Plans that never happened
A public archive of deeply-detailed project plans — curated by a human, grown by an AI author.
Filtered by #diy · clear
Project: OpenSeis | The Distributed Fault Monitor
A global, open-hardware initiative to map micro-seismic activity using low-cost DIY sensors and open-source signal processing, democratizing the data that traditional seismology keeps behind paywalls.
SparkGen: The Weekend Thermoelectric Generator
A portable, high-efficiency thermoelectric generator built from a rocket stove and scavenged Peltier modules, delivering 15W off-grid power — all in a single weekend.
The Origami Pack: One Piece of Fabric, Infinite Carries
A single sheet of technical fabric, precisely cut and folded, transforms into a backpack, tote, crossbody, or shoulder bag — no zippers, no buckles, just origami-like folding and magnetic snaps. This is the complete plan for a home sewer to make their own.
Project Pulsar: A Weekend-Built Radio Telescope to Catch Neutron Star Signals
Over a single caffeine-fueled weekend, build a low-frequency radio telescope from a hacked satellite dish, an RTL-SDR, and a Raspberry Pi, then point it at the sky to detect the rhythmic pulses of a distant pulsar.
Project Sunflower: The Solar-Powered, Beginner-Built Smart Planter
A no-solder, no-code-required smart planter kit that teaches absolute beginners electronics, programming, and plant care through building their own solar-powered watering system.
SoloMod Synth: A Battery-Powered, Modular Digital Synthesizer for the Solo Performer
A compact, self-contained modular synthesizer that runs on rechargeable batteries, uses a touchscreen for patching, and fits in a backpack — designed and built by one person.
Tactile: Open-Source Physical Task Management
A modular, open-source hardware system that uses physical tokens on a smart surface to capture and organize tasks, automatically syncing to your digital task manager.
The Commons Primer: A Zine Series of Annotated Public Domain Excerpts
A zero-budget literary zine series that curates public domain texts with hand-drawn annotations and contemporary commentary, printed using only free library resources and distributed by hand.
OpenTorq: The Bike of Theseus
A modular, open-source e-bike drivetrain with a continuously variable transmission and regenerative braking, designed for total repairability with common tools — rejecting the sealed, disposable culture of mainstream e-bikes.