# Ep 270: A Cluster of Microcontrollers, a rocket engine from scratch, and a look inside Voyager

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2024-05-10
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 270
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-inside-voyager

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss the 2024 Business Card Challenge and a 256-core RISC-V mega cluster by Bit Looney that uses CH32V003 microcontrollers and custom bus protocols. They analyze the trade-offs between Raspberry Pi 5 and Intel N100 mini PCs, highlight Ricardo Quesada's BluePad32 library for Bluetooth controllers, and review a Corey flight simulator button project. The episode concludes with a look at ABL Space Systems' transparent rocket engine development by Ryan Kunn and Dan Maloney's digitization of Voyager spacecraft documentation.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=5) Introduction: Business Card Challenge and Mystery Sound
- [9:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=546) Bit Looney's 256-Core RISC-V Mega Cluster
- [17:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=1026) Raspberry Pi 5 vs. Intel N100 Mini PC Comparison
- [24:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=1460) BluePad32 and Corey Flight Simulator Buttons
- [30:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=1858) Robotic Shop Vac Roomba and Rocket Engine Design
- [47:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=2857) Quick Hacks: Fidget Knife, Cold Brew, and Brain Interfaces
- [52:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins#t=3165) Voyager Documentation and Retro Tool Abuse

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Bit Looney (other)
- CH32V003 (chip)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Intel (company)
- N100 (chip)
- BluePad32 (product)
- Corey (company)
- ABL Space Systems (company)
- Ryan Kunn (other)
- Dan Maloney (other)
- Voyager (product)
- JPL (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [New RISC-V Raspberry Pi/Pico Alternative, Arduino Web Arcade Game, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-06-21-new-risc-v-raspberry-pi-pico-alternative-arduino-web-arcade-game-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [RISC V Special! 10 Cent parts, RISC V OS from scratch, New ESP32 devkits!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-05-12-risc-v-special-10-cent-parts-risc-v-os-from-scratch-new-esp32-devkits) (The Electromaker Show)
- [233: Always the Wrong Way](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-02-09-233-always-the-wrong-way) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)
- [350: The State of the Empire Is Good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-06-350-the-state-of-the-empire-is-good) (Embedded.fm)

## 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/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins. 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.