Hardware & Firmware

A close-up of a sensor component held between fingers, with wires attached and a terminal window visible on the monitor behind. This is the kind of hands-on testing that happens hundreds of times during hardware development: connecting a sensor, running firmware, checking the output, adjusting, repeating. The digital wristwatch and bare electronics give it an honest workshop feel.

A documentation shoot at the AoE workshop. A camera operator sets up while Carrie works on electronics at the bench. When your work is physical objects and blinking LEDs, documentation requires actual cameras and lighting rigs, not just screenshots. The shelves of component storage bins in the background are the reality of running a hardware practice.

A Rigol DS1054Z oscilloscope displaying a periodic waveform at 3.96MHz with 76.87% duty cycle. Oscilloscopes are essential for firmware development: they let you see what's actually happening on a wire in real time. This kind of signal analysis is how you debug communication protocols, verify timing, and make sure your hardware is doing what your code told it to do.

Red PCBs (printed circuit boards) laid out on a workbench next to a soldering station. These apple-shaped boards are custom designs with surface-mounted components, metallic connectors, and circuit pathways. The jump from breadboard prototype to custom PCB is a significant milestone in any hardware project: it means the design is stable enough to manufacture. The Rigol oscilloscope in the background confirms this is the same workbench from the previous image.

Late-night work at New Lab. A laptop labeled "NEWLAB" shows a terminal window with firmware being debugged, while red LED indicators glow on the hardware being tested. The translucent illuminated figurine on the table is a personal touch in an otherwise technical workspace. A smartphone and power bank sit nearby. This is what firmware development looks like at 11pm: dark room, glowing screens, and the patience to track down a bug one line at a time.

The AoE workspace at New Lab in full swing. Carrie works across multiple screens, with code on one monitor, a hardware interface on another, and electronic components spread across the desk. A potted plant provides a small reminder that humans work here too. The adjustable lamps, cables running everywhere, and stacked equipment are typical of a creative technology practice that's always mid-build on three projects at once.