Author Archives: Bill

Build your own computer-stabilized flying UAV/RPV drone platform

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Bill

What distinguishes a radio-controlled  aircraft from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (or “drone”) is the presence of an on-board computer (the Auto-Pilot Module, or APM) capable of flying the vehicle with or without direct control of a person. I’ve been following … Continue reading →

Posted in Remotely Piloted Vehicles | 3 Comments

In-car apps; who’s responsible when something goes wrong? – UPDATED

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Bill

Next year, you’ll be able to update your car with your favourite “mobile” applications in-car (Forbes, Smart-Car Wars).   Once car makers start mixing their code with 3rd party developers, who is responsible when something goes wrong?   It may be … Continue reading →

Posted in Software | Leave a comment

“Simply Unsustainable” – To the tune of “Simply Irresistible”

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Bill

Dedicated to wayyy too many start-ups, founders, and politicians (music video): How can it be permissible.. It’s compromise my principles, yeah yeah That kind of love is mythical.. It’s anything but typical It’s a craze you’d endorse, it’s a powerful … Continue reading →

Posted in Business | Leave a comment

Director of Firmware Development at DVI

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Bill

Director of firmware development was my position at an ambitious start-up seeking to redefine the storage industry.  The underlying storage technology seemed capable of leapfrogging magnetic drive densities by at least a decade (including HAMR drives).   I was hired to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | 2 Comments

90th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bill

Working communications for the 90th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) made for a long day.   Arriving at 3AM to set-up, and finishing after 8PM, it proved taxing and rewarding.   The race was delayed 37 days due … Continue reading →

Posted in Amateur Radio | 2 Comments

Quicksilver Radio

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Bill

After deploying for the Springer fire, arson investigation, and the Waldo Canyon fires, I have a few days to get ready for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (delayed due to fire).    Getting up on the mountain at 3AM, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Amateur Radio | Leave a comment

Arduino Iambic Keyer and Side Tone Generator

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Bill

The latest issue of QEX (March/April) came this week with an article about an open-source keyer (pages 25-31).   This article referenced an earlier QEX article from Sept/Oct 2009 using an Arduino.    Since I have a Bencher paddle lying around, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Amateur Radio | 20 Comments

How-To Configure the Xilinx FPGA Design Suite 13.3 Under RHEL/CentOS 6.x & Fedora 15

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Bill

Initial Install The Xilinx Integrated Software Environment (ISE) 13.3 is the first version that is supported by Xilinx to run under RHEL/CentOS 6.x.   We’ll now step through how-to configure the Xilinx FPGA design suite. If you have purchased a Xilinx … Continue reading →

Posted in FPGA | 9 Comments

Shred Baby Shred!

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Bill

I was happily shredding some documents the other day when suddenly my Fellowes POWERSHRED 420HS ground to a halt.    This DOD approved high-security shredder has been serving me well for almost a decade: It creates indecipherable chaff (shred baby food): … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | Leave a comment

I bought my wife an Android, and now she has Tourette’s

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Bill

’nuff said..

Posted in Technology | 1 Comment