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...
https://www.macrofab.com/podcasts/
episode 9: EP#9: Robots with Feelings
**Podcast Notes**
* Parker and Stephen continue work on the [Super Simple Power Supply](https://github.com/MacroFab/SSPS). There is a full on simulation of the analog section on MultiSim.
* Stephen found a better way to control the analog end with two separate 16bit DACs. One controls the negative end and the other one controls the positive end of the ompamp. 16 x 2 Blast Bit Processing!
* Parker is working on a ESP8266 development board for the Parallax Propeller called the [Bit Flicker](https://github.com/LonghornEngineer/Propeller_Development_Bit_Flicker). Will use the [blynk.cc]( http://www.blynk.cc/). This will enable the SSPS to be IoT enabled!
* SAIM Servos arrived. Chassis should be finished by Monday. They past the built in servo "test" routine. See Figure 1.
* Transistor Wars: The Vacuum Tube Strikes Back. [Vacuum channel transistor](http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/introducing-the-vacuum-transistor-a-device-made-of-nothing) that switches as fast as 460GHz. No substrate for the gate and has a helium vacuum.
* [What is truly a robot?](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/what-is-a-human/473166/) Article states that people talk about robots in a broad fashion. Where “robot” is just used as a metaphor to describe the vast array of automation in the material world. Possible accepted definition of "robot" in academic circles has been: "Sense, think, act." Who is in control of the action? Is a pick and place a robot? See Figure 2.
* [Gallium Oxide substrate for Power Devices.](http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/materials/gallium-oxide-power-electronics-cool-new-flavor) Has a huge electron-volt band gap of 5eV compared to gallium nitrite which is 3.4eV. Gallium nitrite was what the transistors in the [LittleBox challenge](https://www.littleboxchallenge.com/) where made of. Higher eV allows for a thinner substrate.
For more info and pictures go to our blog!