# 118: Awesome and Frequently Useless

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-09-16
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep118mp3

## Summary

Morgan Allen, a JavaScript developer and member of NodeBots, discusses using Node.js to control Sphero and BB-8 robots via Bluetooth and serial interfaces. He explains how Node.js enables low-level hardware communication through modules like node-serialport and libraries such as Johnny-Five, which abstracts Arduino and other boards for robotics. The conversation covers the technical challenges of BB-8's dead reckoning and inertial sensors, as well as the educational value of Sphero's open SDK and the NodeBots community's hack nights.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=6) Introduction: Morgan Allen and BB-8 Teardown
- [1:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=76) Morgan Allen's Background and Node.js Overview
- [6:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=389) Controlling Sphero with Node.js and Serial Port
- [13:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=786) BLE Communication and NodeBots Libraries
- [20:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=1234) Johnny-Five and Hardware Abstraction
- [28:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=1721) Sphero Projects: Mapping and Capture the Sphero
- [34:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=2050) BB-8 Sensor Limitations and Dead Reckoning
- [36:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=2178) Career Path: From Embedded to Web Development
- [44:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=2659) Unit Testing and Security in Embedded Systems
- [53:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless#t=3196) IPFS, Mesh Networks, and Community Projects

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Sphero (product)
- BB-8 (product)
- Node.js (tool)
- Johnny-Five (tool)
- node-serialport (tool)
- Espruino (chip)
- IPFS (other)
- People's Open Net (other)
- Sudo Room (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 138: Breakin' Bluetooth, Doritos Rockets, Wireless Robots, and Autonomous Trolling](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-10-01-ep-138-breakin-bluetooth-doritos-rockets-wireless-robots-and-autonomous-trolling) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 146: Dueling Trackballs, Next Level BEAM Robot, Take Control of Your Bench, and Green Programming](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-11-26-ep-146-dueling-trackballs-next-level-beam-robot-take-control-of-your-bench-and-g) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 150: Blackberry Runs Out of Juice, NODE has your pinouts, Rats learn DOOM, and 2021 is Done](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-01-07-ep-150-blackberry-runs-out-of-juice-node-has-your-pinouts-rats-learn-doom-and-20) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep085: Cable Robots Two-Ways, Cubic Raspberry Pi, Plastic Wrap Kayak, and Digging Inductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-09-18-ep085-cable-robots-two-ways-cubic-raspberry-pi-plastic-wrap-kayak-and-digging-in) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Simulating doors falling off](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-04-04-simulating-doors-falling-off) (The Amp Hour)

## 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/2015-09-16-118-awesome-and-frequently-useless. 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.