Dive into the electrifying world of electrical engineering with Circuit Break, a MacroFab podcast hosted by Parker Dillmann and Stephen Kraig. This dynamic duo, armed with practical experience and a palpable passion for tech, explores the latest innovations, industry news, and practical challenges in the field. From DIY project hurdles to deep dives with industry experts, Parker and Stephen's real-world insights provide an engaging learning experience that bridges theory and practice for engineers at any stage of their career. Whether you're a student eager to grasp what the job market seeks, or an engineer keen to stay ahead in the fast-paced tech world, Circuit Break is your go-to. The hosts, alongside a vibrant community of engineers, makers, and leaders, dissect product evolutions, demystify the journey of tech from lab to market, and reverse engineer the processes behind groundbreaking advancements. Their candid discussions not only enlighten but also inspire listeners to explore the limitless possibilities within electrical engineering...
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episode 391: EP#391: DFS: Design for Snackey
This special episode is recorded at DEF CON, the annual hacker community gathering in Las Vegas. Hyr0n and Zapp from AND!XOR dive into the troubleshooting and triumphs of the Snackey vending machine project. From battling long queues to AI-enhanced innovation and mind-boggling challenges, explore the technical and creative journey behind this badge that will ignite your taste buds!
Guests:
- Hyr0n & Zapp from AND!XOR
Troubleshooting Snackey at DEF CON
- Snackey was a hit! The vending machine attracted 2-hour long queues
- Troubleshooting a myriad of issues from a bag of potato chips getting stuck to power and display malfunctions
- A primary glitch: Snackey refused to boot up, only to discover an extension cord mistaken for the real power source
AI-Enhanced Snackey and Delving into Design
- Behind the scenes, the badge's back-end infrastructure hinged on CircuitPython, while AI, including Bard and ChatGPT, played a pivotal role in certain aspects
- An example of AI integration: modifying the progress bar script
- AI, however, was exclusively utilized for software, not hardware components
- AI came into play when a deep fake video featuring Billy Mays was created for the AND!XOR DC31 Trailer
- Zapp walks us through the intricate design layers of the badge which included woodworking & laser engraving
Badge Challenges 2023
- The Gopher challenge presented a blend of traditional cybersecurity tasks and connection points, offering a puzzle for attendees to decipher
- A coin cell on the back of the badge transformed it into Snackey Jr. and provided some clever misdirection for those who thought it was a battery cell slot
- The Pizza Emoji Challenge, with its Morse code and homage to the TV remote inventor, showcased the multifaceted nature of Snackey's puzzles
Summary/Takeaways:
- A key challenge for next year will be elevating the speed of Snackey’s operations to reduce wait times
- The collaborative essence of DEF CON highlights the ever-evolving landscape of hacking and creative engineering
Connect with AND!XOR:
- Website: https://www.andnxor.com/
- Github: https://github.com/ANDnXOR
- Hackady.io: https://hackaday.io/ANDnXOR
- X: https://twitter.com/ANDnXOR
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