# An Interview with Kerry Scharfglass

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-04-06
- Length: 1h 17m
- Episode: 487
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/487-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass/

## Summary

Kerry Scharfglass, firmware lead at span.io, discusses her journey from designing the Dragonfly DEF CON badge to working on early Amazon Echo hardware and dockless scooters. She details the technical challenges of the badge, including PCB layering and LED control, and contrasts the high-velocity, high-risk environment of consulting with the long-term reliability requirements of home energy systems. Scharfglass explains how span.io integrates solar and battery components into a single smart panel to simplify installation and improve user experience for both homeowners and solar installers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=0) Introduction: Kerry Scharfglass and Badge Life
- [2:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=135) Dragonfly Badge Design and Manufacturing
- [4:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=260) Lessons from Small-Scale Hardware Production
- [20:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=1216) Early Amazon Echo and IoT Architecture
- [34:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=2073) Dockless Scooter Development at Mindtrib
- [50:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=3011) Transition to span.io and Home Energy Systems
- [1:00:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=3618) span.io Product Design and Installer Experience
- [1:10:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass#t=4203) KiCad Updates and Embedded File Systems

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Dragonfly badge (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- Amazon Echo (product)
- OMAP-3 (chip)
- Mindtrib (company)
- span.io (company)
- Upverter (tool)
- LittleFS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [203: Save My Board](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-06-08-203-save-my-board) (Embedded.fm)
- [228: Pedantic or Andrantic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-01-03-228-pedantic-or-andrantic) (Embedded.fm)
- [429: The Fabric of Your Lungs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-09-429-the-fabric-of-your-lungs) (Making It)
- [173: Everything's Amazing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-26-173-everythings-amazing) (Embedded.fm)
- [Bonus: From Solid Con](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-03-bonus-from-solid-con) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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