# 48: Widgets on the Hands of Ants

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-04-23
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep48mp3

## Summary

Dr. Kevin Shaw, CTO of Sensor Platforms, discusses the transition from MEMS hardware to software-based sensor fusion algorithms, highlighting the critical importance of precise sample timing and the limitations of Android's non-real-time interrupt handling. He details the development of their Open Sensor Platform, an open-source framework designed to simplify driver integration and ensure accurate timestamping for navigation-grade sensor fusion. Shaw also explains how context awareness and pedestrian dead reckoning leverage these algorithms to enable indoor navigation and power-efficient always-on sensing without draining batteries.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=6) Introduction: Dr. Kevin Shaw and Sensor Platforms
- [1:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=102) MEMS Technology: Silicon Structures and Bolometers
- [4:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=281) Career Path: From Kionics to Sensor Platforms CTO
- [10:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=640) Singularity University and the Exponential Growth of Sensors
- [15:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=953) Power Management and the Misfit Wearable
- [25:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=1502) Sensor Fusion, Kalman Filters, and Timing Issues
- [33:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=1985) Open Sensor Platform: Open Sourcing Drivers and Algorithms
- [42:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=2528) Pedestrian Dead Reckoning and Indoor Navigation
- [56:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-23-48-widgets-on-the-hands-of-ants#t=3403) Context Awareness and Privacy in Always-On Devices

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sensor Platforms (company)
- Kionics (company)
- Misfit (product)
- Android (other)
- Apple (company)
- M7 (chip)
- Samsung (company)
- ARM (company)
- GitHub (other)
- Bosch (company)
- ST (company)
- InvenSense (company)
- MMA8452 (chip)
- Kalman Filter (other)
- Open Sensor Platform (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Gregory Charvat and Three New Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-09-17-gregory-charvat-and-three-new-companies) (The Amp Hour)
- [MEMS & Sensors Summit | WiFi & LoRa Make Nice | How to Blow A Recovery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-10-04-mems-sensors-summit-wifi-lora-make-nice-how-to-blow-a-recovery) (EE Times Current)
- [Episode Four - Robot Senses: perceiving the world](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-01-29-episode-four-robot-senses-perceiving-the-world) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 14: The Wide World of Sensors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-04-11-episode-14-the-wide-world-of-sensors) (The Circuit)
- [The Button Revolution Is Here | On Succession | The Internet of IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-12-11-the-button-revolution-is-here-on-succession-the-internet-of-iot) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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