Ep. 18: Miniature Arduinos with Ken Burns at TinyCircuits

The video features Michael from Programming Electronics Academy interviewing Ken Burns, founder of Tiny Circuits. Ken shares his journey from being a hobbyist to an electrical engineer and eventually starting Tiny Circuits. He discusses the challenges and successes of running a company that manufactures miniaturized Arduino systems. Ken explains the decision to manufacture in-house, highlighting the cost benefits and flexibility it provides. The video also touches on the importance of understanding the manufacturing process and the company's growth over the years.

What is the primary focus of Tiny Circuits?

• Building large-scale industrial machines

• Creating miniaturized Arduino systems

• Developing software applications

• Manufacturing household appliances

What inspired Ken Burns to start Tiny Circuits?

• The goal to build large-scale industrial equipment

• A passion for developing video games

• The need for a miniature, stackable Arduino system

• A desire to create a new type of smartphone

What was the outcome of the initial Kickstarter campaign for Tiny Circuits?

• It failed to meet its goal

• It met its goal exactly

• It exceeded its goal significantly

• It was canceled before completion

Why did Tiny Circuits decide to manufacture in-house?

• To focus solely on software development

• To reduce costs and increase flexibility

• To avoid any form of manufacturing

• To outsource all production to China

What is one of the benefits of manufacturing in-house for Tiny Circuits?

• Limited product variety

• Increased flexibility for low-volume products

• Higher production costs

• Longer production timelines

What was a major challenge faced by Tiny Circuits in its early years?

• Low first pass throughput in manufacturing

• Lack of interest in their products

• High employee turnover

• Excessive production capacity

What is a future plan for Tiny Circuits mentioned in the transcript?

• Moving all manufacturing overseas

• Launching a new Kickstarter for a platform update

• Focusing solely on software development

• Discontinuing all current products

What was a significant factor in Tiny Circuits' decision to expand their manufacturing capabilities?

• A partnership with a large corporation

• A shift to software development

• The success of the Tiny Arcade

• A decrease in product demand

What is one of the key advantages of Tiny Circuits' location?

• Access to a large pool of investors

• Close ties with a university

• Proximity to a major shipping port

• Being in a historic industrial building

How does Tiny Circuits' in-house manufacturing impact their product pricing?

• It allows for higher pricing

• It enables competitive pricing

• It has no impact on pricing

• It results in unpredictable pricing