# An Interview with Dr Greg Charvat - Watcher of Wraithlike Walls

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2012-10-01
- Length: 1h 32m
- Episode: 115
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-115-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls/

## Summary

Dr. Greg Charvat, a second founder at Butterfly Network Incorporated, discusses his transition from MIT Lincoln Laboratory to building next-generation imaging hardware. He details his work on through-wall radar prototypes using FMCW techniques and crystal filters, and describes an educational synthetic aperture radar kit built from coffee cans and Wi-Fi components. Charvat also shares anecdotes about designing high-performance tube audio amplifiers and his current hiring needs for FPGA and PCB designers at his startup.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=0) Introduction: Dr. Greg Charvat and Butterfly Network
- [3:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=212) Background at MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- [6:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=362) Designing High-Performance Tube Audio Amplifiers
- [15:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=956) The Coffee Can Synthetic Aperture Radar Class
- [32:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=1959) Through-Wall Radar Prototype and Physics
- [45:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=2744) Garage Radar Development and Dissertation
- [1:06:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=4016) Butterfly Network Startup and Hiring
- [1:16:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-01-an-interview-with-dr-greg-charvat-watcher-of-wraithlike-walls#t=4602) Tube Preamp Story and Ham Radio Culture

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Butterfly Network Incorporated (company)
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory (company)
- Valve (company)
- LinTec (company)
- Aeroflex (company)
- UC Davis (company)
- MITRE Corporation (company)
- CRC Press (company)
- Stanley Gun Plexer (product)
- 8510 Network Analyzer (tool)
- LabVIEW (tool)
- MATLAB (tool)
- FPGA (chip)
- Wi-Fi Antennas (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [Ep096: Diaphragm Engine, DIY Dish Washer, Forgotten Soviet Computers, and a Starlink Teardown](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-12-04-ep096-diaphragm-engine-diy-dish-washer-forgotten-soviet-computers-and-a-starlink) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [057 - I Did Not Expect Sharks!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-05-09-057-i-did-not-expect-sharks) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Ep032: Meteorite Snow Globes, Radioactive Ramjet Rockets, Autonomous Water Boxes, and Ball Reversers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-08-23-ep032-meteorite-snow-globes-radioactive-ramjet-rockets-autonomous-water-boxes-an) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [130: Criminal Training Camp](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-17-130-criminal-training-camp) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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