# Setting Fire To The Tracks

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-02-04
- Length: 1h 09m
- Episode: 428
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/428-setting-fire-to-the-tracks/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the challenges of getting started with development boards, specifically a painful experience where Gammell struggled with an nRF52832 board because it was mislabeled in the packaging. They analyze the cost-benefit of using microcontrollers with internal EEPROM versus external chips, highlighting that an external EEPROM is cheaper than upgrading the MCU. The conversation shifts to Gammell's experience with a Neoden pick-and-place machine, detailing setup errors and the economics of automation versus hand assembly. Finally, they explore the rise of low-cost AI-capable dev boards like the CIPED and ESP32-CAM, debating the practical applications of edge machine learning and the importance of sensor data collection.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=0) Introduction: Weather and Holiday Recaps
- [3:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=213) Troubleshooting nRF52832 Dev Boards and Labeling Errors
- [8:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=522) Reviewing FPGA Tools, Lattice ECP5, and RISC-V Boards
- [12:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=770) Microcontroller EEPROM: Internal Flash Limits vs. External Chips
- [20:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=1258) Neoden Pick-and-Place Machine Setup and Automation Economics
- [31:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=1866) AI Dev Boards: CIPED, ESP32-CAM, and Machine Learning Integration
- [42:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=2577) Circuit Sculptures, Patent Law, and Engineering Careers
- [1:00:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks#t=3650) PCB Checklists and High-Speed Design Impedance Myths

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- nRF52832 (chip)
- nRF52840 (chip)
- Lattice (company)
- ECP5 (chip)
- RISC-V (chip)
- Paduk (chip)
- STMicroelectronics (company)
- Neoden (tool)
- CIPED (product)
- ESP32-CAM (product)
- fast.ai (tool)
- OpenCV (tool)
- PCBNG (company)
- Macrofab (company)
- Seeed Studio (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [98: Figments of My Imagination](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-04-22-98-figments-of-my-imagination) (Embedded.fm)
- [468: Designed to Kill All Humans](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-01-12-468-designed-to-kill-all-humans) (Embedded.fm)
- [464: Please Make This Monster Look Scary](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-11-16-464-please-make-this-monster-look-scary) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17) (The Spark Gap)
- [303: Kids, Turn in Your Chips](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-19-303-kids-turn-in-your-chips) (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/2019-02-04-setting-fire-to-the-tracks. 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.