# 155: Foot-Seeking Bullet

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-06-08
- Length: 1h 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep155mp3

## Summary

Jonathan Bradshaw, a senior hardware engineer, discusses the complexities of working with firmware teams, emphasizing the need for early communication regarding sleep modes, interrupt handling, and schematic reviews. He details the practical challenges of hardware development, including managing long component lead times from vendors like Maxim and Texas Instruments, and the importance of reading errata to avoid field failures. Bradshaw also explains the specific use cases for FPGAs, such as synchronous sampling and high-speed parallel processing, contrasting them with microcontrollers.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=6) Introduction: Jonathan Bradshaw and Lightning Round
- [6:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=386) Hardware Engineer Workflow and Firmware Liaison
- [11:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=707) Schematic Review and Component Optimization
- [18:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=1080) Risk Management, Lead Times, and Prototyping
- [22:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=1350) Schematic Review Requirements for Firmware Engineers
- [28:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=1683) Component Lead Times and Errata Importance
- [41:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=2494) FPGA Use Cases: Parallel Processing and Timing
- [54:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=3284) FPGA Design Flow: Synthesis, Place and Route
- [1:08:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet#t=4116) Beginner FPGA Projects and Soft Cores

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ABB (company)
- Maxim (company)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- XLR8 board (product)
- Zynq (product)
- MicroBlaze (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Not Reely An Issue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-13-not-reely-an-issue) (The Amp Hour)
- [A++++++ Will Buy Again](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-03-19-a-will-buy-again) (The Amp Hour)
- [Vertically Integrated Design Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering) (The Amp Hour)
- [Otiose Ontocyclic Opiniasters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-01-30-otiose-ontocyclic-opiniasters) (The Amp Hour)
- [S2 E1: From Code to Creation: The Building Blocks of Firmware with Elecia White](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-11-28-s2-e1-from-code-to-creation-the-building-blocks-of-firmware-with-elecia-white) (The Builder Circle)

## 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/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet. 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.