Silicon To Software

Imran Valiani

Welcome to Silicon to Software, the podcast covering PCB manufacturing, AI infrastructure, hardware, and cybersecurity. Hosted by Imran Valiani, an industry insider with 20+ years of experience in PCB electronics manufacturing and technical sales serving major Bay Area and global tech clients. This show explores the deep hardware layer that makes AI, autonomous systems, and modern technology actually work—the circuit boards, chips, and supply chains that most tech writers never see up close. Subscribe for expert technical teardowns on everything from autonomous vehicle vulnerabilities to the future of silicon compute. 🌐 Read our latest articles and get in touch at https://silicontosoftware.com

Episodes

  1. 6h ago

    How AI Is Transforming Modern Cars | Autonomous Driving, EV Technology & PCB Engineering

    Modern cars have evolved into AI-powered computers on wheels. Behind every autonomous driving feature, electric vehicle, and over-the-air software update is an advanced hardware platform built on high-performance PCB engineering, AI processors, battery management systems, and automotive cybersecurity. In this episode of Silicon to Software, Imran Valiani draws on more than 20 years in PCB manufacturing and technology sales to explain the engineering powering today's software-defined vehicles. You'll learn about: ✅ Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware architecture ✅ Waymo's camera, radar, and lidar sensor strategy ✅ AI processors powering autonomous vehicles ✅ Battery Management Systems (BMS) in electric vehicles ✅ Automotive PCB engineering challenges ✅ High-voltage EV design considerations ✅ Automotive cybersecurity and secure over-the-air updates ✅ Why modern vehicles are becoming distributed AI computing platforms Whether you're a PCB designer, embedded systems engineer, semiconductor professional, automotive engineer, or simply interested in the future of AI and transportation, this episode explores the hardware technologies making autonomous and electric vehicles possible. Read the complete article: https://www.silicontosoftware.com/automotive-pcb-design-ev-cybersecurity/ Subscribe for more engineering deep dives covering: • PCB Design • Semiconductor Engineering • Artificial Intelligence Hardware • Advanced Manufacturing • Embedded Systems • Cybersecurity • Electronics Reliability • Space Electronics Silicon to Software explains the engineering realities behind the technologies shaping tomorrow. #ArtificialIntelligence #AutonomousVehicles #ElectricVehicles #PCBEngineering #AutomotiveElectronics #EmbeddedSystems #Cybersecurity #SelfDrivingCars #AIHardware #SiliconToSoftware

    How AI Is Transforming Modern Cars | Autonomous Driving, EV Technology & PCB Engineering

  2. Jul 27

    Why Satellite PCBs Fail in Space | Radiation Hardening & Space Electronics

    Why do ordinary PCBs fail in space while others continue operating for years? In this episode of Silicon to Software, Imran Valiani explains the engineering realities behind designing printed circuit boards for satellites and spacecraft. You'll learn: • How cosmic radiation damages semiconductor devices • Single Event Upsets (SEUs), Total Ionizing Dose (TID), and latch-up failures • Why launch vibration, thermal cycling, and vacuum environments challenge PCB reliability • Radiation hardening techniques used in modern satellite electronics • PCB materials, shielding strategies, redundancy, and fault-tolerant system design • Why reliability engineering is more important than raw performance in orbit Whether you're a PCB designer, hardware engineer, aerospace engineer, electronics manufacturer, semiconductor professional, or engineering student, this episode explains the real engineering tradeoffs behind building electronics that survive in space. Topics Covered: ✔ Satellite PCB Design ✔ Space Electronics ✔ Radiation Hardening ✔ Aerospace PCB Manufacturing ✔ PCB Reliability Engineering ✔ Radiation Effects on Electronics ✔ Hardware Design for Space Missions ✔ Aerospace Electronics Manufacturing Subscribe for weekly engineering insights covering: • PCB Design • PCB Manufacturing • Semiconductor Engineering • AI Hardware • Embedded Systems • Electronics Reliability • Advanced Manufacturing • Cybersecurity • Emerging Technologies Silicon to Software is hosted by Imran Valiani, bringing over 20 years of experience in PCB manufacturing and technology sales to explain the engineering realities behind today's most important technologies. Read the full article: https://www.silicontosoftware.com/satellite-pcb-space-radiation/ Radiation-induced failures such as SEUs and TID remain fundamental design constraints for space electronics, while radiation-aware design, redundancy, shielding, and qualification testing are standard engineering approaches for improving mission reliability.

    Why Satellite PCBs Fail in Space | Radiation Hardening & Space Electronics

  3. Jul 25

    Why the Next Industrial Revolution Could Start 250 Miles Above Earth | Space Manufacturing, Orbital Factories, AI Automation & The Future of the Space Economy

    Could the next industrial revolution happen in space instead of on Earth? In this episode of Silicon to Software, host Imran Valiani explores how orbital manufacturing, microgravity, and AI-powered automation are transforming the future of industrial production. From pharmaceutical manufacturing and semiconductor research to advanced materials and autonomous robotic factories, companies are already proving that some products can be manufactured more effectively in orbit than on Earth. Discover how organizations like Varda Space, Redwire, NASA, and other commercial space companies are helping build the foundation of the next trillion-dollar industry. In this episode: 🚀 Why microgravity changes manufacturing physics 🚀 The first pharmaceuticals manufactured in space 🚀 Orbital factories and autonomous AI production 🚀 The future of semiconductor manufacturing in orbit 🚀 Commercial space stations replacing the ISS 🚀 Why launch costs are reshaping the global space economy Whether you're a hardware engineer, PCB designer, technology executive, manufacturing professional, or simply fascinated by the future of engineering, this episode explores one of the biggest industrial shifts of the coming decades. If you enjoy engineering, semiconductors, AI hardware, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, subscribe to Silicon to Software for weekly insights into the innovations shaping tomorrow. #SpaceManufacturing #OrbitalFactories #SpaceEconomy #ArtificialIntelligence #Semiconductors #Engineering #Aerospace #Technology #FutureManufacturing #SiliconToSoftware

    Why the Next Industrial Revolution Could Start 250 Miles Above Earth | Space Manufacturing, Orbital Factories, AI Automation & The Future of the Space Economy

  4. Jul 24

    Tesla Optimus vs Reality: The Hardware Problem

    Humanoid robots are moving from research labs to real factory floors, but the biggest challenge isn't artificial intelligence—it's hardware reliability. In this episode of Silicon to Software, Imran Valiani examines the real engineering challenges behind Tesla Optimus, Figure AI, and Boston Dynamics Atlas. Discover why actuators, batteries, sensors, PCB reliability, thermal management, industrial safety standards, and cybersecurity could determine which humanoid robots succeed in manufacturing. If you're interested in AI hardware, robotics engineering, PCB manufacturing, industrial automation, embedded systems, or the future of smart factories, this episode provides a practical, engineering-first perspective. Topics Covered: Tesla OptimusFigure AIBoston Dynamics AtlasHumanoid robot hardwareIndustrial roboticsFactory automationActuators and sensorsPCB reliabilityBattery technologyIndustrial cybersecurityAI hardwareManufacturing engineeringSubscribe for weekly discussions on AI hardware, semiconductor technology, PCB manufacturing, embedded systems, cybersecurity, and the future of engineering. #HumanoidRobots #TeslaOptimus #IndustrialRobotics #AIHardware #PCBDesign #FactoryAutomation #EmbeddedSystems #Cybersecurity #Robotics #SiliconToSoftware

    Tesla Optimus vs Reality: The Hardware Problem

  5. Jul 23

    Why Embedded Hardware Can't Survive Quantum Computing | The Hidden Post-Quantum Cryptography Crisis

    What happens when quantum computers can break today's encryption—but your hardware can't be upgraded? In this episode of the Silicon to Software Podcast, Imran Valiani explores one of the biggest hidden challenges facing embedded systems, semiconductor design, and cybersecurity: post-quantum cryptography (PQC). While most discussions focus on software updates, many embedded devices were never designed with the memory, processing power, or crypto agility required to support quantum-resistant algorithms such as ML-KEM and ML-DSA. In this episode you'll learn: • Why embedded hardware faces a unique quantum migration challenge • Why firmware updates alone won't solve the problem • How microcontrollers, TPMs, FPGAs, and secure boot systems are affected • The role of crypto agility in future hardware design • What this means for automotive, industrial IoT, medical devices, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure • How engineers can prepare for the transition to post-quantum security Whether you're a hardware engineer, embedded software developer, PCB designer, cybersecurity professional, semiconductor engineer, or technology executive, this episode explains why the transition to quantum-safe security is as much a hardware challenge as it is a software one. 🌐 Read the full article: https://www.silicontosoftware.com/post-quantum-cryptography-embedded-systems/ 🎙️ Subscribe to the Silicon to Software Podcast for weekly discussions on: • AI Hardware • PCB Design & Manufacturing • Embedded Systems • Semiconductor Technology • Cybersecurity • Quantum Computing • Electronics Engineering #QuantumComputing #PostQuantumCryptography #CyberSecurity #EmbeddedSystems #HardwareSecurity #IoT #FPGA #Semiconductor #PCBDesign #ArtificialIntelligence

    Why Embedded Hardware Can't Survive Quantum Computing | The Hidden Post-Quantum Cryptography Crisis

  6. Jul 22

    Episode 3 | The Quantum Computer Is Coming: Why Today's Encryption Could Soon Be Useless | Quantum Computing, RSA, Bitcoin, Cybersecurity & Post-Quantum Cryptography Explained

    Episode 3: The Quantum Computer Is Coming: Why Today's Encryption Could Soon Be Useless What happens when the computers of tomorrow can break the encryption protecting the internet today? In this episode of the Silicon to Software Podcast, we explore one of the biggest technology shifts of the next decade: quantum computing and its impact on cybersecurity. You'll learn: • Why RSA and elliptic curve cryptography are vulnerable to quantum attacks • How Shor's Algorithm could change internet security forever • What "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" means for governments and businesses • Why Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wallets face unique quantum risks • IBM's progress in quantum hardware and why logical qubits matter • NIST's new post-quantum cryptography standards (ML-KEM & ML-DSA) • Practical steps organizations should take today to prepare for a post-quantum world Whether you're an engineer, cybersecurity professional, PCB designer, AI enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of technology, this episode explains quantum computing without the hype and focuses on what actually matters. Read the full article: https://www.silicontosoftware.com/quantum-computing-encryption/ Subscribe for weekly episodes covering AI hardware, PCB design, semiconductors, cybersecurity, embedded systems, and the technologies shaping the future. #QuantumComputing #Cybersecurity #Encryption #PostQuantumCryptography #AI #Technology #Semiconductors #HardwareSecurity #Bitcoin #SiliconToSoftware

    Episode 3 | The Quantum Computer Is Coming: Why Today's Encryption Could Soon Be Useless | Quantum Computing, RSA, Bitcoin, Cybersecurity & Post-Quantum Cryptography Explained

  7. Jul 21

    Self-Driving Cars Have a Hardware Security Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

    Episode 2 | Silicon to Software Podcast What if the biggest cybersecurity risk in self-driving cars isn't the software—but the hardware? In this episode, we explore the hidden security challenges inside autonomous vehicles, including Electronic Control Units (ECUs), CAN bus networks, LiDAR sensors, AI accelerator chips, automotive Ethernet, Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), Secure Boot, and the global electronics supply chain. You'll discover why many legacy vehicle architectures were designed before cybersecurity became a core engineering requirement, how modern standards like ISO/SAE 21434, UN R155, and AUTOSAR SecOC are improving vehicle security, and why hardware security is becoming just as important as AI software. If you're interested in autonomous vehicles, AI hardware, embedded systems, cybersecurity, PCB manufacturing, semiconductors, or automotive engineering, this episode is for you. 📖 Read the full article: https://www.silicontosoftware.com/self-driving-car-hardware-security/ 🌐 Visit: https://www.silicontosoftware.com 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share. 💬 What do you think is the biggest cybersecurity challenge facing self-driving cars: software, hardware, or the supply chain? #SelfDrivingCars #AutonomousVehicles #HardwareSecurity #Cybersecurity #AIHardware #EmbeddedSystems #AutomotiveEngineering #CANBus #ECU #Semiconductors #PCBDesign #SiliconToSoftware

    Self-Driving Cars Have a Hardware Security Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

  8. Jul 20

    Why Tesla Gets Hacked Every Year at Pwn2Own

    Tesla Gets Hacked Every Year at Pwn2Own. The Reason Should Worry Every EV Owner. Most people think electric vehicle cybersecurity is a software problem. It isn't. In this episode of Silicon to Software, we explore why modern EV security begins with hardware. Using real-world research from Tesla's appearances at Pwn2Own, we break down CAN bus security, Electronic Control Units (ECUs), charging port attack surfaces, OTA update risks, embedded systems security, and the growing role of AI hardware in connected vehicles. You'll learn how automotive cybersecurity has evolved, why legacy vehicle communication networks are still vulnerable, and how standards like UNECE R155 and ISO/SAE 21434 are reshaping the future of secure vehicle design. Whether you're an engineer, cybersecurity professional, PCB designer, semiconductor expert, or simply interested in how modern electric vehicles really work, this episode provides a practical look at the hardware challenges behind automotive security. Topics covered include: • Tesla Pwn2Own exploits • CAN bus architecture • ECU security • EV charging cybersecurity • Embedded systems security • AI hardware • Hardware Security Modules • Automotive cybersecurity standards • OTA update security • PCB and electronics design Subscribe to Silicon to Software for more deep dives into AI hardware, semiconductors, PCB engineering, embedded systems, cybersecurity, and the technology shaping the future.

    Why Tesla Gets Hacked Every Year at Pwn2Own
  • 8 Episodes

About

Welcome to Silicon to Software, the podcast covering PCB manufacturing, AI infrastructure, hardware, and cybersecurity. Hosted by Imran Valiani, an industry insider with 20+ years of experience in PCB electronics manufacturing and technical sales serving major Bay Area and global tech clients. This show explores the deep hardware layer that makes AI, autonomous systems, and modern technology actually work—the circuit boards, chips, and supply chains that most tech writers never see up close. Subscribe for expert technical teardowns on everything from autonomous vehicle vulnerabilities to the future of silicon compute. 🌐 Read our latest articles and get in touch at https://silicontosoftware.com

Information

  • Creator
    Imran Valiani
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Silicon To Software
  • Show Website
    Silicon To Software