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Welcome to The Wave Engineering Newsletter, your weekly guide to the cutting edge of engineering. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an eager student, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to inform, inspire, and connect.

More than just a newsletter, we tell the human stories behind the tech—spotlighting the innovators, dreamers, and changemakers shaping our world. Backed by insights from Pipeline Design & Engineering and the Being an Engineer Podcast, we deliver the latest advancements, impactful collaborations, and stories that redefine what’s possible.

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What is a common place industry standard that is ripe for disruption?

What seems like a minor engineering decision today can fundamentally reshape entire industries tomorrow. Every time I download a new game without thinking about it, I'm benefiting from Jerry Lawson's revolutionary idea to separate software from hardware with the first game cartridge system. It's crazy how something we take for granted now was once a radical shift in thinking.

This month's newsletter explores three stories about engineers who transformed their fields by challenging core assumptions. From the game cartridge that created today's $180 billion gaming industry, to product managers who bridge the gap between technical innovation and market success in medical devices, to AI-driven manufacturing systems that eliminate the need for physical tooling constraints - each represents a fundamental platform shift where engineers changed not just what could be built, but how we think about building it.

The through-line connecting these stories is how platform thinking unlocks exponential possibilities. When Jerry Lawson separated games from consoles, he created a business model that would power gaming for generations. When medical device product managers with engineering backgrounds connect R&D teams with market realities, they ensure technical innovations actually reach patients. And when Machina Labs replaces physical tooling with AI-driven robotics, they're transforming manufacturing capabilities from hardware limitations to software possibilities.

As engineers, we're often focused on solving the immediate technical challenge, but these stories remind us to occasionally step back and question the fundamental assumptions behind how our systems work. Sometimes the most impactful innovation isn't a better product, but a better platform for creating products.

Read on to discover how these engineering breakthroughs are reshaping industries, and how you might apply similar platform thinking to your own technical challenges.

Jerry Lawson, a self-taught Black engineer from 1940s Brooklyn, revolutionized the video game industry with an innovation we take for granted today: the game cartridge.

Before Lawson's breakthrough, home video games like Pong could only play the single game hardwired into their circuitry. In 1976, as director of engineering at Fairchild Semiconductor, Lawson led the team that developed the Channel F - the first console with interchangeable cartridges. His team overcame significant technical challenges with static electricity, connector reliability, and the limited computing power of the era.

While the Channel F sold modestly, Lawson's core concept - separating hardware from software - created the fundamental business model that powers today's $180+ billion gaming industry. When Atari adopted cartridge technology for their 2600 console in 1977, they brought Lawson's innovation to the mainstream with superior marketing and game development.

Despite his profound impact, recognition came too late. Just one month before his death in 2011, the International Game Developers Association finally acknowledged him as an industry pioneer. Most honors came posthumously, including a 2021 Google Doodle.

Lawson's legacy extends beyond gaming to how we think about technology platforms. His vision of hardware and software evolving separately laid the groundwork for everything from app stores to modern computing architecture. The next time you download a game, remember the unsung engineer who made it possible.

Read the full story on TheWave, linked below!

In the evolving world of medical technology, product managers serve as vital bridges between technical innovation and market success. This role varies significantly by company size - specialized in large organizations but requiring versatility in smaller firms where one person handles everything from pricing strategies to customer relationships to long-term product planning.

The product manager's most critical function is communication, serving as an interpreter between departments with competing priorities. When sales demands quick solutions and R&D pushes back with resource constraints, product managers facilitate understanding by speaking both languages fluently.

Engineering backgrounds provide a substantial advantage in this field. Technical knowledge helps when interfacing with R&D teams and explaining complex products to customers, while an entrepreneurial mindset drives innovation. However, challenges persist in medical devices, particularly the disconnect between developers and end-users, along with regulatory hurdles that can stifle innovation.

As healthcare technology advances, professionals who successfully connect technical possibilities with market realities will increasingly shape the industry's future. Engineers who maintain their technical curiosity while embracing business strategy are uniquely positioned to excel in these roles, bringing life-changing innovations from concept to patient care.

Listen to the full interview and read my synopsis at the link below.

Machina Labs is revolutionizing manufacturing by teaching robots to form metal like master blacksmiths—with AI intelligence and robotic precision. Their RoboCraftsman platform eliminates the need for expensive dies and tooling, reducing lead times from months to days while actually expanding design possibilities. Using real-time feedback and machine learning, their robots incrementally shape sheet metal into complex components for aerospace, defense, and automotive applications. With $32 million in Series B funding and $14 million in defense contracts, they're proving the concept works at scale. For engineers, this represents a fundamental shift—manufacturing capabilities defined by software rather than hardware, democratized access to rapid prototyping, and the end of many traditional design constraints. It's not just a new manufacturing method—it's a complete reimagining of how we turn digital designs into physical reality, with implications spanning industries from satellites to custom consumer vehicles. Read the full article online.

Engineering is about solving, innovating, and connecting ideas to make a difference. Progress is a collective effort and your curiosity is what drives it forward. Thank you for exploring the dynamic world of engineering with all of us at Pipeline Design & Engineering and The Wave.

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“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” - Steve Jobs

In collaboration and creativity,
Brad Hirayama
Blueprinting tomorrow, today