# Ep042: Capacitive Earthquakes, GRBL on ESP32, Solenoid Engines, and the TI-99 Space Program

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2019-11-01
- Length: 54m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space-program

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss the upcoming Hackaday Supercon badge, which features an FPGA with dual RISC-V cores and requires significant firmware work. They review several community hacks, including Bart Dring’s ESP32-based GRBL controller for a retro Atari plotter, UCSD’s slow soft robot using liquid crystal elastomers, and a capacitive seismic sensor built with a 555 timer. The episode also covers a TI-994A retrocomputer modified into a Kerbal Space Program simulator, solenoid engine builds, and a deep dive into the mechanics of vintage speaking clocks and the future of 5G networks.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=1) Introduction and Hackaday Supercon Badge
- [6:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=382) Bart Dring's ESP32 GRBL Atari Plotter Hack
- [12:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=762) UCSD Soft Robot and Entropic Machine
- [19:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=1175) TI-994A Kerbal Space Program Simulator
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=1427) Capacitive Seismic Sensor and Solenoid Engines
- [30:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=1834) Quick Hacks: EV Motors, Synths, and IR Thermometers
- [36:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-11-01-ep042-capacitive-earthquakes-grbl-on-esp32-solenoid-engines-and-the-ti-99-space#t=2180) Vintage Speaking Clocks and 5G Network Analysis

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hackaday Supercon (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- GRBL (tool)
- Atari 1020 (product)
- Bart Dring (other)
- TI-994A (product)
- Kerbal Space Program (product)
- 555 timer (chip)
- MLX90640 (chip)
- ESMT AD83586B (chip)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- Swindon Powertrain (company)
- MakerB (other)
- Oscarb Joe (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [ESP32 iPod, Super Fast E-Ink, Generative AI on the Edge, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-10-25-esp32-ipod-super-fast-e-ink-generative-ai-on-the-edge-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [DIY Streamdeck, Bela's beautiful STM32 module, ROCK 5 Model B, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-11-28-diy-streamdeck-belas-beautiful-stm32-module-rock-5-model-b-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Red Pitaya gets even more Incredible, Lego Planetarium meets Arduino, Autotuned Kazoo, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-08-02-red-pitaya-gets-even-more-incredible-lego-planetarium-meets-arduino-autotuned-ka) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Firebeetle Gas Sensor, Cheap RISC-V Linux, $20 Synth, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-03-11-firebeetle-gas-sensor-cheap-risc-v-linux-20-synth-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [ESP32 vs Pi Pico, ShaRPiKeebo Tiny Linux Deck, new Arduino kit and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-05-13-esp32-vs-pi-pico-sharpikeebo-tiny-linux-deck-new-arduino-kit-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)

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