# Ep012: Nearly Perpetual Motion, Mars Rover Carries Kid, and Doc Brown's Cat Feeder

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2019-03-29
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a week of hardware hacks, including a low-friction motor project by Laser Saber that claims near-perpetual motion, a complex automated wet cat food dispenser by Vikram Ho, and a child-sized rocker-bogie rover built by Chris Temmerman. They also analyze Michael Elizabeth Scott's CharliePlexing hack for buttons and LEDs, and review articles on WS2812 LED drivers and the benefits of 4-layer PCBs for hobbyists.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=0) Introduction and Phone Repair Hacks
- [6:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=412) Laser Saber's Nearly Perpetual Motion Motor
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=712) Tech Ingredients Turbojet and Vikram Ho's Cat Feeder
- [16:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=976) Chris Temmerman's Kid Rover and CharliePlexing Hack
- [24:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=1496) Genesis Demo and Quick Hacks
- [32:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-29-ep012-nearly-perpetual-motion-mars-rover-carries-kid-and-doc-browns-cat-feeder#t=1973) WS2812 LEDs and 4-Layer PCBs

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Laser Saber (other)
- Vikram Ho (other)
- Chris Temmerman (other)
- Michael Elizabeth Scott (other)
- WS2812 (chip)
- WS2813 (chip)
- APA102 (chip)
- HT16K33 (chip)
- Adafruit (company)
- Hackaday (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Chaffered Chocolate Coemption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-09-chaffered-chocolate-coemption) (The Amp Hour)
- [448: Little Squiggles All Around](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around) (Embedded.fm)
- [Motors on PCBs with Carl Bugeja](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Watch that Never Needs Charging, Raspberry Pi 5 Speed Check, Open source Rockchip NPU, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-03-20-the-watch-that-never-needs-charging-raspberry-pi-5-speed-check-open-source-rockc) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Eurocircuits PCB Contest Winners, Maker Faire Rome 2022, LattePanda Giveaway!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-10-21-eurocircuits-pcb-contest-winners-maker-faire-rome-2022-lattepanda-giveaway) (The Electromaker Show)

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