203: Save My Board
Charlie Ladd, a principal electrical engineer with experience in medical, FAA, and consumer products, discusses bridging the gap between hardware and firmware. He details his work on an oil quality sensor for VSI Oil and emphasizes the importance of designing for failure, using redundancy, and providing clear documentation like 'PickIO' spreadsheets and 'Theory of Ops' to help firmware engineers debug boards safely. Ladd also shares insights on the evolution of the industry, the value of mentorship, and how to stay current with new components through trade magazines and development boards.