Paul Veth
Entrepreneur learning about Physical AI in public
Paul Veth is an entrepreneur with 23+ years of experience building companies. In 2025 he started studying Physical AI and humanoid robotics as a complete beginner. Through ActuatorHQ he documents what he learns about actuators, market players, and supply chains. He is not a robotics engineer or market analyst. He is a curious entrepreneur figuring things out in public.
ActuatorHQ is where I document what I learn about the humanoid robotics actuator market. I am an entrepreneur, not a robotics engineer. I read datasheets, track companies, and try to connect the dots. Every article is honest about what I understand and what I am still figuring out. If you are also trying to make sense of Physical AI, these are my notes.
I am reading up on the different actuator technologies used in humanoid robots: electric, hydraulic, quasi-direct drive, series elastic, and harmonic drive systems. I try to understand specifications like torque density, backdrivability, and thermal management, though I am still learning the fundamentals.
I follow funding rounds, partnerships, production announcements, and company strategies across the Physical AI sector. I track players like Figure AI, Tesla Optimus, Unitree, Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Fourier Intelligence, and UBTECH. My understanding of competitive dynamics is still developing.
I am trying to map the supply chain for actuator components: motor controllers, harmonic drives, encoders, and force/torque sensors. This is one of the harder areas for me as a newcomer, and my coverage reflects what I have been able to piece together from public sources.
23+ years of entrepreneurial experience is what I actually bring to the table. I know how to build companies and AI-driven systems. That is the lens through which I look at the actuator market, not engineering expertise.
I study in public. I read datasheets, company announcements, and research papers, then write up what I think I understand. I try to link every claim to a primary source. When I am uncertain about something, I say so. I would rather publish a careful note with honest gaps than a confident-sounding analysis I cannot back up.
Most coverage of this space comes from engineers or industry analysts with deep domain knowledge. I come at it from a completely different angle: an entrepreneur who is genuinely new to robotics, asking basic questions and documenting the answers.
No formal engineering or robotics education.
Written notes on what I learn about humanoid robot actuator technologies. I cover specs, manufacturer comparisons, and trade-offs as I understand them, always noting where my knowledge has gaps.
I follow key Physical AI companies, noting funding, partnerships, and production milestones as they are announced. This is more curation and commentary than original analysis.
My attempts to map out who makes what in the actuator component ecosystem. Work in progress, updated as I learn more.
Paul Veth is an entrepreneur with 23+ years of experience building technology companies. He started studying Physical AI and humanoid robotics in 2025 as a complete beginner. He is not an engineer, researcher, or analyst. He is documenting what he learns through ActuatorHQ.
Notes and articles about the humanoid robotics actuator market. Topics include actuator technologies, company tracking, funding rounds, and supply chain mapping. The content is written from a beginner perspective: honest about what I know and transparent about what I am still figuring out.
Anyone who is also trying to make sense of the Physical AI space. Engineers, founders, investors, and curious people who want to follow along as I learn. People who appreciate honest, well-sourced notes over authority-driven analysis.
I read datasheets, company announcements, and public sources. I write up what I think I understand, link to sources, and flag uncertainties. I study in public and publish iteratively. I do not claim expertise I do not have.
I cover the main actuator types used in humanoid robots: electric motors, hydraulic systems, quasi-direct drive, series elastic actuators, and harmonic drive systems. I am learning about parameters like torque density, backdrivability, and thermal management. My understanding is still developing.