# 283: Flippendo Is Kind of a Swirly

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Length: 1h 07m
- Episode: 283
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly

## Summary

Jennifer Wang, a software engineer at Google and hardware prototyper, details her 'Flippendo' magic wand project, which uses a Bosch BNO55 IMU and a Raspberry Pi Zero W to perform gesture recognition. She explains her choice of scikit-learn's Support Vector Classifier (SVC) over deep learning due to data constraints, outlining the process of feature extraction, model training on a MacBook, and inference on the embedded device. The discussion covers the practical challenges of embedded machine learning, including power management, sensor sampling, and the importance of patience in hardware project planning.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=6) Introduction: Jennifer Wang and the Magic Wand Project
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=221) Project Scope and Hardware Selection (Raspberry Pi Zero W, BNO55)
- [10:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=618) Software Stack: Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and scikit-learn
- [15:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=934) Algorithm Selection: SVC vs. Neural Networks and Feature Engineering
- [27:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=1641) Training Pipeline: Data Collection, CSVs, and Model Serialization
- [36:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=2212) Feature Selection: Peaks, Standard Deviation, and Gesture Differentiation
- [42:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=2567) Career Advice: Embedded ML, Consulting, and Testing Methodologies
- [54:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-03-28-283-flippendo-is-kind-of-a-swirly#t=3250) Hardware Prototyping Challenges: Time, Budget, and Planning

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Bosch BNO55 (chip)
- Raspberry Pi Zero W (product)
- scikit-learn (tool)
- Jupyter (tool)
- pandas (tool)
- TensorFlow (tool)
- Mathematica (tool)

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- [Amazing Adafruit Sensors, Sign Language Interpreting Glasses, Cellular IoT Devkits and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-07-22-amazing-adafruit-sensors-sign-language-interpreting-glasses-cellular-iot-devkits) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Ep115: AI is Bad at Linux Terminal, Puppeting Pico in Python, 3D Scanning Comes Up Short](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-04-23-ep115-ai-is-bad-at-linux-terminal-puppeting-pico-in-python-3d-scanning-comes-up) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Pi Zero Handheld, Arduino TensorFlow Weather Prediction, MangoPI RISC-V and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-02-16-pi-zero-handheld-arduino-tensorflow-weather-prediction-mangopi-risc-v-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [#004: The Future of Edge AI and What it Means for Device Makers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-02-25-004-the-future-of-edge-ai-and-what-it-means-for-device-makers) (Coredump Sessions)

## Citing this page

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