# An Interview with Bob Davidson - Hoodied HP Hijinks

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-05-08
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 144
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-144-hoodied-hp-hijinks/

## Summary

Bob Davidson, founder of Ambient Sensors, discusses his career starting at HP's disk drive division in the 1980s, where he worked on magnetic recording technology and finite element analysis. He details a recent project developing a concussion detection sensor for football players using Analog Devices accelerometers and NXP microcontrollers, and reflects on the evolution of electronics tools from HP's tape-based PCB design to modern open-source hardware and Bluetooth Low Energy modules like those from Blue Giga.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=0) Introduction and Ambient Sensors
- [1:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=105) Concussion Detection Sensor Design
- [12:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=761) HP Disk Drive History and Technology
- [21:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=1295) Startup Failure and Lessons Learned
- [27:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=1651) Bluetooth Low Energy and Open Source
- [53:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=3239) Ham Radio and Electronics History
- [1:15:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-08-an-interview-with-bob-davidson-hoodied-hp-hijinks#t=4505) Finite Element Analysis and Magnetic Modeling

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Ambient Sensors (company)
- HP (company)
- Analog Devices (chip)
- NXP (chip)
- Blue Giga (company)
- CC2540 (chip)
- LPC Link 2 (tool)
- Eagle (tool)
- Fluke 289 (tool)
- Rigel 815 (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [302: Worst Book Ever](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-05-302-worst-book-ever) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 376: Modern Retro Projects, Retro Modern Projects, and the Teen Years for 3D Printing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-07-03-ep-376-modern-retro-projects-retro-modern-projects-and-the-teen-years-for-3d-pri) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [85: Stalked by Hoopers and Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-21-85-stalked-by-hoopers-and-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [376: Left Half of My Brain Is Digital](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital) (Embedded.fm)
- [523: Bad Experience With Donuts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-04-02-523-bad-experience-with-donuts) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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