Development

How We Build The Symbolic Resonance Array Dev Kit: 5 Phases Of Development

Here is an outline for the SRA Dev Kit broken down into 5, milestone-based phases. Each phase has:

• A clear technical goal.
• A more realistic calendar window that allows for hiring, vendor queues, and shipping delays.
• A transparent budget that includes Experiment.com fees and payment processing.

The original “12-week” plan now sits inside these phases as the active lab time once the right people, tools, and materials are in place. In calendar time, the full SRA development program will likely span 18 to 24 months.

Timeline Reality

This is not a solo laptop project. It requires:

• Hiring modelers and engineers who already have full calendars.
• Partnering with a lab that can actually fabricate VO₂ devices and fit us into their production schedule.
• Ordering parts and boards, waiting for fabrication and shipping, then doing rework when something is not quite right.

Because of this, each phase below is described in terms of milestones and estimated calendar ranges, not rigid dates. If a lab or collaborator needs more time, the phase simply takes longer. Donors will receive honest updates as we move from one phase to the next.

Overview: The Five Phases

• Phase 1: Minimal model and test script.
• Phase 2: Controller hardware and bench surrogate.
• Phase 3: VO₂ resonance tile fabrication and packaging.
• Phase 4: Integrated dev kit bring-up.
• Phase 5: Parameter sweeps, open dataset, and non-provisional patent.

Total lab budget across all phases remains close to the original $24,500 target.

Phase 1: Minimal Model, Patent Preparation, And Filing Funds

Estimated calendar window once collaborators are lined up
Duration: about 2 to 4 months.

What we do

• Finalize a minimal, simulation-ready model of the VO₂ Symbolic Resonance Array.
• Lock in the excite, relax, read cycle in code.
• Build a small test harness that others can run to reproduce basic symbol vectors.
• Set up a public GitHub repository for the model and documentation.
• Secure patent counsel through Georgia Patent and reserve funds for USPTO filing fees (Application Approved).
• Work with the attorney as they begin drafting the non-provisional based on the current design.

Important timing note

The money for filing is raised in Phase 1 and set aside specifically for that purpose. The non-provisional itself will be filed later, once my attorney has finished drafting.

Budget

• Approximate lab and patent preparation budget: $4,000
  • Modeling and math support.
  • Research and coordination time.
  • Cloud compute and tooling.
  • Reserved USPTO filing fees.
• Phase 1 campaign goal: $4,000

Milestone

Phase 1 is complete when:

• Patent counsel is engaged, with funds already raised and earmarked for filing, so the non-provisional can be submitted as soon as the attorney is ready.
• The minimal model and test script are documented and available, and
• Patent counsel is engaged, with funds already raised and earmarked for filing, so the non-provisional can be submitted as soon as the attorney is ready.

Phase 2: Controller Hardware And Bench Surrogate

Estimated calendar window

• Duration: about 3 to 6 months.
• Depends on: PCB design cycles, fabrication turn times, and any rework.

What we do

• Design the controller board that will eventually drive the VO₂ tile.
• Fabricate the board and bring it up on the bench.
• Build a VO₂ surrogate using passive components or programmable loads.
• Validate the excite, relax, read pipeline end-to-end using the surrogate.
• Capture a short demo video of the controller producing surrogate symbol vectors.

Budget

• Approximate lab budget: $5,000
  • PCB design and fabrication.
  • Controller components and power supplies.
  • Test equipment time and fixtures.
• Phase 2 campaign goal: $5,000

Phase 3: VO₂ Resonance Tile Fabrication And Packaging

Estimated calendar window

• Duration: about 6 to 9 months.
• Depends on: finding the right VO₂ fabrication partner, their internal queue, and possible redesign cycles.

What we do

• Finalize the VO₂ geometry and mask design with the partner lab.
• Fabricate a first VO₂ thin film tile with simple but SRA ready patterning.
• Package the tile onto a carrier PCB that connects to the controller.
• Perform basic electrical and environmental characterization.

Budget

• Approximate lab budget: $8,000
  • VO₂ deposition and patterning.
  • Packaging onto a carrier board.
  • Initial characterization and insured shipping.
• Phase 3 campaign goal: $8,000

Milestone

Phase 3 is complete when a VO₂ resonance tile is packaged onto a carrier that can plug into the controller, with initial measurements confirming that it behaves as expected under drive.

Phase 4: Integrated Dev Kit Bring Up

Estimated calendar window

• Duration: about 3 to 6 months.
• Depends on: lab scheduling for integration time, debugging cycles, and any minor respins.

What we do

• Integrate the VO₂ tile with the controller hardware.
• Debug signal integrity, thermal behavior, and timing.
• Run full excite, relax, read sequences on the real device.
• Record the first symbol vectors from the physical array.

Budget

• Approximate lab budget: $3,500
  • Lab time for integration and debugging.
  • Fixtures, cables, and minor board updates.
• Phase 4 campaign goal: $3,500

Milestone

Phase 4 is complete when there is a working SRA dev kit (controller plus VO₂ tile) producing stable symbol vectors on the bench.

Phase 5: Parameter Sweeps, Open Dataset, And Technical Report

Estimated calendar window
Duration: about 3 to 6 months.

What we do

• Run parameter sweeps across temperature, drive conditions, and coupling.
• Measure symbol rate, vector error rate, and energy per cycle.
• Clean and publish an open dataset with basic analysis scripts.
• Write a short, accessible technical report for backers and partners.
• Prepare follow-on material that can support future continuation or divisional filings if needed, but the core non-provisional is already in place from Phase 1.

Budget

• Approximate lab and documentation budget: $4,000
• Phase 5 campaign goal: $4,000

Milestone

Phase 5 is complete when the dataset, scripts, and summary report are public. Any additional IP work at this stage is expansion, not racing a deadline.