The Technology That Will Replace Hydraulics Forever

About this episode

Hiten Sonpal discusses how RISE Robotics is revolutionizing the hydraulics industry with their innovative Beltdraulic™ technology.

In this episode of Perceived Reality , host Nadja Atwal speaks with Hiten Sonpal, CEO of RISE Robotics , an MIT-affiliated robotics company disrupting the $600B hydraulics industry. Hiten shares how a childhood fascination with robots led to a career building advanced automation—and now scaling a breakthrough technology that makes electric heavy machinery possible for the first time. Key Discussion Points: From childhood curiosity to robotics leader - Hiten recalls the moment in first grade—crowded around a small black‑and‑white TV in India—when a Japanese robot show sparked his lifelong mission to build robots. Beltdraulic™: the innovation changing a century-old industry - RISE Robotics’ patented system replaces inefficient hydraulic cylinders with belt‑driven actuators that are 3x faster, 3x more efficient, 3x more durable, and 80% lighter. It takes the “fluid” out of hydraulics and solves their biggest failures: leaks, emissions, energy waste, and cost. A massive market ready for disruption - Hydraulics power nearly every heavy machine on earth—from construction and mining to logistics, defense, forestry, and maritime. They leak 100 million gallons of toxic oil yearly and…

People in this episode

Host: Nadja Atwal

Guest: Hiten Sonpal

Topics covered

• robotics
• hydraulics
• automation
• innovation
• sustainability
• heavy machinery

Keywords

• hydraulics
• robotics
• automation
• Beltdraulic
• sustainability
• heavy machinery
• energy efficiency
• market disruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RISE Robotics, MIT

Products: Beltdraulic™

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