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.

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