On this episode of the eeDesignIt podcast, Bryan and Nicolette discuss the four technical skills that are giving engineers and edge in the workplace. From robotics to programming to manufacturing processes, we'll chat about why these skills are critical to a broader view.

Something new for you today:

the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars Opportunity Rover ultimately stopped functioning because the solar-powered battery charger was covered in dust, couldn't charge the #battery, which couldn't power the heaters, and ultimately froze. So what have we learned? And what technologies are needed to power and charge batteries for future space applications?

Ever think about how difficult it is to keep those robots moving along in space? Power is the key. While typically, these robots rely on solar power to keep them going, Wibotic has been working on some wireless power solutions for moon rovers.

We'll chat about the challenges of power in space and the potential. Also, engineers-- this is what you should be thinking about as you design for different environments.

Engineers are responsible for so many important decisions. Their work is quite literally sometimes a matter of life and death for humans. So, we sat down with Technical B2B Marketer, Rebecca Geier, about what you need to know when it comes to selling to engineers. Rebecca gives us some important insight that we don't often think about. Remember that making a purchasing decision, for engineers, is a very delicate processes that can change the course of a product. We need to educate engineers, not sell them.

In this episode, we'll talk about how engineers consume information and how to position your company as a media company to better assist them in their journey.

What you'll learn:

- Marketing to engineers: Why marketing to this group is a little different

- How engineers consume information

- How b2b products and services are moving to more digital commerce methods

- Why your company is already a media company and needs to start acting like it

- More!

We spoke with Mark Culpepper from Solar Solutions and DroneBase about how Drones are helping with clean energy! We have a in-depth discussion on the next industrial revolution, clean energy.

Neal is a co-founder of Energy Transition Ventures, which has just recently invested in DroneBase-- a company transforming industries with their drone services and inspections. He is directly related to one of the first drone pilots, too! And we'll share some cool footage recorded by his grandfather from that first drone flight.

He has some interesting insight to share about how drones have evolved and how they will greatly benefit the renewable energy industry.

Robots and drones are the future of our factories, warehouses, and deliveries, but how do they maintain a charge? On this episode, Ben Waters, CEO and Co-Founder, WiBotic, chats with us about the hardware and software making it possible to have hundreds of robots working together without chaos and downtime when their batteries die. We'll discuss the benefits of battery agnostic and the role of AI and software in all of this.

We'll also get futuristic, looking at the endless possibilities once we overcome some challenges in this space.

Learn more about WiBotic and the work the company is doing to power the industry.

What's new at WiBotic?

WiBotic Introduces New Lineup of Chargers and Transmitters for Drones and Autonomous Mobile Robots.

New products include WiBotic’s first passively cooled onboard charger, two transmitters that use the latest gallium nitride (GaN) technology from GaN Systems for maximum efficiency, and more.

Engineers are brilliant, but not all of them embrace the art of writing and storytelling. Why? We chat with an engineer-turned-content writer to discuss the challenges engineers face when it comes to writing, how to improve technical writing skills, and why it matters to your engineering career.

Tune in for advice from the engineer who knows how to write!

From robots to 5G to sensor tech and awesome cameras, the highlight of the Olympics this year may have been the amazing tech coming out of it.

Also, a weird conversation turn to smell-o-vision.

We chatted with Jackie Mattox, Founder/President, Women in Electronics, about the components industry's bright future. With so many technological advancements happening all around us, components are the magic making it all happen. We'll chat about the great ways men and women are coming together to bring more women into this industry, too, starting at even the college level.

Believe it or not, the college season is approaching! Bryan and Nicolette will lay out the actual essential tech you'll need to get started, and we've even provided our recommendations below.

From laptop decisions to wireless speakers to weird tech recs from Amazon, we've got you covered in this episode.