Optimization Beast

The Amp Hour · 10 Feb 2020 · 1h 05m · Episode 478

What this episode covers

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a sophisticated impersonation scam targeting Dave, the passing of analog legend Barry Gilbert, and the logistics of moving labs. They announce KiCon 2020 at CERN, analyze the Starlink satellite network's latency and orbital debris issues, and review the Fairchild FSBB20 IGBT module, detailing its unique staggered pin package for high-voltage isolation. The episode concludes with a discussion on engineering productivity, task switching, and firmware debugging challenges.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists and early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Fairchild, CERN, Astra, DigiKey
Products: Starlink
Chips: FSBB20
Also: Barry Gilbert, KiCon, Ron Kwan

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast17 Mar 2022 · 1h 12m
056 - Listening to Jupiter
Oleg Kutkov, a reverse engineer from Kyiv, details his work reverse engineering SpaceX Starlink terminals and satellites, explaining how he bypassed security to access the underlying Linux kernel and custom 'SpaceX Launcher' software. He discusses the technical challenges of using a HackRF supercluster to monitor Starlink beacons, specifically citing phase noise issues, and describes his Allsky Camera project which was repurposed for medical research. Kutkov also covers his Tesla LTE modem replacement and the use of tools like Saleae logic analyzers and IDA Pro in his hardware hacking process.
PCB design & layout Wireless & RF
8 chapters
EE Times Current6 Nov 2020
This Year’s Model | Intel’s & Leti’s Trans-Atlantic Packaging | First Worm
Altair SVP Pete Darnell explains the complexity of 'megatronics'—combining mechanical, electronic, and software models—and shares a case study where inaccurate physical assumptions forced daily model updates for a large haptic device. Don Scansen discusses a new collaboration between CEA Leti and Intel to develop 3D packaging and active interposer technology for high-performance computing. The episode also covers the historical significance of the Morris Worm, which took down 10% of the early internet and led to the creation of CERT.
Embedded firmware Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors
7 chapters
Hackaday Podcast14 Jun 2019 · 55m
Ep023: Everything Breaks... Raspberry Pi, ADS-B, Hackaday Website, and Automotive Airbags
Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss the closure of Maker Media, a GPS hardware failure grounding flights, and a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ power management chip vulnerability. They also review community hacks including a vintage speech synthesizer, an SOIC test clip debug connector, and a mechanical drum machine, before analyzing the Takata airbag scandal.
Debugging & failure analysis Microcontrollers & dev platforms
7 chapters
Go/No-Go27 Oct 2025 · 1h 09m
Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly talk about building scalable ground stations for satellite networks; cyberattacks on automakers, lead in protein powder; look back at the 1986 Challenger disaster
Bridgit Mendler, CEO, and Griffin Cleverly, CTO of Northwood Space, explain how they are building scalable, phased-array ground stations to connect with satellites, leveraging cellular supply chains to reduce costs and increase deployment speed. They discuss their 'novel in the aggregate' approach, in-house manufacturing strategy, and the complex regulatory hurdles of deploying a global network. The episode also covers recent manufacturing news, including a cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, nuclear waste regulations affecting Radiant's microreactors, lithium battery fires on Air China flights, and lead contamination in protein powders, before concluding with a detailed analysis of the organizational failures leading to the 1986 Challenger disaster.
PCB design & layout Wireless & RF
10 chapters
Hackaday Podcast15 Oct 2021 · 52m
Ep140: Aqua Battery, IBM Cheese Cutter, Waiting for USB-C, and Digging ADCs
Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a range of hardware hacks, including an autonomous Akrano ground-effect vehicle by Kavan, a water-based battery experiment by Quint Builds, and a discrete ADC built from logic chips by Mitsuru Yamada. They also cover the restoration of an IBM cheese cutter, the EU's move to standardize USB-C for mobile devices, and the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy. The episode highlights the technical details of these projects and the broader implications of standardization and space debris.
PCB design & layout Energy & climate tech
8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.

Optimization Beast

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

056 - Listening to Jupiter

This Year’s Model | Intel’s & Leti’s Trans-Atlantic Packaging | First Worm

Ep023: Everything Breaks... Raspberry Pi, ADS-B, Hackaday Website, and Automotive Airbags

Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly talk about building scalable ground stations for satellite networks; cyberattacks on automakers, lead in protein powder; look back at the 1986 Challenger disaster

Ep140: Aqua Battery, IBM Cheese Cutter, Waiting for USB-C, and Digging ADCs