Maker & Hobby
Subscribe Now

Ray Holt, inventor of the first microprocessor chip set, needs our help.

Ray Holt, inventor of the first microprocessor chip set, which was used as the digital flight computer in the US Navy’s F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, is ill and needs our help. I first wrote about Ray in 2022 (see “Ray Holt and the CADC – The World’s First Military Digital Flight Computer”). That article … Read More → "Ray Holt, inventor of the first microprocessor chip set, needs our help."

Make It So: Agentic AI Comes to Flux

I remember “ye olden days” when we (humans) designed electronic products by hand—conceiving circuits, selecting components, drawing schematics, laying out printed circuit boards (PCBs)… Can you imagine instead just telling an AI, “Make me a [your product here] for consumer use,” and it actually does it? Well, that day has arrived.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll doubtless say it … Read More → "Make It So: Agentic AI Comes to Flux"

Migrating SWaP-C-Constrained Aerospace & Defense Apps to VNX+

As usual, my poor old noggin is spinning like a top. I’ve just learned more than I ever wanted to know about the problems with the existing PC/104 and VITA 74 (VNX) standards, along with the advantages promised by the recent introduction of the VITA 90 (VNX+) offering.

Before we plunge into the fray with gusto and abandon (and aplomb, of course), let’s … Read More → "Migrating SWaP-C-Constrained Aerospace & Defense Apps to VNX+"

Meet the ManT1S: Computing, Comms, and Power Over Single Pair Ethernet

I’m always impressed by engineers who possess the ability to identify a market need and then create a tailored solution that elegantly addresses the situation. I’m not that sort of engineer (it’s a wise man who knows his own limitations).

In my case, I have the almost uncanny ability to misidentify a market need (to identify a non-need if you … Read More → "Meet the ManT1S: Computing, Comms, and Power Over Single Pair Ethernet"

WTW (“What the What”)? Another 100 Mindboggling Columns!

“Good grief, Charlie Brown!” I just exclaimed upon realizing that I’ve hit another 100-column milestone (including this one) here on EE Journal. That makes 400 columns since I joined the community.

As my columns average around 1,500 words apiece, that’s a whopping 600,000 words—each one handpicked at the crack of dawn whilst still glistening with the morning dew, fresh, fragrant, and … Read More → "WTW (“What the What”)? Another 100 Mindboggling Columns!"

October 15, 2025
July 22, 2025
October 10, 2024
October 9, 2024
September 10, 2024
August 27, 2024
August 14, 2024
June 19, 2024
May 17, 2024
April 11, 2024
March 5, 2024
February 23, 2024
February 6, 2024
December 4, 2023
December 1, 2023
November 29, 2023
November 22, 2023
November 17, 2023
October 5, 2023
October 3, 2023
September 22, 2023
September 15, 2023
September 13, 2023
August 23, 2023
August 22, 2023
featured blogs
Nov 14, 2025
Exploring an AI-only world where digital minds build societies while humans lurk outside the looking glass....
chalk talks
Accessing AWS IoT Services Securely over LTE-M — AWS, u-blox, SparkFun Electronics and Mouser Electronics  Developing a connected IoT design from scratch can be a complicated endeavor. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton, Harald Kröll from u-blox, Lucio Di Jasio from AWS, and Rob Reynolds from SparkFun Electronics examine the details of the AWS IoT ExpressLink SARA-R5 starter kit. They explore the common IoT development design challenges … Read More → "Accessing AWS IoT Services Securely over LTE-M — AWS, u-blox, SparkFun Electronics and Mouser Electronics"
LEMBAS LTE/GNSS USB Modem from TE Connectivity — TE Connectivity and Mouser Electronics  In today’s growing IoT design community, there is an increasing need for a smart connectivity system that helps both makers and enterprises get to market quickly. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton chats with Jin Kim from TE Connectivity about TE’s LEMBAS LTE/GNSS USB Modem and how this plug-and-play solution can help … Read More → "LEMBAS LTE/GNSS USB Modem from TE Connectivity — TE Connectivity and Mouser Electronics"
Matter & NXP — Mouser Electronics and NXP  Interoperability in our growing Internet of things ecosystem has been a challenge for years. But the new Matter standard is looking to change all of that. It could not only make homes smarter but our design lives easier as well. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Sujata Neidig from NXP examine … Read More → "Matter & NXP — Mouser Electronics and NXP"
Meet the Latest Wireless Member of the DARWIN Family  Your next MCU needs to be more than just smart. It needs to be power-efficient, have ample memory, and industrial-grade security. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton chats with Zach Metzinger of Maxim Integrated about the latest member of the DARWIN family with a new RISC-V co-processor. Click here for more information … Read More → "Meet the Latest Wireless Member of the DARWIN Family"
TI Robotics System Learning Kit – Texas Instruments and Mouser Electronics  Robotics projects can get complicated quickly, and finding a set of components, controllers, networking, and software that plays nicely together is a real headache. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton chats with Mark Easley of Texas Instruments aVBOUT THE TI-RSLK Robotics Kit, which will get you up and running on your next … Read More → "TI Robotics System Learning Kit – Texas Instruments and Mouser Electronics"
Bluetooth Overview — Silicon Labs and Mouser Electronics   Bluetooth has come a long way in recent years, and adding the latest Bluetooth features to your next design is easier than ever. It’s time to ditch the cables and go wireless. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton chats with Mark Beecham of Silicon labs about the latest Bluetooth capabilities including … Read More → "Bluetooth Overview — Silicon Labs and Mouser Electronics"