# Ep 339: The Vape Episode, a Flying DeLorean, and DIY Science

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-09-26
- Length: 1h 19m
- Episode: 339
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2025/09/26/hackaday-podcast-episode-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science/

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss a variety of hardware hacks, starting with Aaron Christophel's modification of a Pixel Aspire vape to run Doom as a USB remote display, highlighting the high microcontroller capabilities in cheap devices. They then cover Brian Brocken's multi-year project to build a full-scale, foam-bodied flying DeLorean that can drive and hover, followed by Nick Build's implementation of non-contact heart rate monitoring using Wi-Fi channel state information and LSTM neural networks. The episode concludes with discussions on DIY radio astronomy, failed technology leading to scanning capacitance microscopes, and the regulatory hurdles of home battery storage.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=2) Introduction: Supercon 2025 and What's That Sound
- [3:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=193) Aaron Christophel's Pixel Aspire Vape Doom Hack
- [12:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=732) Brian Brocken's Full-Scale Flying DeLorean
- [20:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=1245) Nick Build's Wi-Fi Heart Rate Monitoring
- [32:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=1933) Low Cost High Gain Astronomy and RCA Video Disc
- [45:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=2724) Quick Hacks: Dodecahedron Speaker and Box Unfolder
- [51:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science#t=3076) Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and Home Battery Regulations

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Pixel Aspire (product)
- Aaron Christophel (other)
- Doom (other)
- Brian Brocken (other)
- DeLorean (product)
- Nick Build (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- LSTM (other)
- RCA (company)
- Selectivision (product)
- Meta (company)
- Ray-Ban (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Powerwall (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Electromaker of the Month Winners, Maker Music Festival, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-10-electromaker-of-the-month-winners-maker-music-festival-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [PI Day, DOOM on the RP2040, Pockit Modular Computer, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-17-pi-day-doom-on-the-rp2040-pockit-modular-computer-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [73: That's a Waste of Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-22-73-thats-a-waste-of-bits) (Embedded.fm)
- [Productive Pi Hacks, Amazing Arduino Inventions, New Hardware Galore!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-07-27-productive-pi-hacks-amazing-arduino-inventions-new-hardware-galore) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-11-06-space-difficulties-and-lost-heroes-wanzing-workshop-whemmle) (The Amp Hour)

## 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/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science. 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.