Articles – Page 10

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad 48V World

April 17, 2025

It seems that many of our electronic systems (communications, computing, automotive, industrial, etc.) are transitioning from 12V to 48V. How are you going to power yours? (Don’t worry, that’s a trick question because I’m about to expound, explicate, and elucidate like an Olympic champion.)

For some reason, I currently find the phrase “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad 48V World” bouncing around my bonce. Since we’re already on the subject, the 1963 movie, Read More → "It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad 48V World"

Only the Most Epic Embedded Online Conference Ever!

by Max Maxfield

April 15, 2025

The value of online (virtual) conferences is increasing in leaps and bounds as travel becomes more problematic and time is increasingly at a premium. Some of these events “stand proud in the crowd,” as it were. Allow me to expound, elucidate, and explicate.

When it comes to embedded space (where no one can hear you scream), the virtual extravaganza on everybody’s lips is the Embedded Online Conference (EOC).

Microchip’s new $30 debugger fulfills Jack Ganssle’s prophecy from 30 years ago

by Steven Leibson

April 14, 2025

Microchip didn’t become a leading microcontroller vendor by accident. The company built its PIC microcontroller business from nothing to significant market share over two decades by cultivating developers, starting with college undergraduates. The company did this by offering a broad product line, inexpensive tools, and plenty of support. Microchip’s latest offering, a programming and debugging tool that sells for less than $30, continues that winning strategy.

Despite having far too many words in its product name, the MPLAB PICkit Basic In-Circuit Debugger provides embedded developers with a combined debugger and programmer that … Read More → "Microchip’s new $30 debugger fulfills Jack Ganssle’s prophecy from 30 years ago"

Is Integral Mind’s Digital Enlightenment Platform a True Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?

by Max Maxfield

April 10, 2025

The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. A lot of people (my dear old mother, for one) think I’m clever. One thing I do know is how wrong they are. I have known a lot of clever people in my time, so I have something to compare myself against, and I’m afraid I don’t come out well.

I’m sad to say that I never got to meet the English mathematician John Horton Conway, who was born on the 26th of December 1937 in Liverpool, England, … Read More → "Is Integral Mind’s Digital Enlightenment Platform a True Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?"

Finding HP: An Italian Engineer’s Journey

by Steven Leibson

April 9, 2025

Archaeologists are people who study “human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.” Over the past few decades, a new type of archaeologist has appeared. They’re devoted to the analysis and preservation of electronic test and measurement equipment in a manner similar to old car aficionados who lovingly restore and modify old automobiles. Among the technology archaeologists I’ve met and call my friends are Marc Verdeil, who publishes fascinating repair and restoration videos on YouTube as “Read More → "Finding HP: An Italian Engineer’s Journey"

Lip-Bu Tan sets the course for Intel

by Steven Leibson

April 7, 2025

Lip-Bu Tan gave his first keynote speech as Intel’s new CEO on March 31 at the Intel Vision event in Las Vegas. He’d been on the job for only 14 days, so this venue gave Lip-Bu his first opportunity to speak directly to Intel’s customers as a group and to tell them about his plans for the company. He started by providing some insight into his background. I’ve already covered this information in a previous article: “Lip-Bu Tan steps into the Intel CEO role. … Read More → "Lip-Bu Tan sets the course for Intel"

TASKBOTs Set to Seamlessly Integrate into Human Workplace Environments

by Max Maxfield

April 3, 2025

I fear that my poor old cranium has been crammed to capacity with contemporary concepts. For example, I have always understood the abbreviations HIL or HITL to mean “hardware-in-the-loop” in the context of simulation and emulation. Now, however, I have discovered they can also refer to “human-in-the-loop,” which is an experience I’ve not hitherto enjoyed myself.

When I hear “human-in-the-loop,” I cannot help but think about “The Borg Collective,” which is a hive mind of cyborgs in the Star Trek universe. A similar concept is also explored in < … Read More → "TASKBOTs Set to Seamlessly Integrate into Human Workplace Environments"

Max Maxfield publishes an Arduino Uno Bootcamp article series for embedded students and beginners

by Steven Leibson

April 2, 2025

My friend and EEJournal colleague Max Maxfield writes for several publications. Case in point is a 24-article Arduino Bootcamp series he has written for his Cool Beans column in Practical Electronics magazine, published in the UK. This series of articles is now downloadable as a PDF bundle. The series was two years in the making and sells for the low, low price of £20. If you’re interested, click here. If you think that’s too much to pay for a 24-article reprint, consider what … Read More → "Max Maxfield publishes an Arduino Uno Bootcamp article series for embedded students and beginners"

Findchips: From Engineer’s Hack to Advanced Component Search Engine

by Max Maxfield

April 1, 2025

As I may have mentioned on occasion, one of my favorite science fiction movies is the 1982 American-Hong Kong dystopian science fiction movie Blade Runner, which was directed by Ridley Scott and is often rated as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever (it was based on the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick).

The reason I mention this here is that one of the never-to-be-forgotten scenes in the movie is the “< … Read More → "Findchips: From Engineer’s Hack to Advanced Component Search Engine"

The Resharp story: A knife-sharpening robot may have taken root in your local hardware store

by Steven Leibson

March 31, 2025

The practice of putting sharp edges on cutting tools dates back more than two million years. That’s when we think genus Homo started using hammerstones to break off parts of a rock to form sharp cutting edges. Things have changed since then. Based on numerous YouTube videos devoted to the topic, knife sharpening has evolved into high art. Now, it’s reached the point where robots can do a respectable job of sharpening knives. You’ll likely find one of these robots at your local hardware store.

Back in my Cub Scout … Read More → "The Resharp story: A knife-sharpening robot may have taken root in your local hardware store"