The Electropages Podcast

In this episode of The Electropages Podcast, host Robin Mitchell speaks with Ulderico Arcidiaco, CEO and Co-Founder of Sfera Labs, about the company's latest industrial Raspberry Pi platform, the Strato Pi Plus. Ulderico explains how Sfera Labs combines Raspberry Pi computing with industrial-grade connectivity, reliability, and edge computing capabilities. The discussion explores the challenges of designing hardware for industrial environments, including isolated RS485 communications, CAN FD networking, power management, long-term availability, and remote deployment. The conversation also covers the current memory and supply chain situation affecting Raspberry Pi products, why pricing uncertainty has become a major challenge for industrial developers, and why availability often matters more than cost for long-life industrial systems. A major focus of the episode is the architecture of the Strato Pi Plus, which combines a Raspberry Pi 5 with an RP2354 microcontroller. Ulderico explains how the microcontroller can manage communications, watchdog functions, power control, failover systems, and storage management independently of the main processor. This allows developers to create highly reliable edge computing systems capable of recovering from faults, switching boot devices, managing power consumption, and maintaining operation in remote installations. Engineers will also hear discussions on CAN bus timing, real-time processing, industrial automation, energy storage systems, environmental monitoring, maritime applications, and the benefits of combining high-performance computing with deterministic microcontroller control.  Whether you're developing industrial automation systems, edge servers, remote monitoring solutions, or Raspberry Pi-based products, this episode provides valuable insight into designing reliable embedded platforms for demanding real-world environments.

In this episode of The Electropages Podcast, host Robin Mitchell interviews Rodney Dowdall, VP of R&D at TeleCANesis. Rodney explains how TeleCANesis helps engineers connect CAN, Modbus, ISOBUS, EtherCAT, MQTT, JSON, and other protocols through a configurable middleware stack designed to reduce repetitive code changes and simplify embedded data handling. The conversation covers how TeleCANesis was built around a real engineering problem: data formats, CAN messages, DBC files, and sensor interfaces keep changing, forcing developers to rewrite and revalidate code. Rodney explains how a configuration-led approach can help engineers update message handling without changing core software, reducing the risk, time, and certification burden that often comes with embedded development. Engineers will also hear a wider discussion on AI-assisted coding, deterministic software, safety certification, human-in-the-loop development, and why "vibe coding" may suit some applications but not safety-critical embedded systems. This episode provides a practical look at how middleware, tooling, and protocol abstraction can make connected devices easier to build, maintain, and scale.

In this episode of The Electropages Podcast, host Robin Mitchell interviews Karl Broderick, Managing Director of ATGBICS, and Simon Clark, Industrial Business Manager at ATGBICS. Karl and Simon explain how ATGBICS supports engineers and industrial customers facing fibre optic network obsolescence, hard-to-source transceiver modules, and long-term infrastructure challenges. The conversation covers the growing demand for compatible fibre optic transceivers, through-hole modules, DACs, AOCs, network interface cards, and industrial-grade networking accessories. Karl and Simon discuss why many legacy 100 Mbps, 155 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 10 Gbps systems remain critical in industrial, transport, aerospace, manufacturing, and infrastructure applications, even as original equipment manufacturers discontinue older product lines. Engineers will learn how compatible transceivers can help extend the life of existing networks, reduce downtime, avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, and provide a more traceable alternative to grey-market or counterfeit parts. The episode also explores the advantages of fibre in harsh industrial environments, including EMI immunity, stable data transmission, extended temperature operation, and long-term support for systems that cannot simply be redesigned or replaced.

In this episode of The Electropages Podcast, host Robin Mitchell interviews Ralf Bornefeld, Senior Vice President for Power Semiconductors and Modules at Robert Bosch GmbH. Ralf explains how Bosch is advancing silicon carbide technology through 200 mm wafer production, improved yields, and high performance trench MOSFET designs that support the next generation of electric vehicles. The conversation covers key developments in SiC manufacturing, including defect reduction, epi layer control, device robustness, and the shift from planar to trench structures. Ralf also shares how Bosch benefits from being both an integrated device manufacturer and a Tier 1 automotive supplier, giving the company direct insight into the real world requirements of traction inverters, onboard chargers, and DC to DC converters. Engineers will learn about the performance gains made possible by silicon carbide devices, the advantages of higher power density, the role of advanced gate drivers, and why SiC is becoming a preferred technology for modern EV platforms.  This episode provides a clear and detailed walkthrough of where silicon carbide is heading and how Bosch is influencing the direction of power electronics.

Welcome to the final 2025 episode of The Electropages Podcast, hosted by Robin Mitchell. Today's guest is Cary Horan, Business Development Manager at Omron, who specialises in sensing solutions for emerging smart city and smart agriculture applications.  In this episode, Cary explains how Omron's long history in relays, switches and board-level sensors has evolved into complete device and module solutions, including an all-in-one weather sensor designed for both street-level infrastructure and remote, solar-powered deployments. The discussion explores why microclimate data matters for cities with multiple climate zones, how localized measurements of wind, rainfall and temperature support safer building design and smarter street lighting, and why precision weather data is becoming critical for irrigation control and high-value crops. Cary also talks about the real-world challenges of bringing new sensing technology into traditionally conservative sectors like agriculture, the complexity of modern data and communications (from cellular to LoRa networks), and how partnerships are helping Omron turn raw sensor data into usable insight for customers. Watch to learn how Omron's sensing platforms are helping to enable smarter cities, more efficient farms, and more sustainable infrastructure.