# Vertically Integrated Design Engineering

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-08-05
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 453
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/453-vertically-integrated-design-engineering/

## Summary

Dave Jones of EEV Blog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss hardware design challenges, including Jones's complex USB and power delivery implementation for the Micro Supply and Gammell's exploration of low-cost components like the three-cent microcontroller. They analyze the strategic value of sticking to familiar microcontrollers versus selecting parts based on technical merit, and discuss the impact of tariffs and supply chain shifts on small-scale manufacturers. The episode concludes with Jones sharing insights from his visit to the Apollo 11 tracking stations and the making of the documentary 'Apollo 11'.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=0) Introduction and Low-Cost Component Hunt
- [2:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=157) Designing a Distributed Blinky Project
- [6:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=384) Microcontroller Selection and Pick Parts
- [15:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=925) RF Layout and Antenna Design Tips
- [28:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=1687) Micro Supply USB and Power Delivery Challenges
- [40:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=2419) Conference Updates: Chaos Camp and Black Hat
- [46:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=2770) Supply Chain, Tariffs, and RISC-V
- [1:02:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering#t=3767) Apollo 11 Tracking and Documentary

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- EEV Blog (company)
- Contextual Electronics (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Micro Supply (product)
- STM32 (chip)
- TS100 (product)
- TS80 (product)
- LCSC (company)
- JLCPCB (company)
- PCBWay (company)
- Oshpark (company)
- Apollo 11 (product)
- ARIA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2018-01-01-the-spark-gap-episode-52) (The Spark Gap)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-b56cece1) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [471: Bicycle Built For Two](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-02-22-471-bicycle-built-for-two) (Embedded.fm)
- [372: The Motivation of Creativity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity) (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/2019-08-05-vertically-integrated-design-engineering. 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.