# 366: All the Wrong Tools

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 366
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/366

## Summary

Laurel Cummings, a Senior Associate at the startup Building Momentum, discusses 'austere engineering'—the practice of solving critical problems with limited resources during disaster relief and military operations. She explains how her team trains active-duty Marines and civilians to innovate rapidly by breaking down rigid engineering mindsets and embracing constraints, citing examples like building wireless fuel gauges for emergency generators after Hurricane Florence. The conversation covers practical survival toolkits, the importance of self-teaching, and her initiative to create a remote disaster response network to support field teams.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [3:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=181) Innovation Boot Camp and Military Training
- [6:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=404) Austere Engineering and Resourcefulness
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=722) Disaster Response: Florence vs. Dorian
- [25:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=1522) Pandemic Pivot: Masks and UVC Devices
- [26:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=1615) Engineering Challenges with Found Objects
- [39:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=2367) Building a Disaster Response Network
- [44:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=2674) Field Projects: Fuel Gauges and Cooling
- [51:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools#t=3105) Preparedness Advice and Closing

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Building Momentum (company)
- Arduino (chip)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Leatherman (tool)
- FEMA (company)
- Digi-Key (company)
- Surface Pro 3 (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S6E29 Joshua Tarbutton | Lessons From the Military Applied to Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-18-s6e29-joshua-tarbutton-lessons-from-the-military-applied-to-engineering) (Being an Engineer)
- [What Goes into Designing Devices for Military and Emergency Applications?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2020-11-26-what-goes-into-designing-devices-for-military-and-emergency-applications) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Startupalooza: The Silicon 100 | Humanitarian Engineering | Horses to Starships](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-03-startupalooza-the-silicon-100-humanitarian-engineering-horses-to-starships) (EE Times Current)
- [Electronics at the Top of the World | The Artful Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-03-19-electronics-at-the-top-of-the-world-the-artful-engineer) (EE Times Current)
- [S5E36 Callye Keen | How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, Episode 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-09-06-s5e36-callye-keen-how-to-accelerate-the-speed-of-engineering-episode-2) (Being an Engineer)

## 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/2021-03-18-366-all-the-wrong-tools. 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.