Hacker News: wcunning

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (May 2026)"

wcunning — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:38:48 +0000

Location: Detroit, MI

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: no

Technologies: Embedded systems, automotive, machine learning, signal processing, data science, real time computing, safety processes (MISRA, ISO26262, etc), MATLAB, FPGA.

Resume: LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcunning

Email: wdocunningham \@\ gmail.com

Background: Masters in control theory and signal processing, working in the auto industry for the last 7 years, first on low level powertrain software then the last year or so on LIDAR/computer vision for autonomous vehicles. I've done the most work in C, but I'm now contributing to safety development work with the Rust consortium and Ferrous Systems through my current employer. Recently had to read the Linux kernel source and use the BCC tool suite to find a subtle issue in the network stack causing high latency on sensor data for AV, also coincidentally fixed most of the network timing infrastructure.

Currently doing software defined vehicle software architecture with a focus on fail-safe and fail-operational, loosely coupled, distributed systems. This includes some standards contributions and work with high level suppliers like Nvidia and Renesas for next-generation software/hardware system co-development.

Primary skills include hard real time embedded systems, safety critical applications, firmware development, system integration and complex hardware/software interaction debugging, along with detailed data analysis problems.

Side interests include machining, 3D printing, embedded system development, coffee roasting and furniture making.

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (March 2026)"

wcunning — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:26:32 +0000

Location: Detroit, MI

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: no

Technologies: Embedded systems, automotive, machine learning, signal processing, data science, real time computing, safety processes (MISRA, ISO26262, etc), MATLAB, FPGA.

Resume: LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcunning

Email: wdocunningham \@\ gmail.com

Side interests include machining, 3D printing, embedded system development, coffee roasting and furniture making.

New comment by wcunning in "WiFi could become an invisible mass surveillance system"

wcunning — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:51:08 +0000

This is going into the next Wifi standard specifically to get this data off of normal wifi traffic.

New comment by wcunning in "New York’s budget bill would require “blocking technology” on all 3D printers"

wcunning — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:56:43 +0000

The much much much more concerning part of this bill in my opinion is the part that applies this expectation to CNC machining equipment. This means that there will be some ugly consequences to running real industry out of New York state. Probably heavy import and cross shipping delays (lots of German machining equipment passes through the port at NY/NJ, so could theoretically be subject to this, even if eventual delivery is to Texas, for instance). The reasoning behind things like the old "receiver is the only part of the gun to be serialized and tracked" and "80% AR Lower Receiver" were to prevent impact to non-gun industries. Block of steel with random holes is not a gun is an important concept. My only conclusions are: 1) very glad I don't live in New York, 2) buy my used VMC sooner rather than later to avoid this stupidity. Much like continuing to drive my 2010 Miata a lot longer since it doesn't have all this terrible new technology that prevents maintenance (VIN locked modules, no home programming software to replace things, etc etc).

New comment by wcunning in "World's largest functioning musical instrument: Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia"

wcunning — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:27:29 +0000

The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ society is doing work with the new owners towards preservation. I doubt it's going anywhere, but concerts will be sporadic for a while.

New comment by wcunning in "Caffeinated coffee consumption or abstinence to reduce atrial fibrillation"

wcunning — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:48:02 +0000

The biggest thing is what kind of "coffee" you mean by coffee -- cold brew in particular tends to be a much higher extraction % since the bitter notes you get on higher extractions are less noticeable at colder temperatures. The rest is what the sibling responses mention -- time of day and speed of absorption in the digestive system can have big impacts.

New comment by wcunning in "Caffeinated coffee consumption or abstinence to reduce atrial fibrillation"

wcunning — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 20:31:21 +0000

James Hoffman did some interesting videos on that -- espresso is a more efficient extraction method than Aeropress, but less complete than a very high water to coffee ratio pour over for the same weight of ground coffee. Extraction of caffeine is very directly tied to contact time and temperature, so two double shots of espresso (40g coffee) can actually be less caffeine extracted than a single large pour over (25g coffee) when the pour over is upwards of 22% extraction (typical of 20:1 water to coffee ratios and modern zero-bypass brewers). Similarly, there are large differences in beans, so 22% extraction on weak caffeine beans might be way less than 18% extraction on much higher caffeine beans. This is most obvious in the fact that Robusta has much higher caffeine on average than Arabica. Also, 22% extraction has a lot more unpleasant bitter compounds, not just more caffeine, so it's not my preference for taste in general.

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (November 2025)"

wcunning — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:44:50 +0000

Location: Detroit, MI

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: no

Technologies: Embedded systems, automotive, machine learning, signal processing, data science, real time computing, safety processes (MISRA, ISO26262, etc), MATLAB, FPGA.

Resume: LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcunning

Email: wdocunningham \@\ gmail.com

Side interests include machining, 3D printing, embedded system development, coffee roasting and furniture making.

New comment by wcunning in "EVs are depreciating faster than gas-powered cars"

wcunning — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:20:00 +0000

This is mostly a function of the markets for used EVs and used ICE vehicles being the same and the used EV purchaser is not a target market for EVs in general.

Not that many people can afford a new car now at all, and of those who can, they're getting luxury end cars, generally. Luxury vehicles depreciate faster than non-luxury vehicles, generally. People who want used cars are frequently people who can't afford new cars, thus they want something that works in their area in their situation with their stuff as it stands. Many of these people live in places with poor charging networks or rent and cannot install a charger. Used EVs don't come with a free charger like new ones often do. EVs were also being priced and purchased based on the tax credit for quite a while, which meant that price was a little... soft? On top of that, many EVs that fit into this data are selling for less for real reasons, like the uninsurability of Cybertrucks and the range loss on the Bolt EV. This all drives demand down or shifts the curves and lowers prices. It's just a small market for now.

New comment by wcunning in "A mechanic offered a reason why no one wants to work in the industry"

wcunning — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:51:28 +0000

Thus the starting out part. Certifications, years of experience, skills in terms of welding exhaust or the like all raise that, but mechanics get screwed on their rate regularly, which is why they're dropping out. See one of the other top level comments about "shortage -> low wages."

New comment by wcunning in "A mechanic offered a reason why no one wants to work in the industry"

wcunning — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:26:55 +0000

The impression I got from seeing the demonstration was that this was the result of years of negotiating and arguing to get to something fair. Ford doesn't love it, dealers don't love it, but no one can really come up with a major improvement.

New comment by wcunning in "A mechanic offered a reason why no one wants to work in the industry"

wcunning — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:25:30 +0000

$20 is starting as I understand, and goes up quite high for master mechanics with certifications. That's how I meant that to be read.

New comment by wcunning in "A mechanic offered a reason why no one wants to work in the industry"

wcunning — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:03:19 +0000

I started out my automotive software career with Ford, and as part of the new college hire training program, I actually got to see the process of how "book rate" is determined. They take a brand new car, straight off the assembly line and give a master mechanic a process sheet (head gasket remove and replace, for instance). He has a tool cart with a computer next to it, about 6 feet away from the vehicle. For each step he starts a timer on the computer for that step, picks up the necessary ratchet and socket or whatever, loosens the next bolt, walks the ratchet and socket back to the tool box, puts it away and then finally stops the timer. He probably practices the procedure a few times before the timed run, but basically this prevents the company from setting the time to do a job super crazy low.

He's also not allowed to take any shortcuts from the book procedure, which there frequently are a few available (use a long wobble extension bar and a universal joint and you can get in without taking off all of the stuff above that bolt, whatever). On the other hand, this is the warranty rate (meaning new cars, largely less rust, etc). Independent/non-dealer mechanics will typically charge more time than the warranty time estimate from the manufacturer to account for things like rusty vehicles with harder to remove bolts and such, though this is usually in the rate book they subscribe to from whatever information source they pay for (warranty + 20% or so).

The issue is that the estimated time for a job is probably a high estimate for a brand new car and probably a low estimate for a several year old car, and the risk of that is on the dealership. The dealership then pays mechanics an hourly wage ($20+, fairly high for well certified master mechanics) and assumes that the hours listed on the job from the manufacturer are accurate, leaving the mechanic to take the risk if it goes over. Generally, the dealership loses on this proposition too, since they lose out on business/bay/electric/heat/etc for the lost time, so they don't like warranty work. They can upcharge/charge for more time/etc on a job for a customer, not for warranty repair due to contractual obligations to the OEM. This is particularly bad for Ford, since they currently lead the industry in recalls and warranty spend, meaning that their dealership networks are getting a lot more of that kind of work with limited profit and no ability to turn it down.

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (October 2025)"

wcunning — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:48:51 +0000

Location: Detroit, MI

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: no

Technologies: Embedded systems, automotive, machine learning, signal processing, data science, real time computing, safety processes (MISRA, ISO26262, etc), MATLAB, FPGA.

Resume: LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcunning

Email: wdocunningham \@\ gmail.com

Side interests include machining, 3D printing, embedded system development, coffee roasting and furniture making.

New comment by wcunning in "Using your phone on toilet may give you hemorrhoids: study"

wcunning — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:37:46 +0000

Two double shots of espresso and straining is a thing of the past, regardless of diet.

New comment by wcunning in "Google deletes net-zero pledge from sustainability website"

wcunning — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:15:06 +0000

There has been a move to get the FTC to start labeling these net carbon numbers as misleading advertising because it always includes a bunch of purchased offsets unrelated to the company. Further, there have been some real and complicated situations where carbon credits were sold more than the actual amount of offset carbon -- meaning for example BigCorpA and BigCorpB buy the same "green energy infra" credits from projects that are in construction and then never actually meet their listed goals, but both companies claim to be carbon neutral because of the claims for several years before that comes out. Matt Levine had a very interesting column on forestry in the US Southeast talking about places getting paid to not cut down trees far in excess of the number of trees that could realistically be harvested. Google might be frontrunning some of those arguments. Or might have done the real audit of the claims and realized that they had been less carbon offset than they thought, so safer to just pull the whole pledge at least in the short term.

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (September 2025)"

wcunning — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 18:27:20 +0000

Location: Detroit, MI

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: no

Technologies: Embedded systems, automotive, machine learning, signal processing, data science, real time computing, safety processes (MISRA, ISO26262, etc), MATLAB, FPGA.

Resume: LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcunning

Email: wdocunningham \@\ gmail.com

Side interests include machining, 3D printing, embedded system development, coffee roasting and furniture making.

New comment by wcunning in "Control shopping cart wheels with your phone (2021)"

wcunning — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:55:11 +0000

Student housing near the engineering campus at University of Michigan is about 1/2 mile away from the reasonably close Kroger grocery store. When I started there in 2009, the carts didn't have the locking wheels and many people would take the cart all the way back to their apartment complex -- this meant that the Kroger store manager had to rent a moving van every so often and go collect them all as the carts cost $500~1000 new, so replacing them when they're 1/2 mile to a mile away wasn't good economics. Eventually this got so bad (never a cart at the store when you wanted one, had to go get them all the time) that they switched to the geolocking wheels, which was a pain because the geolock frequently false detected if you were at the back of the annoyingly small parking lot, so there were always carts stuck in the back ~20 spots.

Later, my girlfriend told me that the specialty foreign foods store near the Big Lots she worked at in a different Detroit suburb would intentionally come steal the Big Lots carts, rather than pay for their own (see above, expensive), so the Big Lots clerks would occasionally get sent on a mission with a moving van to get a bunch of their carts from the next shopping center over's parking lot. I think they might not have ever paid for the geolocking wheels, since Big Lots is low margin and those options are pretty expensive, but you can see the incentive to do so.

New comment by wcunning in "U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds"

wcunning — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:47:17 +0000

Also they've been bought out by private equity an prices have shot through the roof -- Vegas is seeing massive downturns in tourism and from my cursory following of the problem, it's all price increases on food, booze, travel, hotels on the Strip making people uninterested in going.

New comment by wcunning in "Ask HN: Want to leave my job with nothing lined up"

wcunning — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:07:14 +0000

I think a lot of people feel the same way. Not to say that I'm in a comparable situation -- I also want to leave, but there are good days and bad days and I don't feel nearly as economically comfortable as I'd like to leave, etc etc.

I guess a response question to you, OP, how bad is the job if you just start doing less? It's not like you care about promotion chances or long term outcomes, so just do exactly what's assigned and nothing more.