# BASIC, Chip companies & Robots - Pernicious Projects, Puppies in Peril

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2011-05-24
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 44
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-44-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the perception of chip companies, specifically highlighting Maxim's historical reputation for innovation but poor delivery, and Touchstone Semiconductor's controversial contest rules. They review the Luna robot and Maximite microcontroller, while also covering Google's autonomous vehicle project and Intel's entry into the smartphone market. The hosts emphasize the importance of distribution channels like Mouser and DigiKey for hardware startups and share anecdotes about collector communities for test equipment and musical instruments.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=15) Introduction: Studio setup and show format
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=184) Maker Faire, Hamvention, and electronics flea markets
- [7:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=465) Luna robot review and RoboGames
- [17:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=1021) Multimeter collections and Maximite microcontroller
- [26:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=1588) Chip distribution: Mouser, DigiKey, and Touchstone Semiconductor
- [33:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=2019) Intel smartphones and Google autonomous vehicles
- [45:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=2702) Maxim's 'Innovation Delivered' slogan and history
- [58:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril#t=3487) Chip of the Week: LT3080 LDO regulator

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Maxim (company)
- Luna (product)
- Maximite (product)
- Touchstone Semiconductor (company)
- Google (company)
- Intel (company)
- Mouser (other)
- DigiKey (other)
- LT3080 (chip)
- Agilent (company)
- U1272A (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 44: Silicon, Tech Exploration and the Awkward Journey of Progress](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-11-29-episode-44-silicon-tech-exploration-and-the-awkward-journey-of-progress) (The Circuit)
- [AI Hardware Summit | India’s Silicon Ambitions | Frankfurt Motor Show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-09-20-ai-hardware-summit-indias-silicon-ambitions-frankfurt-motor-show) (EE Times Current)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-05-06-the-spark-gap-episode-32) (The Spark Gap)
- [ON Semi’s Acquisition | TSMC’s Finer Nodes | Tesla’s AI Chip | China’s Fabless Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-04-26-on-semis-acquisition-tsmcs-finer-nodes-teslas-ai-chip-chinas-fabless-companies) (EE Times Current)
- [IFS Connect Takeaways | Nvidia Earnings as the New Semiconductor King](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-02-26-ifs-connect-takeaways-nvidia-earnings-as-the-new-semiconductor-king) (The Circuit)

## 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/2011-05-24-basic-chip-companies-robots-pernicious-projects-puppies-in-peril. 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.