# 201: Accidentally Incredibly Dangerous

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-05-24
- Length: 1h 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous

## Summary

Shaun Meehan, an avionics lead at a stealth rocket startup, discusses his hobby of acquiring and restoring industrial robots, specifically his one-ton ABB IRB-2000 named Fred. He details the engineering challenges of building a custom FPGA-based controller for the robot, explaining the differences between stepper motors and servos, and the role of inverse kinematics in robotic motion. Meehan also shares anecdotes about the robot's destructive capabilities and his experience working in small, agile teams at companies like Planet Labs and his current rocket venture.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [6:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=398) Acquiring and Restoring Fred the Robot
- [11:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=684) Building a Custom FPGA Controller
- [14:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=891) Stealth Rocket Startup and Telemetry
- [22:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=1325) Robot Arm Selection and Motor Types
- [39:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=2368) Inverse Kinematics and Robot Safety
- [56:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=3394) Antarctica Experience and Self-Education
- [1:07:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous#t=4077) Small Team Dynamics and Repair Cafes

## 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)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ABB IRB-2000 (product)
- Planet Labs (company)
- TI Piccolo (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- ROS (tool)
- OpenAI (company)
- Jetson TX 2 (chip)
- MeArm (product)
- Arduino (tool)
- Hackaday (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with James Bruton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-11-19-an-interview-with-james-bruton) (The Amp Hour)
- [Robots Everywhere with Aaed Musa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-20-robots-everywhere-with-aaed-musa) (The Amp Hour)
- [Chaffered Chocolate Coemption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-09-chaffered-chocolate-coemption) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 274: Capstan Robots, Avionics of Uncertain Purpose, and What the Frack?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-06-07-ep-274-capstan-robots-avionics-of-uncertain-purpose-and-what-the-frack) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode 146: Embodied AI on the ISS - Jamie Palmer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer) (Robot Talk)

## 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/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous. 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.