Embedded

516: Voices From the Cataclysms of the Universe

You can find the embedded.fm survey here: https://forms.gle/xPp8YkX8MXvgUENM7 [https://forms.gle/xPp8YkX8MXvgUENM7] and please consider donating to Elevate Tutoring here: http://donorbox.org/embedded-fm-supports-elevate-tutoring-866250 [http://donorbox.org/embedded-fm-supports-elevate-tutoring-866250]. The survey will be up until the Dec 25th 2025. Sophi Kravitz joined us to talk about art, science, and engineering. You can see Messages from Space [https://sophikravitz.com/project/messages-from-space/] on Sophi's website /sophikravitz.com [https://sophikravitz.com/]). A subset of the artwork had a short stay for a demo at Chabot Space & Science Center [https://chabotspace.org/]. The completed work will be shown in 2026. Sophi mentioned collaborating with two sonic environment artists Sofy Yuditskaya [https://www.yuditskaya.com/] and Ria Rajan [https://rrad.studio/]. Geiger–Müller tube [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geiger%E2%80%93M%C3%BCller_tube] is an ionizing radiation detector. Cosmic rays [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_ray] move through space at nearly the speed of light, generally originating far away and long ago. You can also see them in a cloud chamber, like the one at San Francisco's Exploratorium. [https://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/cloud-chamber] We also talked about using sculpting in Blender (there are many online video introductions). Sophi does EE consulting and system quality checking at her company Greenlight [https://greenlight.place/]. The show this week is sponsored by us. And you. Please consider supporting [https://embedded.fm/support] Embedded.fm [http://embedded.fm/] on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/embedded] or Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/embedded]. Or tell a friend about the show. Transcript [https://embedded.fm/transcripts/516]

515: Script Boomers

Nick Kartsioukas joined us to talk about security in embedded systems. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is the primary database to check your software libraries, tools, and OSs: cve.org [https://www.cve.org/]. Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP, owasp.org [http://owasp.org/]) has information on how to improve security in all kinds of applications, including embedded application security [https://owasp.org/www-project-embedded-application-security/]. There are also cheatsheets, Nick particularly recommends Software Supply Chain Security - OWASP Cheat Sheet [https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Software_Supply_Chain_Security_Cheat_Sheet.html]. Wait, what is supply chain security? Nick suggested a nice article on [https://github.com/resources/articles/what-is-software-supply-chain-security] github.com [http://github.com/]: it is about your code and tools including firmware update, a common weak point in embedded device security. Want to try out some security work? There are capture the flag (CTF) challenges including the Microcorruption CTF (microcorruption.com [https://microcorruption.com/]) which is embedded security related. We also talked about the SANS Holiday Hack Challenge [https://www.sans.org/cyber-ranges/holiday-hack-challenge] (also see Prior SANS Holiday Hack Challenges [https://www.holidayhackchallenge.com/past-challenges/]). This episode is brought to you by RunSafe Security [https://runsafesecurity.com/embeddedfm]. Working with C or C++ in your embedded projects? RunSafe Security helps you build safer, more resilient devices with build-time SBOM generation, vulnerability identification, and patented code hardening. Their Load-time Function Randomization stops the exploit of memory-based attacks, something we all know is much needed. Learn more at RunSafeSecurity.com/embeddedfm [http://runsafesecurity.com/embeddedfm]. Some other sites that have good information embedded security: * This World Of Ours [https://www.usenix.org/system/files/1401_08-12_mickens.pdf] by James Mickens is an easy read about threat modelling * Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is at cisa.gov [https://www.cisa.gov/] and, among other things, they describe SBOMs in great detail [https://www.cisa.gov/sbom] * National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also provides guidance: * Internet of Things (IoT) | NIST [https://www.nist.gov/internet-things-iot] * NIST Cybersecurity for IoT Program [https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nist-cybersecurity-iot-program] * NIST SP800-213 IoT Device Cybersecurity Guidance for the Federal Government: Establishing IoT Device Cybersecurity Requirements [https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/213/final] * There is a group of universities and organizations doing research into embedded security: National Science Foundation Center for Hardware and Embedded Systems Security and Trust (CHEST). Descriptive overview [https://iucrc.nsf.gov/centers/center-for-hardware-and-embedded-system-security-and-trust/] and the site is nsfchest.org [https://www.nsfchest.org/] * European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) - Consumer IoT Security [https://www.etsi.org/technologies/consumer-iot-security] * Camera Ubiquiti configuration issue [https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/15/ubiquiti_camera_privacy/] (what not to do) Finally, Nick mentioned Stop The Bleed [https://www.stopthebleed.org/] which provides training [https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search] on how you can control bleeding, a leading cause of death. They even have a podcast [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/stopthebleedpodcast/] (and we know you like those). Elecia followed up with Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) [https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/individuals-communities/preparedness-activities-webinars/community-emergency-response-team]. Call your local fire department and ask about training near you! Transcript [https://embedded.fm/transcripts/515]

514: Just Turn Off All the Computers

Philip Koopman joined us to talk about embedded systems becoming embodied and intelligent. We focus on the safety considerations of making an intelligent and embodied device. Phil's new book is Embodied AI Safety: Reimagining safety engineering for artificial intelligence in physical systems [https://www.amazon.com/Embodied-Safety-Reimagining-engineering-intelligence-ebook/dp/B0FXBXCS2W/]. It uses robotaxis as an example as it discusses safety, security, human/computer interface, AI, and a bit of legal theory for tort negligence. If you'd like a taster, Phil gave a wonderful summary in his video: Keynote Talk: Embodied AI Safety [https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/keynote-talk-embodied-ai-safety] This new book is intended for a wider (less devotedly technical) audience than his book How Safe Is Safe Enough?: Measuring and Predicting Autonomous Vehicle Safety [https://www.amazon.com/How-Safe-Enough-Predicting-Autonomous-ebook/dp/B0CWHG98W2/]. Phil was last on the show in episode 473: Math Is Not the Answer [https://embedded.fm/episodes/473] where we spoke about his book Understanding Checksums and Cyclic Redundancy Checks [https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Checksums-Cyclic-Redundancy-Checks-ebook/dp/B0CVXWDZ99/] Transcript [https://embedded.fm/transcripts/514] Thank you! This episode is sponsored by you, our listeners! If you'd like to become members and get ad-free episodes as well as bonus shows, sign up at Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/embedded] or Ko-Fi. [https://ko-fi.com/embedded] Thanks for listening.

513: I'm Sorry You Learned Something

Jason Turner of C++ Weekly and Empty Crate spoke with us about the joy of puzzles, the changing directions of an interesting career, and the C++ programming language. I mean, of course we talked about C++. But only a little. Jason recently published Programming Puzzles Big Book: 400 pages of fun for ages 7-99 [https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Puzzles-Big-Book-pages/dp/B0FP312CRT], a book of puzzles for the logically minded. It teaches programming concepts as engaging puzzles: recursion, binary, assembly, Lisp, regular expressions. You may not know what you are learning but you'll likely find you know a lot more about how computers work afterward. For the puzzles, paper is better than electronic. But you can also get the electronic version on LeanPub [https://leanpub.com/programming_puzzles_for_everyone] (which is better if you like to get lost in Wikipedia links). This is not Jason's first puzzle book, he's made them for C++ Object Lifetime and Copy and Reference (see his Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jason-Turner/author/B0034N9C8G] and LeanPub [https://leanpub.com/u/jason_turner] author page for other books as well). If you want to catch up on C++, check out C++ Weekly With Jason Turner - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHAlbZQNFU2LgEtiqd2Maw]. Note the playlists are useful if you are looking for a deep dive on a particular topic. If you want to get more out of C++ in your organization, Jason's consulting company is Empty Crate [https://articles.emptycrate.com/training.html]. His contact page is there as well (or look for lefticus on most social media platforms). Transcript [https://embedded.fm/transcripts/513] If you're interested in how 3D printing is changing design engineering, Mouser Electronics has some great resources to check out. Their Empowering Innovation Together platform is taking a deep dive into additive manufacturing—covering smarter production, faster prototyping, and breakthrough materials that move ideas beyond prototypes into real-world products. You'll find podcasts, expert articles, and videos that keep you informed and inspired. Sound like your thing? Head to Mouser.com/empowering-innovation [https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation] and explore.

512: What if I Didn't Stop?

Katherine "Smalls" Connell spoke with us about making thin and flexible circuits, making stretchable electronics, and running a successful Kickstarter. Katherine's Kickstarter: Sprite Lights LED Body Art (light-up tattoo) [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artbyphysicist/sprite-lights-led-body-art-light-up-tattoo]. Katherine shares her makes, describing her build process for companion robots and other projects. You can find her as The Small Wonder on Hackster.io [https://www.hackster.io/TheSmallWonder] and Hackaday.io [https://hackaday.io/thesmallwonder]. She often goes by Smalls on other social media. We talked about a paper on making stretchable circuits: Silicone devices: A scalable DIY approach for fabricating self-contained multi-layered soft circuits using microfluidics [https://www.krisluyten.net/publications/dblp_conf_chi_nagelsrld18/]. Transcript [https://embedded.fm/transcripts/512] If you're interested in how 3D printing is changing design engineering, Mouser Electronics has some great resources to check out. Their Empowering Innovation Together platform is taking a deep dive into additive manufacturing—covering smarter production, faster prototyping, and breakthrough materials that move ideas beyond prototypes into real-world products. You'll find podcasts, expert articles, and videos that keep you informed and inspired. Sound like your thing? Head to Mouser.com/empowering-innovation [https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation] and explore.