Lex Fridman Podcast #372 – Simone Giertz: Queen of Sh*tty Robots, Innovative Engineering, and Design
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Apr 16, 2023 
Simone Giertz, an inventive roboticist and designer known for her humorous approach to engineering, shares her fascinating journey from overcoming a brain tumor to creating quirky robots. She discusses the joy of tackling mundane design challenges and the humorous side of engineering, including her work on a Tesla pickup project and unique musical devices. Simone emphasizes the importance of self-care and vulnerability in the creative process, while also addressing the struggles of imposter syndrome, particularly for women in technology.
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Wooden Spoon
- Simone Giertz's earliest creation was a wooden spoon in middle school.
- She felt pride in showing her creation to her parents, a feeling she's built her career on.
iPhone Guitar
- Giertz's first electronics project was an iPhone case with retractable guitar strings.
- It used capacitive touch and Bluetooth to play chords based on screen input.
First Project Perseverance
- Giertz built the iPhone guitar with little prior programming or iOS app experience.
- She attributes her success to a "bloodhound" mentality.