# 94: Don't Be Clever

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-03-25
- Length: 1h 29m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/makingembeddedsystems/embedded-ep94.mp3

## Summary

Dennis Jackson, embedded software tech lead at Airware, discusses building autonomous drone software and the challenges of navigating FAA regulations for commercial UAVs. He emphasizes writing simple, predictable code ('Don't Be Clever') and using Test Driven Development with CppUTest to ensure safety in safety-critical systems. Jackson also shares insights on coding standards, the importance of shipping products, and the debate over whether engineers should work on personal projects outside of their day jobs.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=6) Introduction and Airware Overview
- [3:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=185) Commercial Drones and FAA Regulation
- [11:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=701) Safety Culture and Testing Infrastructure
- [37:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=2256) Coding Philosophy: Don't Be Clever
- [47:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=2827) Coding Standards and Complexity
- [59:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=3559) Make vs. Buy and Shipping Products
- [1:07:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=4061) Unit Testing and TDD in Embedded Systems
- [1:15:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever#t=4539) Maker Culture and Engineer Wellbeing

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Airware (company)
- DEKA (company)
- Avinger (company)
- St. Jude Medical (company)
- CppUTest (tool)
- Amazon (company)
- DJI (company)
- Fitbit (company)
- Element14 (company)
- Osh Park (company)
- ShotSpotter (company)
- Cisco (company)
- Test Driven Development for Embedded C (product)
- Don't Make Me Think (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#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)
- [Christmas Special](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-12-22-christmas-special) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Arm’s bold new path | Teenage autonomous drivers | Dealing with the data deluge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-10-18-arms-bold-new-path-teenage-autonomous-drivers-dealing-with-the-data-deluge) (EE Times Current)
- [Development is Better when it's Test-Driven](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-02-16-development-is-better-when-its-test-driven) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [18-Year-Old Founder: Why America Needs Its Own Drone Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-07-31-18-year-old-founder-why-america-needs-its-own-drone-industry) (OnTrack)

## 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/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever. 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.