# 443: Vexing Machines

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2023-02-17
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 443
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/443

## Summary

Chris White discusses his return to astrophotography using a DSLR and an Ioptron Sky Tracker to image Comet C/2022 (ZTF) E3, explaining the signal processing techniques of image stacking and noise reduction in PixInsight. Elecia White shares her exploration of rigidly foldable origami patterns like Yoshimura folds, generating designs with Python and Jupyter Notebooks. The hosts also cover the technical challenges of integrating an NVIDIA Xavier into a large Aurelia X6 Standard drone, including power conditioning and long lead times for components.

## Chapters

- [0:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines#t=52) Astrophotography and Comet Imaging
- [5:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines#t=310) Image Processing and AI Tools
- [27:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines#t=1673) Origami and Tessellations
- [43:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines#t=2625) Drone Integration and Power Challenges
- [51:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines#t=3065) CircuitPython Jupyter Notebooks

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- PixInsight (tool)
- Ioptron Sky Tracker (product)
- StarXTerminator (tool)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- Jupyter Notebooks (tool)
- NVIDIA Xavier (chip)
- Aurelia X6 Standard (product)

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- [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)
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- [Hackaday Podcast Ep 389: Spinning Lightfield Displays and Jenny Visits a Blast Furnace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-10-02-hackaday-podcast-ep-389-spinning-lightfield-displays-and-jenny-visits-a-blast-fu) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 386: Doomscroll Tamagotchis, Clavichords, and Vibrotrucks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-11-ep-386-doomscroll-tamagotchis-clavichords-and-vibrotrucks) (Hackaday Podcast)

## 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/2023-02-17-443-vexing-machines. 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.