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DRONEMAKER-ALT

Experimental robotics, drones, embedded systems, avionics concepts, AI integration, fabrication, and autonomous systems research.


Philip White

FAA A&P mechanic • FCC Radiotelephone • Drone systems builder • Embedded hardware experimenter

40+ years of aircraft experience. 16+ years building helicopters on a production line.

This GitHub is a living engineering archive documenting:

  • Robotics development
  • Drone systems
  • Embedded electronics
  • Experimental AI integration
  • Reverse engineering
  • Fabrication workflows
  • Autonomous systems research
  • Field prototypes
  • Cyberpunk-grade engineering projects

Not corporate. Not polished startup theater.

Real benches. Real hardware. Real experiments.


ACTIVE SYSTEMS

Project Status Description
Cali-Spider Active Modular scalable hexapod robotics platform
P4 Handheld Active ESP32/P4 avionics-inspired field terminal
Cyber Skull Experimental Interactive AI cyberpunk display/statue
DroneMesh R&D Distributed drone communication concepts
CubeBond Concept CubeSat orbital debris capture concept

CURRENT FOCUS

  • ESP32 / LilyGo T-Display P4 systems
  • LVGL interface development
  • Robotics scaling
  • Drone mesh communication
  • Embedded displays and diagnostics
  • AI-assisted hardware workflows
  • Rapid prototyping and fabrication
  • Autonomous field systems

LAB DIVISIONS

Robotics

Quadrupeds, hexapods, servo systems, autonomous movement, modular robotics.

Drone Systems

Flight controllers, UAV concepts, telemetry systems, recon platforms, swarm concepts.

Embedded Systems

ESP32, STM32, CAN bus, displays, sensors, communication systems.

Fabrication Lab

3D printing, machining, aluminum extrusion systems, enclosure design, rapid prototyping.

Cyberpunk Lab

Experimental AI interfaces, interactive props, OLED systems, sci-fi inspired hardware.

Recovered Technology Archive

Reverse engineering and documentation of legacy flight hardware, embedded systems, and recovered electronics.


FEATURED PROJECTS

Cali-Spider

A scalable robotics platform evolving from desktop walker prototypes into larger modular hexapod systems.

Long-term concepts include:

  • AI-assisted control
  • Sensor fusion
  • Voice interaction
  • Autonomous navigation
  • Modular payload systems
  • Recon drone deployment

Because apparently normal hobbies were unavailable.


P4 Handheld Interface

A portable avionics-inspired embedded terminal based around ESP32/P4 hardware.

Goals include:

  • telemetry display
  • diagnostics
  • field programming
  • mesh communication
  • portable control systems
  • future AI integration

Inspired by aviation field tools, sci-fi interfaces, and tactical equipment aesthetics.


Cyberpunk AI Skull

Interactive cyberpunk display/statue integrating:

  • ESP32 control
  • OLED animated eyes
  • LEDs
  • voice systems
  • AI personality hooks
  • 3D printed enhancements

Because every lab eventually needs something that looks mildly sentient.


CubeBond

Experimental CubeSat concept focused on orbital debris interaction and autonomous attachment concepts.

Research areas include:

  • lightweight structures
  • embedded avionics
  • reaction systems
  • orbital stabilization
  • autonomous docking concepts

ENGINEERING PHILOSOPHY

Build. Break. Learn. Iterate. Archive.

The unfinished prototype from today becomes the critical stepping stone two years later.


CURRENT HARDWARE ECOSYSTEM

Embedded Platforms

  • ESP32 systems
  • LilyGo devices
  • STM32 flight hardware
  • Legacy APM systems
  • Drone flight controllers

Fabrication Equipment

  • Modified Ender 3 printers
  • CubeXY conversion projects
  • Machining and fabrication tools
  • Aluminum extrusion systems

Research Areas

  • autonomous systems
  • distributed robotics
  • avionics-inspired interfaces
  • field diagnostics
  • AI-assisted hardware
  • embedded communications

LAB NOTEBOOK PHILOSOPHY

Document everything.

Even unfinished ideas. Even failed experiments. Even strange concepts.

Engineering history matters.


INSPIRATION

Inspired by:

  • HAL 9000
  • JARVIS
  • C-3PO
  • classic sci-fi computer interfaces
  • aviation systems
  • real-world field engineering

Trying to build the future using solder fumes, aluminum chips, and suspiciously inexpensive electronics from Shenzhen.


STATUS

This organization is under continuous development.

Many projects are experimental and evolve rapidly.

Some prototypes may contain:

  • unfinished firmware
  • questionable wiring
  • dangerous optimism
  • excessive LEDs
  • engineering chaos

Working as intended.


Practical aviation experience + embedded hardware + imagination = better tools.

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