# 52: Maximize the Sonic Boom

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-05-21
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-52mp3

## Summary

Micheal Worry, CEO of Nuvation Engineering, explains how his 100-person design firm takes clients from marketing requirements to shipping products, emphasizing their 'gut check' process to align budget and schedule early. He details the development of Disco Fish, an autonomous Burning Man vehicle, and the E-Rex electric race car, which served as testbeds for their Nuvation Autopilot and battery management systems. Worry discusses the importance of 'first-time right' engineering, the distinct skills required for FPGA versus embedded work, and how Nuvation Garage fosters innovation through passion projects like the air hockey robot.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=6) Introduction: Micheal Worry and Nuvation Engineering
- [1:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=82) The Gut Check: Aligning Budget, Schedule, and Requirements
- [12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=729) Disco Fish: Autonomous Vehicle Design for Burning Man
- [18:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=1120) Autonomous Vehicle Research and ROS Integration
- [23:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=1395) Nuvation Garage: Passion Projects and Build Buddies
- [30:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=1839) FPGA Engineering and First-Time Right Methodologies
- [51:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom#t=3064) Commercializing Internal Tech: Battery Management and E-Rex

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Nuvation Engineering (company)
- Disco Fish (product)
- E-Rex (product)
- Willow Garage (company)
- ROS (tool)
- MSP430 (chip)
- Sick LMS (chip)
- Arduino (tool)
- Free Scale (company)
- FPGA (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-02-04-t-26-012-founders-from-the-show-floor-ces-2026) (TRADEOFFS)
- [#020: The Hidden Architecture of Autonomy: How Skydio Drones Think, See, and Connect](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-01-29-020-the-hidden-architecture-of-autonomy-how-skydio-drones-think-see-and-connect) (Coredump Sessions)
- [Voice-Activated Everything on the Cheap | Jets & Hoverboards & Reliability | AVs: How Safe is Safe?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-09-27-voice-activated-everything-on-the-cheap-jets-hoverboards-reliability-avs-how-saf) (EE Times Current)
- [Ep 215: Autonomous Race Car, Espresso Robot, and Vintage Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-04-21-ep-215-autonomous-race-car-espresso-robot-and-vintage-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Don't Miss Season 2 of Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-01-16-dont-miss-season-2-of-moores-lobby) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.