A couple of questions come up fairly often when talking about this project and this post will hopefully give everyone a good idea of the goals for the next few months.

Accessible and Open Hardware

We are dedicated to the idea of accessible construction techniques for those who don't have access to SMD and other equipment like a powerful scope. Though-hole component versions will give builders the opportunity to scavenge many passive parts and hardware if the budget is bare bones.

For the components that are difficult to solder, or unavailable in a DIP package, we will design breakout boards and modules. This is not ideal and hopefully there is a better solution.

Later, high performance versions of some instruments will be designed for a better funded and more demanding application. The stability system for my world speed sailing record attempt with "Hardtack" is a prime example of something that can grow out of our initial utilitarian instrument and sensor designs.

All of the designs for "Hardtack" will be open sourced once we have reached our speed goals. The record is about 72 mph and everyone goes to a calm and windy bay in Namibia for their speed runs. My attempt in 2017 will take place on Northern Lake Michigan which is one of the only freshwater attempts because the water density increases drag slightly. There's a strong possibility "Hardtack" will break the 100mph barrier in 2017, and we will go back in 2018 for the 200kph try.

Where is this Community?

An official web presence is coming in the next two months. Funding and content creation are at the top of my to do list. There are a few other looming sub-projects that need to be completed before launch.

Block diagrams are coming along as fast as I can read this folder full of data sheets. I don't have any precious ideas in this game other than to reach the goals set out in the other sections of this project. All of this work might get thrown into the wastebasket once contributors chime in, and that's fine with me. I'm a better organizer and communicator than I am an engineer and everyone will eventually find their roles.

There is going to be a Kickstarter campaign for this project. Not everyone will like this but the negatives are far fewer than the positive results of reaching our long term goals. All of the legalities and structure alone is enough to keep me completely free of free time. Please consider backing the Kickstarter project since we are offering some unique rewards. (A live link will be up shortly)

Just getting the rule books covering all the international conventions will be thousands of dollars if we need to pay full price. We need this information that is closed source and not available anywhere else to be sure we are making our designs compatible with international and sovereign Admiralty Law.

All of the Arduino drama in the past months makes me extra careful in how we draft the foundational documents. I won't even go into the issues with non-profit status.

On the good side I hope to fully launch a weekly newsletter by June 1, 2015 to keep everyone informed of advancements and industry news without visiting the website.