Skip to content
RETIEB Robotics

Engineering intelligence

Every panel below is computed by traversing the engineering knowledge graph — the same registries that drive the platform pages, the log, and diagnostics. Nothing here is written by hand, and nothing is stored twice.

Weekly engineering summary

Completed and active work, new logs and decisions, hardware and module activity, blocker movement, and upcoming milestones — derived from timestamps and relationships alone.

Window

Weekly engineering summary

9 Jul 2026 – 8 Aug 2026
New log entries
4
Decisions recorded
1
Blocker movement
7
Upcoming milestones
5
Completed work0

Nothing closed in this window.

Hardware activity10
  • VEVOR 4-wheel electric utility cartChassis · VEVOR2 mentions
  • OEM motor controllerControl · VEVOR (OEM)2 mentions
  • OEM battery systemPower · VEVOR (OEM)2 mentions
  • WAVE ROVER 4WDChassis · Waveshare2 mentions
  • Motor and encoder mounts (custom)Drive · Designed and printed in-house2 mentions
  • OEM accelerator controlControl · VEVOR (OEM)1 mention
  • OEM forward / reverse selectorControl · VEVOR (OEM)1 mention
  • OEM electronic brakeControl · VEVOR (OEM)1 mention
  • 500 W brushless drive systemDrive · VEVOR (OEM)1 mention
  • ExpressLRS linkComms · ExpressLRS (open source)1 mention
Module activity0

No module was referenced in this window.

Blockers closed0

No blocker was closed in this window.

Upcoming milestones5
  • Power validation completeCharge termination, rail behaviour under compute load, and measured runtime.Q3 2026
  • First teleoperated driveDriven under command with a verified failsafe and replacement motor mounts fitted.Q3 2026
  • Camera integrationStable timestamped visual feed running on the platform.Q4 2026
  • Home Assistant integrationStatus and telemetry surfaced alongside the property's other systems.Q4 2026
  • First supervised outdoor traverseDriving real ground with an operator present.2027

Platform brief

Objective, milestones, active engineering areas, involved hardware and modules, open blockers, outstanding decisions, and derived risks.

A platform brief is platform-specific. Select a platform above.

Module brief

Status, related hardware, active work, recent activity, outstanding dependencies, related decisions, and risks for each reusable capability package.

Vision module

In development · Engineering

Camera capture, calibration, and obstacle detection feeding the local planner. The first perception capability intended to be reused unchanged across platforms.

Platforms1
Related hardware2
CSI cameraJetson Nano
Related decisions0

No decision references this module.

Outstanding dependencies2
  • CSI cameraSensing · Generic (IMX219 class)
  • Jetson NanoCompute · NVIDIA
Recent activity0

No engineering log references this module yet.

Current risks3
  • medium1 open challenge

    Unresolved challenges reference this module.

  • mediumHardware dependencies not yet proven

    2 of 2 hardware dependencies are still ahead of field testing.

    CSI cameraJetson Nano
  • lowNo engineering evidence

    No log entry references this module, so its state is asserted rather than demonstrated.

Dependency explorer

Direct and reverse dependencies, dependency depth, and the impact radius for any record in the graph.

Dependency summary

87 records in radius
Direct dependencies
4

Records this one points at

Reverse dependencies
2

Records pointing back

Dependency depth
3

Longest downstream chain

Impact radius by depth
Depth 1 · 4
ERDEN ScoutERDEN UtilityPayload interfacePlatform documentation
Depth 2 · 72
WAVE ROVER 4WDMotor and encoder mounts (custom)Jetson NanoCSI camera3S lithium-ion packWaveshare onboard power systemExternal DC charging inputExpressLRS linkVision moduleDocking moduleEnvironmental probeThermal moduleRadio bring-upDrivetrain mountingPower validationCamera integrationUse a commercial rover base rather than fabricating a chassisUse the onboard Waveshare power system rather than a custom distribution board3S lithium-ion pack matched to the onboard chargerKeep the control link and stop path independent of the autonomy computerDesign the motor and encoder mounts in-houseSpecify the payload interface before building any payloadMotor mount replacementCharging verificationCamera integrationRadio configurationRuntime under load is unknownProcurement and inspectionPower validationManual controlSensing and integrationOutdoor operationPersistent operationVEVOR 4-wheel electric utility cart500 W brushless drive systemOEM motor controllerOEM accelerator controlOEM forward / reverse selectorOEM electronic brakeOEM battery system13 in pneumatic wheel and tyre setFlatbed cargo deckUtility drive controlUtility steering controlUtility braking and stop pathUtility power systemUtility computeUtility communications and teleoperation linkUtility localisationUtility safety architectureUtility autonomous navigationBaseline characterisationControl architecture definitionSafety architecture for a heavy platformStart ERDEN Utility from a commercial electric utility vehicleKeep Utility a work platform, distinct from ScoutCharacterise the factory vehicle before any conversion workAutonomy work on Utility waits behind a demonstrated safety architectureDefine a standardised payload and implement interface for UtilityFactory motor control interface is unknownSteering architecture is undefinedBraking behaviour and fail-state are uncharacterisedElectrical baseline is unmeasuredSafety architecture for a heavy platform is unspecifiedPayload and implement interface is undefinedAcquisition and baseline characterisationControl architecture definitionSafety architecture and supervised controlTeleoperation and instrumentationAutonomous work runsImplements and payload interfaceSustained field operation

Decision impact

What each recorded decision affects, what depends on it, and how far its consequences reach — computed by traversal, never summarised by hand.

Specify the payload interface before building any payload

Proposed · 2027

No payload module proceeds past research until the mechanical, power, and data interface is written down.

Affects
4

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
1

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks2
  • mediumOpen decision with committed work

    The decision is proposed yet already touches 4 records.

  • lowNo engineering log references this decision

    Its consequences are not yet visible in the timestamped record.

Define a standardised payload and implement interface for Utility

Proposed · 2027

Implements for the Utility deck are to be built against a written mechanical, power, and data interface rather than mounted individually.

Affects
3

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
1

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks2
  • mediumOpen decision with committed work

    The decision is proposed yet already touches 3 records.

    ERDEN UtilityFlatbed cargo deckPayload interface
  • lowNo engineering log references this decision

    Its consequences are not yet visible in the timestamped record.

Design the motor and encoder mounts in-house

Revisiting · 18 Jul 2026

Encoder mounting was taken in-house to control encoder alignment. The first revision failed under load, and the approach is being re-examined rather than abandoned.

Affects
2

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks1
  • mediumOpen decision with committed work

    The decision is revisiting yet already touches 2 records.

    ERDEN ScoutMotor and encoder mounts (custom)

Keep the control link and stop path independent of the autonomy computer

Accepted · 4 Jul 2026

Manual control and the stop path terminate at the ESP32 driver board, independent of the Jetson, so the autonomy computer can fail without the platform losing control authority.

Affects
4

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks1
  • lowAccepted without a recorded outcome

    The decision was accepted but nothing documents what happened next.

3S lithium-ion pack matched to the onboard charger

Accepted · 27 Jun 2026

Battery architecture was chosen to match the input window of the onboard charge circuit rather than to maximise capacity.

Affects
3

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks0

No risk conditions are present in the graph for this record.

Use the onboard Waveshare power system rather than a custom distribution board

Accepted · 13 Jun 2026

The custom power distribution board planned for the platform was dropped once the rover's integrated charge, regulation, and current-monitoring circuitry was identified during inspection.

Affects
3

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks0

No risk conditions are present in the graph for this record.

Use a commercial rover base rather than fabricating a chassis

Accepted · 9 May 2026

ERDEN Scout is built on a commercial 4WD rover base so early effort goes into autonomy and integration rather than mechanical fabrication.

Affects
2

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks0

No risk conditions are present in the graph for this record.

Autonomy work on Utility waits behind a demonstrated safety architecture

Proposed · 2026

No autonomous motion is attempted on Utility until an emergency stop independent of software, defined fail-safe states, and speed limiting are specified and demonstrated.

Affects
4

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks1

Characterise the factory vehicle before any conversion work

Accepted · 2026

No control, compute, or sensing hardware is specified for Utility until the factory drive, braking, steering, and electrical systems have been measured first-hand.

Affects
6

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
3

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Affects6
Related hardware3
OEM motor controllerOEM battery systemOEM electronic brake
Related platforms1
Risks1
  • lowAccepted without a recorded outcome

    The decision was accepted but nothing documents what happened next.

Keep Utility a work platform, distinct from Scout

Accepted · 2026

Utility is a load-carrying work platform; Scout remains a small observation and development rover. The two platforms share engineering practice, not a mission.

Affects
2

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks1
  • lowAccepted without a recorded outcome

    The decision was accepted but nothing documents what happened next.

Start ERDEN Utility from a commercial electric utility vehicle

Accepted · 2026

ERDEN Utility begins as a factory VEVOR four-wheel electric utility cart rather than a purpose-built work platform, so the engineering effort goes into control, safety, and autonomy rather than building a vehicle.

Affects
4

Outbound relationships

Depends on it
2

Inbound references

Impact radius
87

Reachable records

Risks1
  • lowAccepted without a recorded outcome

    The decision was accepted but nothing documents what happened next.