# The Walmart Greeter of Electronics

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2026-09-18
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 734
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/734-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics/

## Summary

Dave Jones of EEVblog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss the shift toward practical engineering education at universities like the University of Sydney, the rise of open-source robotics kits like the Seeed Studio SO-101 and Hugging Face's Micro Duck, and the impact of AI tools like Astra GPT Six on PCB design. They explore how AI is changing the learning curve for young engineers, with Jones mentoring his employee Dylan on voltage regulator selection and Gammell positioning himself as a welcoming 'Walmart greeter' for new hobbyists entering the electronics space.

## Chapters

- [0:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=49) University of Sydney Engineering and Grad Outcomes
- [16:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=960) Open Source Robotics: Seeed Studio SO-101 and Micro Duck
- [21:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=1284) Calculator Forensics and Processor Architecture
- [25:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=1535) Mentoring Dylan on Voltage Regulator Selection
- [35:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=2106) Astra GPT Six and AI in PCB Design
- [50:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=3052) Reverse Engineering Rigol DNA800 RF Sections
- [59:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics#t=3547) Toaster Design Story and Industry News

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- EEVblog (company)
- Contextual Electronics (company)
- University of Sydney (other)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- SO-101 (product)
- Hugging Face (company)
- Micro Duck (product)
- Astra GPT Six (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- Rigol DNA800 (product)
- Espressif (company)
- ESP32 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Design for AI & the PCB Design Education Revolution w/ John Watson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson) (OnTrack)
- [How PCEA is Transforming Electronics Education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-17-how-pcea-is-transforming-electronics-education) (OnTrack)
- [The Future of PCB Design Education: HaSofu Founder Kirsch Mackey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-21-the-future-of-pcb-design-education-hasofu-founder-kirsch-mackey) (OnTrack)
- [539: My Ai Powered Ergonomic Chair](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair) (Making It)
- [35: All These Different Reasons Why You Might Want to Do Something](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-15-35-all-these-different-reasons-why-you-might-want-to-do-something) (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/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics. 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.