# 113: How Founders Develop Complex Hardware Products

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2022-02-09
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Bob Christopher, founder of Pleo and former Director of Innovation at Panasonic, explains how to develop complex hardware by defining a strict 'experience envelope' or set of guiding principles. He details the development of the Pleo robot dinosaur, which required integrating 1,847 parts, 14 servos, and AI into a single autonomous unit. Christopher emphasizes the importance of cross-functional engineering, rapid prototyping cycles of 'build and break,' and listening to external stakeholders like media and game designers to refine the product before launch.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=0) Introduction: Bob Christopher and Pleo
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=112) Background: From Orthopedics to Robotics with Caleb Chung
- [4:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=261) Defining the Experience Envelope and Seven Principles
- [5:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=344) Managing Distributed Engineering Teams in Boise and China
- [11:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=669) The Battery Redesign Decision and Manufacturing Timeline
- [12:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=754) Prototyping Cycles: Build, Break, and Refine
- [14:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=868) Stakeholder Feedback and External Collaboration
- [15:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=927) The Three Laws of Life Forms and User Interaction
- [17:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products#t=1069) Community Building and the 'Furby Effect'

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pleo (product)
- Panasonic (company)
- Ygobe (company)
- Caleb Chung (other)
- Furby (product)
- Gibo (product)
- MIT Media Lab (other)
- Cynthia Brazil (other)
- Steve Jobs (other)
- Walt Mossberg (other)
- Lucas Films (company)
- Blizzard (company)
- Apple (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#016 - Developing with a hardware engineering company, with Karoly Molnar of ProDSP Technologies, Hungary](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-03-08-016-developing-with-a-hardware-engineering-company-with-karoly-molnar-of-prodsp) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-02-04-t-26-012-founders-from-the-show-floor-ces-2026) (TRADEOFFS)
- [15 Steps to Develop a New Electronic Hardware Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-11-30-15-steps-to-develop-a-new-electronic-hardware-product) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [How Long Does It Take to Develop a New Electronic Product?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-12-28-how-long-does-it-take-to-develop-a-new-electronic-product) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Why You Must Simplify Your Product to Succeed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-19-why-you-must-simplify-your-product-to-succeed) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

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