him a sought-after speaker and coach for those aiming to excel in all facets of life. LINKS:Dr. James Bryant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbryant2/Engineer Your Success LLC Website: https://www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailElad Einav is a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder and CEO of Medibrane, a medical-device contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in polymer covers, membranes, coatings, and components for stents and other implantable devices. His work sits at the intersection of mechanical design, polymer science, manufacturing-process development, quality, and medical-device commercialization. Elad began his career as a mechanical engineer before moving deeper into medical-device R&D, where he designed implants and delivery systems and later managed multidisciplinary programs from concept through commercialization. Over the years, he has founded or co-founded several medical-device companies and has worked across engineering, clinical development, manufacturing scale-up, and business leadership. At Medibrane, Elad works on an engineering challenge most product developers never get the opportunity to see firsthand: how the polymer covering of a stent is actually created and attached to the metal frame. A particularly important decision is whether ePTFE is joined through sintering or through an adhesive-assisted lamination process. Both approaches can result in a covered stent, but the manufacturing choice can influence adhesion, polymer microstructure, permeability, stiffness, crimp profile, fatigue behavior, delamination risk, and even the regulatory strategy for the finished device. Elad's perspective is that these manufacturing decisions need to happen much earlier in product development. The way a stent is covered isn't simply something to hand off to manufacturing after the mechanical design is complete. It's part of the design itself. In this conversation, we'll explore those tradeoffs, look at what engineers can learn from real-world failures, and discuss how design teams can better connect material selection, manufacturing processes, testing, and regulatory requirements from the beginning. LINKS:  Elad Einav LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eladeinav/ Medibrane website: https://www.medibrane.com/ Book 20 minutes with one of our covering engineers: https://www.medibrane.com/booking-calendar/rsvp-your-consultation   Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailPDX 2026 starts October 20 in Phoenix, AZ. Practical training for growth-minded engineers. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Being An Engineer takes a detour from engineering and onto the mats as Aaron sits down with Pipeline Design & Engineering Principal Controls Engineer and longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Matt Ketterer. With more than 20 years of BJJ experience and a second-degree black belt, Matt shares what initially drew him to the sport, the humbling experience of being a beginner, and how his approach to training has evolved over the years. Aaron and Matt discuss why technique can overcome strength, learning to stay calm in uncomfortable situations, dealing with injuries, narrowing your focus to accelerate learning, and the strong bonds that form between training partners. They also explore some of the bigger lessons that extend well beyond Jiu-Jitsu: checking your ego, becoming comfortable with struggle, focusing on what actually works, and continuing to learn even when you feel like you’re going backwards. Whether you train BJJ, are curious about martial arts, or simply enjoy conversations about mastery and personal growth, there’s plenty to take away from this one. LINKS: Matt Ketterer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewketterer/  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailDakota Welker is a mechanical engineer, product developer, and founder of Think MedTek, an engineering consultancy focused on helping startups transform early-stage ideas into functional, manufacturable products. A Purdue University graduate with a background in engineering technology and organizational leadership, Dakota has worked across medical devices, industrial automation, pneumatic systems, and other forms of physical product development.  Through Think MedTek, Dakota works closely with physician inventors, hardware founders, and growing product companies that need experienced mechanical leadership without immediately building a full internal engineering team. His work covers product design, CAD engineering, prototyping, design optimization, testing, and preparation for manufacturing and regulatory requirements.  Dakota’s project experience includes leading a medical-device redesigns with validated improvements, developing a multidisciplinary nephrology prototype in 12 weeks, and designing surgical and prosthetic concepts that contributed to patent filings and grant opportunities. He has also taken over projects that stalled during previous vendor or freelancer engagements, helping clients improve both technical quality and development timelines. His approach is built around treating every prototype as though it could enter production in the near future. Rather than postponing manufacturability, documentation, supplier planning, and risk reduction, Dakota incorporates them throughout the development process. That philosophy allows startups to create prototypes that do more than demonstrate an idea—they support testing, fundraising, regulatory planning, and the eventual transition into production. Think MedTek similarly emphasizes rapid iteration, startup-conscious budgeting, and designing for real-world use from the beginning. LINKS: Dakota Welker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota-welker-834453b0/ Think MedTek website: https://thinkmedtek.com/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

Send us Fan MailElif Miskioğlu is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Bucknell University and a scholar of engineering education. She holds a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a genetics minor from Iowa State University, along with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. At Bucknell, she has taught courses including separations, senior design, technical and professional communication, mass and energy balances, and thermodynamics.  Elif’s early technical research focused on bacterial biosensors capable of screening pesticides that target Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species associated with malaria transmission. That work, combined with exposure to infectious disease and epidemiology, shaped her interest in the broader context surrounding engineering problems: who they affect, how solutions are used, and what engineers need to understand beyond the purely technical details. Today, Elif’s scholarship centers on how engineers develop from novices into experts, with a special focus on engineering intuition. Her work explores how engineers learn to judge whether a solution is reasonable, predict outcomes, make decisions under uncertainty, and connect formal analysis with experience-based judgment. In 2025, she received a five-year, $650,000 NSF CAREER Award for her project “It’s Not Sorcery, It’s Skill,” which investigates how professional and personal experiences shape the way engineers use intuition in practice.  What makes Elif’s work especially relevant to practicing engineers is her commitment to bridging the gap between education theory and day-to-day engineering practice. She is not only studying how engineers think; she is working to help educators and industry leaders better cultivate the judgment, communication, and problem-solving habits that young engineers need to become effective professionals.  LINKS:  Elif Miskioğlu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elif-miskio%C4%9Flu-649b7135/ Aaron Moncur, host  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus