RSSAmplifier

Blog

The Pittsburgh Roboticist Blog - Matt Puchalski - Pittsburgh Roboticist

mattp.techRSS feed ↗20 posts

Latest posts

Art Battle Pittsburgh: A Milestone in My Painting Journey

Join me as I share my personal journey through my first ever Art Battle in Pittsburgh! This blog post takes you inside the electric atmosphere of the competition, my evolution as an artist from community classes to my first art sale, and the unwavering support of friends who braved a storm to be there. Dive into a night filled with passion, community spirit, and artistic inspiration right in the…

I’ve Been Accepted to Art Battle Pittsburgh

Catch me at Art Battle Pittsburgh on April 11th!

How Acrylic Painting Makes Me a Better Remote Worker

Exploring the unexpected intersection of acrylic painting and remote work during the pandemic. Dive into a personal journey that reveals how a canvas and brush can transform the digital workspace. From mindful breaks amidst screen chaos to celebrating small wins, discover how art offers refreshing insights for the remote worker.

Canyoneering The Narrows: How “Dune” Became My Adventure Guide

Embarking on a canyoneering adventure in Zion National Park's The Narrows, I found an unlikely guide: Frank Herbert's 'Dune.' From dressing like a Fremen to walking without rhythm, discover how this sci-fi classic became my real-world adventure manual. Life imitates art—even in the great outdoors.

Rolling the Dice: Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Art of Engineering Decisions

Diving deep into the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, I've discovered it's more than just a game. The choices we make, the strategies we employ, they mirror our real-life engineering challenges. From Faerun to the lab, there's always more than one path to success. Check out my latest blog post to see how this epic game intertwines with the world of engineering!

Puchalski’s Laws of Field Robotics Debug & Deploy

Introducing Puchalski's Laws of Field Robotics! Inspired by the timeless Akin’s Laws of Spacecraft Design and a touch of Asimov’s brilliance. Dive into this fresh perspective on engineering truths, drawn heavily from the classic laws we all love. Feedback is welcome; after all, the world of robotics is ever-evolving!

Embracing the Future: My Next Gardening Adventure Written in Code

I'm intertwining the roots of traditional gardening wisdom with the robustness of modern technology. My next book is being written as a Git repository, fostering growth in a controlled manner, just like pruning a tree. Stay tuned for a blend of urban gardening principles and innovative engineering projects. Happy gardening!

My AI-Powered Fitness Journey: A Robotics Engineer's Experiment with ChatGPT

Journey with me as I explore the uncharted territory of AI-driven fitness! Read about how ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model, became my personal trainer, guiding my strength training routine to new peaks. Learn how two robotics engineers turned their data-driven mindset to revolutionize their workout regimen. Spoiler alert: it's been a game-changer. Get ready to be inspired by the power of AI…

Red Mars: The Roboticist’s Library #5

Exploring the impact of Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars on a roboticist and how the strong personalities of the characters in the book remind them of the people they work with in startups. The near-future elements of the book, such as terraforming and advanced robotics, inspire the author's work in robotics.

The Edge of the Chaos Terrain

A party treks across a hostile world in the pursuit of scientific advancement

The Hyperion Cantos: The Roboticist’s Library #4

In Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos series, humanity's fate rests on the pilgrimage of seven travelers to a mysterious and deadly planet. This epic science fiction saga explores themes of religion, artificial intelligence, and the nature of consciousness, leaving readers questioning their own perceptions of reality.

Gödel, Escher, Bach - The Roboticist’s Library #3

In "Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid," Douglas Hofstadter weaves together the ideas of mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M.C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach to explore the nature of consciousness, creativity, and artificial intelligence. This Pulitzer Prize-winning book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, science, and philosophy.

Tracking and Writing Your Short Stories In Github with Markdown

An argument for why writers should use Github and Markdown for their short stories.

My Robotics Background Has Made Me a Better Gardener

Discover how my experience as a robotics engineer has influenced my gardening habits. By applying lessons learned from deploying robots in the field, I've been able to cultivate a more efficient and fruitful garden. Read on to learn how my expertise has helped me become a better gardener.

Time is a Flat Circle: Applying Nietzsche's Philosophy to Agile Development

Exploring how Nietzsche's concept of Eternal Return applies to software program management and planning, particularly in startups. It is important to recognize the cyclical patterns of challenges and use them to our advantage by being mindful of past mistakes, defining the project early on, and embracing the struggles as an opportunity for growth and learning.

Piranesi - The Roboticist’s Library #2

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke blows me away by its exploration of reality, perception, and human connection. As an engineer, I found it both thought-provoking and inspiring. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in expanding their understanding of the world.

The Power Broker - The Roboticist’s Library #1

Lessons for startups, leaders, and software engineers from Robert Moses and The Power Broker

The Roboticist’s Library

As a roboticist and avid reader, I'm always seeking out new ideas and perspectives. That's why I'm excited to start a new blog series, "The Roboticist's Library," where I'll be sharing some of my favorite books and how they've impacted my work as a roboticist. From classic science fiction novels to technical manuals, I hope to share a diverse range of books that will inspire and challenge you.…

Palo Alto Haikus

Haikus written during my trip to Palo Alto

Oppenheimer and My Palo Alto Trip

I’m in California for work this week, and it’s been incredibly productive. Meeting with teammates is an incredibly rewarding experience in-person, and I was able to check out our new offices. Flying in on Sunday gave me some time to walk around the California sun, and I ambled in to a bookstore. I picked up a copy of American Prometheus about the life of Robert Oppenheimer, and it was a special…