# Love Robots and Pantyhose Screens

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2010-09-08
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 7
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-7-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the challenges of hobbyist electronics, including US export compliance forms from DigiKey that hinder small-scale purchases, and the industry's shift toward modular platforms like BugLabs and energy harvesting from companies like Linear Technology and Symbet. They debate the educational value of Arduino versus low-level programming, the limitations of SPICE simulation regarding parasitics, and the political posturing of nations like Iran and India regarding robotics and technology.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=8) Introduction: Audio Setup and Event Shout-outs
- [11:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=665) Arduino Education and Microcontroller Levels
- [16:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=1003) Component Supply Chain: DigiKey, Memristors, and Export Compliance
- [27:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=1661) Industry News: NXP IPO and Component Longevity
- [32:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=1965) Energy Harvesting and Low Power Design
- [38:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=2322) SPICE Simulation: Benefits, Limitations, and Tools
- [47:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens#t=2825) Robotics, IEEE, and Modular Electronics (BugLabs)

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- DigiKey (company)
- Arduino (product)
- Linear Technology (company)
- BugLabs (product)
- Symbet (company)
- NXP (company)
- HP (company)
- Freescale (company)
- LTspice (tool)
- CircuitMaker (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [372: The Motivation of Creativity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity) (Embedded.fm)
- [100: Unintentional Radiator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-06-100-unintentional-radiator) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 134: Robotics as a hobby - Kevin McAleer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-11-21-episode-134-robotics-as-a-hobby-kevin-mcaleer) (Robot Talk)
- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [181: Work on It for Ten Years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years) (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/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens. 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 The Amp Hour.