The Amp Hour · 12 Jul 2021 · 1h 11m · Episode 549
Shrouk El-Attar, an electronics engineer at LV (Elvi), discusses designing FemTech products like the LV pump and LV trainer, which utilize piezoelectricity and force-sensitive resistors. She details her work with microcontrollers such as the nRF52 and STM32, and her experience using KiCad for open-source hardware projects like the OpenVent ventilator. El-Attar also shares her journey as a refugee and advocate, highlighting the importance of representation in engineering and the creative intersection of technology and art.
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Alexandra Covor, a product manager at Zalmotek and Ada Lovelace Fellow, discusses her journey as a maker who blends electronics with art. She details specific projects like the tiny violin PCB, the PicoLight studio light, and an automated hydroponic strawberry system using Edge Impulse and Waylay. Covor also shares insights on her master's curriculum, the Romanian tech scene, and her philosophy on open-source hardware and PCB design aesthetics.
Helen Leigh, Head of Community at CrowdSupply and author of The Crafty Kid's Guide to DIY Electronics, discusses her upcoming book on DIY music technology and her transition from freelance maker to corporate community leader. She details specific projects including a soft CrackleBox built with embroidered traces and an LM386 amplifier, the Mini.Mu gesture-sensing gloves created with Imogen Heap and Pimoroni, and a purring tentacle designed for comfort. The conversation covers microcontroller selection (Teensy, Arduino, Makey Makey), conductive materials like Madeira thread, and the rigorous vetting process at CrowdSupply compared to other platforms.
The host of The Electromaker Show reviews the August Electromaker of the Month winners, including a QR code access system by SwAWEC 13, a smoke detection project by Blatz 01 using Nordic Semiconductor kits, and a light-based audio transmission project by Yeshvanth M. He also discusses the MNT Pocket Reform, a modular open-source mini laptop, and GlowStich LEDs, which are sewing-machine-compatible conductive strips for wearable tech. Additionally, the episode covers Femto, an ultra-compact RP2040 development board, and a 3D-printed electronic guitar built with multiple ESP32 microcontrollers.
Debra Ansell, founder of Bright Wearables and creator of Geek Mom Projects, discusses her journey from a physics background to building LED wearables and educational products. She details the design of modular, light-up backpacks using the micro:bit platform, explaining how she learned PCB design in EAGLE to create a system where electronics snap into bags. Ansell also covers her experience patenting these inventions, the challenges of marketing an educational tool, and her philosophy on rapid prototyping with laser cutters and Cricuts.
Limor Fried, founder of Adafruit, discusses the company's 13-year history of manufacturing open-source hardware in New York, highlighting recent products like the PyGamer and PyBadge. She explains the engineering philosophy behind TinyUSB, an open-source USB stack developed by engineer Hathach to replace proprietary vendor stacks, and details the business model of supporting a community of 4,000 products. Fried emphasizes that while hardware design is easy, the value lies in firmware, documentation, and tutorials, which she balances with business operations and education.
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