Talking Hardware Engineering at Cionic

Meet Mihai Ionescu, Head of Hardware at CIONIC.

A graduate of UC Santa Cruz (BS Computer Engineering ‘99), he has spent his career in hardware design and high-volume manufacturing where he was at the nexus of innovation in engineering and design.

In his role at CIONIC, Mihai has a multi-faceted responsibility that includes product specs for the Neural Sleeve, bill of materials definition, material sourcing, manufacturing timelines, and certification processes. He works in tandem with domestic and international resources to develop a design for manufacturability, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Mihai shares a little more about his journey in this Q&A:

Q: Why CIONIC?

A: The mapping of biomechanics to engineering systems that will enhance function and improve gait has been a huge area of interest for me. I’ve known (CIONIC Founder)Jeremiah for years, and admire his leadership, critical thinking and this mission.

Q: What has been a highlight of your work at CIONIC?

A: As CIONIC is actively conducting participant trials of the Neural Sleeve, I’ve found that analyzing and organizing customer feedback alongside the industrial design team in real-time is really meaningful. Our end goal is always in mind — to deliver an unparalleled product to address mobility impairments and support rehab regimens. No pressure!

Q: The CIONIC Neural Sleeve uses a dense array of sensors to measure how a person’s body is positioned and how individual muscles are firing during movement. Then, the algorithms analyze the data in real time to determine optimal muscle activation patterns, after which it delivers up to 100V of electrical stimulation to the precise muscle group to produce a more natural movement. This sounds like science fiction; how would you explain this in a way everyone can understand?

A: (laughs) Well, I’d say it’s a piece of bionic clothing that can analyze and enhance your body’s movement to allow you to move with more freedom and control.

Q: What’s your advice for hardware engineers out there?

A: While it’s obviously important to be a strong team player, you also need to be self-directed, take initiative, listen and have a point of view. In my experience, persuasively providing context, opinions and recommendations will always yield better results.