Coredump Sessions

Spotify DetailsIn today's Coredump Session, François Baldassari and Chris Coleman sit down with Ross Yeager, VP of Device Platform Software at Skydio, to explore how autonomy is reshaping modern robotics and what it takes to build drones that can truly think for themselves. Ross shares his journey from Boosted Boards to Skydio, unpacking how the company pioneered fully autonomous flight, built a vertically integrated manufacturing operation in California, and created a foundation that blends cutting-edge software and hardware. It’s a conversation about leadership, innovation, and the engineering mindset behind one of the most advanced drone platforms in the world.
Key Takeaways:
Ross Yeager's journey into embedded engineering began with a passion for electronics and product development.
Kickstarter projects provided valuable lessons in scaling production and managing customer expectations.
Working at Boosted Boards allowed Ross to experience the challenges of building products from scratch.
Safety is a critical concern in drone technology, with high stakes for reliability and performance.
Skydio's unique approach involves vertical integration, manufacturing drones in the U.S. for quality control.
The embedded engineering landscape has evolved, with new tools and technologies simplifying development.
Testing and quality assurance are paramount, with innovative methods to ensure reliability in drone operations.
Ross emphasizes the importance of curiosity and problem-solving in engineering roles.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Teasers
03:30 Ross's Path to Embedded Engineering07:52 Lessons from Kickstarter and Early Projects12:35 Transitioning to Boosted Boards and Micro-Mobility17:52 Challenges in Embedded Systems and Hardware Development22:45 Skydio's Unique Approach to Drone Technology30:06 Manufacturing Drones in the U.S.35:01 Embedded Engineering Challenges and Safety Considerations39:29 Testing and Quality Assurance in Drone Development46:47 Future of Skydio and Career Opportunities56:18 Closing Thoughts & Reflections
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Summary
In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris wrap up the year with a special milestone celebration for the 20th episode of the series. They take listeners behind the mic to reflect on how Coredump began, the moments that defined 2025, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect highlights from the year’s most talked-about discussions, bold predictions for what’s ahead in 2026, and the biggest live Q&A yet—where nothing is off the table.

Key Takeaways:
Why Coredump Sessions started and how the show has evolved over 20 episodes
The biggest engineering lessons guests shared throughout 2025
The most surprising device failures and field behaviors teams faced this year
How firmware teams adapted to fast-changing toolchains and new requirements
The rise of AI-assisted debugging, testing, and development in embedded work
How security mandates tightened and reshaped device development
The recurring theme that real-world conditions rarely match lab assumptions
What François and Chris learned from producing the series behind the scenes
What the hosts expect to define embedded systems development in 2026
The expanded live Q&A format and how the community is shaping future episodes

Chapters:
00:00 Teasers
01:30 Intro/ Welcome
03:35 The Genesis of Core Dump
06:54 Favorite Moments and Lessons Learned
08:45 Clip Reaction: Nick Sinas's OTA Nightmare in the Snow
12:19 Clip Reaction: Lack of Security at Pebble
16:45 Clip Reaction: Dan Mangum on AI & Engineering
21:50 Clip Reaction: Vatsal at Ultrahuman Talks Always-On Devices
25:29 Clip Reaction: Chad from Gabb Talks Security
30:12 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026
35:59 The Rise of AI and Edge Computing
42:24 Evolving Skills for Firmware Engineers
47:01 Security in Embedded Systems
49:01 The Future of Testing in Embedded Development
53:15 Conclusions & Thank Yous

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Summary
In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris wrap up the year with a special milestone celebration for the 20th episode of the series. They take listeners behind the mic to reflect on how Coredump began, the moments that defined 2025, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect highlights from the year’s most talked-about discussions, bold predictions for what’s ahead in 2026, and the biggest live Q&A yet—where nothing is off the table.

Key Takeaways:
Why Coredump Sessions started and how the show has evolved over 20 episodes
The biggest engineering lessons guests shared throughout 2025
The most surprising device failures and field behaviors teams faced this year
How firmware teams adapted to fast-changing toolchains and new requirements
The rise of AI-assisted debugging, testing, and development in embedded work
How security mandates tightened and reshaped device development
The recurring theme that real-world conditions rarely match lab assumptions
What François and Chris learned from producing the series behind the scenes
What the hosts expect to define embedded systems development in 2026
The expanded live Q&A format and how the community is shaping future episodes

Chapters:
00:00 Teasers
01:30 Intro/ Welcome
03:35 The Genesis of Core Dump
06:54 Favorite Moments and Lessons Learned
08:45 Clip Reaction: Nick Sinas's OTA Nightmare in the Snow
12:19 Clip Reaction: Lack of Security at Pebble
16:45 Clip Reaction: Dan Mangum on AI & Engineering
21:50 Clip Reaction: Vatsal at Ultrahuman Talks Always-On Devices
25:29 Clip Reaction: Chad from Gabb Talks Security
30:12 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026
35:59 The Rise of AI and Edge Computing
42:24 Evolving Skills for Firmware Engineers
47:01 Security in Embedded Systems
49:01 The Future of Testing in Embedded Development
53:15 Conclusions & Thank Yous

Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠
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In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris from Memfault sit down with Charles Taylor, co-founder of Ozlo Sleep, to explore the journey from Bose’s original Sleepbuds to the rebirth of a product designed to help people truly rest. The conversation traces how Ozlo revived this beloved idea, balancing power management, all-night comfort, and reliability in one of the most demanding consumer tech categories. Along the way, Charles shares lessons from bringing a hardware product back to life, testing technology people use in their sleep, and building a community that believes better rest starts with better engineering.
Key Takeaways:
Charlie's journey from engineering to entrepreneurship was accidental but rewarding.
The emotional connection users have with physical products is significant.
Sleep tech addresses the problem of noise disruption during sleep.
Kickstarter was used not just for funding but to build a community.
Firmware updates are crucial for improving user experience and product functionality.
Designing sleep earbuds involves unique challenges related to comfort and size.
Battery life and efficiency are critical in hardware development.
Sensing technology in sleep tech can provide valuable health data.
Testing and quality assurance are essential in product development.
Navigating FDA regulations is complex but necessary for medical-related devices.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Teasers02:02 Meet Charlie Taylor and the Ozlo Sleep Story06:13 Why Sleepbuds Exist and Why Noise Matters07:07 Rebuilding Bose’s Discontinued Sleepbuds09:15 The Hardest Parts of Hardware: Timelines and Vendors10:39 Kickstarter as Validation and Community Building15:57 Designing for Sleep: Comfort, Power, and Miniaturization23:16 The Ear as the USB to the Body: Sensing and Health Insights26:18 Testing Sleep Tech in the Real World33:34 Firmware as the Real Product and Ozlo’s Update Strategy45:38 Moving Toward Medical: FDA and Software Therapies55:17 Customer Feedback at Scale and Prioritizing What Matters
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In today's Coredump Session, François Baldassari and Chris Coleman sit down with Ultrahuman co-founder Vatsal Singhal to unpack what it takes to build and scale a hardware startup in the fiercely competitive health wearable market. From transitioning from software to hardware to building responsibly with AI and machine learning, Vatsal shares what it means to blend deep engineering rigor with a mission to improve human performance. This conversation explores the challenges, surprises, and future of health-tech innovation at the edge.
Key Takeaways
How Ultrahuman transitioned from a software-first mindset to mastering complex hardware development.

Lessons learned moving from large-scale software systems to building precision-focused health wearables.

Why building hardware for health requires a fundamentally different level of accountability and rigor.

The role of machine learning at the edge and how it enables better, faster insights while managing battery and compute tradeoffs.

How responsible use of AI in health applications shapes product design and user trust.

The importance of rapid iteration cycles and adopting software methodologies in hardware innovation.

Insights into how Ultrahuman’s internal teams use AI not just in engineering, but across all business functions.

A look at what’s next for health-tech — and where innovation is heading in wearables and bio-sensing.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Teasers03:43 From Software to Hardware: The Leap of Faith07:49 The Harsh Realities of Hardware10:40 Iterating Fast Without Breaking People15:17 Redefining A/B Testing in Hardware21:40 Why Ultrahuman Built Its Own Factory26:56 Scaling Production Across Continents29:48 Managing Complexity: 20 Hardware Revisions in a Year35:08 Firmware Velocity & Observability with Memfault43:42 Health Tech Meets Regulation47:55 Shared Codebases & Fast Iteration Across Products50:39 Building the Machines That Build the Rings54:34 Responsible AI & The Future of Health Wearables56:35 Closing Reflections & Key Takeaways
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