# Ep 250: Trains, RC Planes, and EEPROMS in Flames

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2023-12-29
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 250
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames

## Summary

Hosts Elliot and Al Williams discuss reverse engineering Polish locomotive firmware to uncover intentional sabotage by the manufacturer, who used geo-fencing and time-based triggers to brick trains servicing rivals. They review a 2023 tech obituary noting the decline of hardware products like Google Glass and XYZ Printing, emphasizing the need for killer applications. The episode highlights Cornell ECE 4760 student projects, including a parallel Raspberry Pi Pico cluster called Computron, and explores 3D printing techniques for stacking parts in the Z-axis. Finally, they examine acoustic bricks using Helmholtz resonators, the mechanics of sewing machines, and methods for testing EEPROM longevity through accelerated aging.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=2) Introduction: Chaos Communication Congress and Locomotive Sabotage
- [5:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=318) Reverse Engineering Train Firmware and Geo-fencing
- [13:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=828) 2023 Tech Obituary: Google Glass and Hardware Decline
- [19:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=1147) Cornell ECE 4760: Computron Parallel Processing
- [24:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=1452) 3D Printing Z-Axis Stacking and Acoustic Bricks
- [30:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=1807) Quick Hacks: SpaceX, Supercapacitors, and Sewing Machines
- [35:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames#t=2111) Ocean Data Buoys and EEPROM Longevity Testing

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Chaos Communication Congress (other)
- Redford Q3K (other)
- Mr. Tick (other)
- Google Glass (product)
- XYZ Printing (company)
- Raspberry Pi Pico (chip)
- Computron (product)
- Cornell ECE 4760 (other)
- SpaceX (company)
- B 1058 (product)
- Singer (company)
- Lou and Day (other)
- EEPROM (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [017 - Supercon 2018 Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-11-11-017-supercon-2018-part-2) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [466: Attacked by a Goose on the Way to the Office](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-12-14-466-attacked-by-a-goose-on-the-way-to-the-office) (Embedded.fm)
- [020 - Hardwear.io CTF Interviews](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-16-020-hardwear-io-ctf-interviews) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [049 - Reversing Your Childhood One Game At a Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-07-11-049-reversing-your-childhood-one-game-at-a-time) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-29-ep-250-trains-rc-planes-and-eeproms-in-flames. 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 Hackaday Podcast.