Hackaday Podcast Ep 316: Soft Robots, Linux the Hard Way, Cellphones into SBCs, and the Circuit Graver
Apr 11, 2025
The hosts dive into the excitement of the Vintage Computer Festival East and the Philadelphia Maker Faire, celebrating the charm of vintage tech. They discuss innovative soft robotics, including a remarkable salamander robot, and a minimalist approach to running Linux on just three 8-pin ICs. Enhancing ESP32 performance with antenna hacks and repurposing old cellphones into single-board computers are explored, showcasing creative recycling. The podcast wraps up with insights into the shifting web browser landscape and the remarkable accuracy of a new circuit board engraving machine.
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Vintage Tech and Maker Faire
- Tom Nardi shared his experience attending Vintage Computer Festival East and Philadelphia Maker Faire on the same weekend.
- He was impressed by the engaging exhibits, including RC Mad Max-style cars with FPV cameras that kids eagerly enjoyed controlling.
Soft Robots Revolutionize Safety
- Soft robotics offer safer interaction with humans by using compliant materials instead of complex sensing.
- Soyboy Soft's home-fabricated salamander robot combines 3D printing and silicone muscles to achieve novel walking and dancing motions.
Linux on 8-Pin ICs Hack
- Dimitri Grinberg ran Linux on a trio of 8-pin ICs, creating a tiny kit for beginners to solder that boots Linux.
- The project involved clever multiplexing hacks enabling interactive, albeit slow, Linux operation on minimal hardware.