Ryan holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and brings over 13 years of hands‑on experience in electro‑mechanical sensor design and manufacturing.
He joined HBM (now HBK) nine years ago as a Product Development Engineer and has led the OEM Sensors engineering team since 2018, driving innovation from concept to industrialization.
Throughout his career, Ryan has worked closely with product innovators across automotive, robotics, medical, and agricultural industries, co‑developing highly customized sensor solutions to address complex and unique engineering challenges.
As robotics systems move from prototype to large-scale deployment, force and torque sensing has become a critical factor in achieving precision, safety, and long-term reliability. This session explores why many robots fail at the sensing level, and how OEMs can overcome these challenges by designing sensors as fully integrated system components rather than off-the-shelf add-ons.
Drawing on over 60 years of experience, HBK will demonstrate how custom-engineered force and torque sensors enable superior performance across industrial, humanoid, and medical robotics applications. Attendees will gain insight into the full development lifecycle. From defining measurement requirements and applying finite element analysis (FEA), to prototyping, validation, and scaling for high-volume production.
Real world examples will highlight how leading robotics companies are embedding sensing directly into actuators and structures to improve control, durability, and cost efficiency. The session will also cover key performance targets, environmental considerations, and best practices for designing sensors that perform reliably in demanding, real-world conditions.
Whether you are developing next-generation humanoids, collaborative robots, or surgical systems, this presentation will provide a practical roadmap for turning sensing challenges into a competitive advantage.