Jim Hotary is a cross-functional innovation leader with more than 30 years of experience developing disruptive products for Fortune 100 companies and startups. He has led innovation, advanced technology, UX, robotics, IoT, and open innovation initiatives at Bissell, Johnson Controls, Bose, and Faurecia. Jim helped bring to market industry-leading automotive telematics platforms, the award-winning Bose Media System for Ferrari, and breakthrough wellness and smart interior technologies through Faurecia’s xWorks accelerator. Today, he leads Maeden’s development of advanced tendon, sensing, and motion-transmission technologies for humanoid robotics.
As humanoid hands move from research laboratories into commercial deployment, industry discussions often focus on AI, perception, dexterity, and actuation. Yet one of the most critical enabling technologies remains largely overlooked: the force and signal transmission system that connect actuators to human-like motion.
This presentation explores the emerging role of synthetic tendons, Bowden cable architectures, and integrated sensing systems in enabling lightweight, efficient, and scalable dexterous hand designs. Attendees will gain insight into how tendon-driven systems reduce mass, improve compliance and safety, and create new opportunities for dexterous manipulation. The session will examine key engineering challenges including fatigue life, creep, abrasion resistance, friction management, routing constraints, and reliability under millions of flex cycles.
Drawing on real-world development and manufacturing experience, the presentation will also discuss how advanced materials, hybrid constructions, embedded conductors, and sensing technologies are creating intelligent tendon systems capable of transmitting force, power, and information simultaneously. Finally, the talk will address one of the industry's most pressing challenges: transitioning from promising prototypes to production-ready humanoid platforms. Participants will learn how scalable manufacturing, validation testing, quality systems, and supply-chain readiness can accelerate commercialization and improve long-term robot reliability.
