Hardware Podcasts

EMC Testing in the Age of AI: Why Respins Aren't Going Away

OnTrack · 16 Jun 2026 · 47m · Episode 345

AI in practice: 2 real uses of AI described

What this episode covers

Andy Eadie, founder of Engentica and owner of EMC FastPass, explains why electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing pass rates often fall below 50% and argues against budgeting for inevitable respins. He demonstrates Engentica, an AI-powered design co-pilot that ingests schematics and layouts to run compliance-focused checks and answer natural language queries about design risks. Eadie discusses the limitations of fully generative AI in hardware design, noting that simulation remains essential for signal and power integrity, while his tool focuses on scaling domain expertise and catching predictable errors early.

AI in practice

Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.

Engineering & simulationEngentica

The system uses an 'expertise pack' containing specific design guidelines (e.g., for USB interfaces) to constrain the language model, enabling it to review designs against proprietary or specific technical standards and suggest compliant components.

“Engentica is, um, creating a package of information … and the expertise about USB interfaces, and it provides that to the language model for interpretation. … it's reviewing the USB interface in the way that you encode into the expertise pack.”

Andy Eadie · Hear it at 38:10

Engineering & simulationANSYSvastly accelerate

ANSYS leverages machine learning to train models on existing simulation software data, which vastly accelerates the speed of their simulation tools for signal integrity, power integrity, and antenna design.

“simulation companies like ANCIS are already leveraging … machine learning, so they they can use their existing software to train ML models that vastly um, accelerate their their simulation tools.”

Andy Eadie · Hear it at 24:02

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
EMC FastPass, Altium, Worth Electronic
Products
Engentica, Altium Designer, OpenRex
Also
Robert Fernek

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