Custom Firmware/Software Development/Electronics Engineering Work (Hire Me)

Page Written: 10 Jan 2017
Last Updated: 24 July 2018

UPDATE 24 JULY 2018: I'M TOO BUSY TO DEDICATE THE TIME REQUIRED TO ANY NEW PROJECTS. I'M NO LONGER TAKING NEW PROJECTS AT THIS TIME. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

Hi! My name is Gabriel Staples. I work in the embedded software and robotics industry.

Occasionally I take on side projects outside of my day job. For instance, I added custom 2.4GHz wireless control to the Cinemoves Powerslider at a time when off-the-shelf commercial solutions for wireless control of the Powerslider did not exist. This feature I provided enabled them to do special shots in the filming of Mission Impossible 5 and other Hollywood movies. 

I also built a fire drone for ABC's Battlebots show in 2016. 

Cinemoves Powerslider mounted on the side
of a Hollywood stunt car

If you’d like to hire me for custom work, begin by sending me an email. Make the subject line "Custom embedded work--name of project". Not sure if I can handle it? ASK! The worst I'll say is I don't have time, we're not a good fit, or it's out of my area of expertise. See below for details.

  Gabriel Staples
  Electric RC Aircraft Guy, LLC
  (Phone number available upon request by email)
  PLEASE ONLY USE THE BELOW EMAIL FOR PAID PROJECT REQUESTS.
   - If you are looking for free advice instead see here.

Related Links:

• Click here if you're looking for my generic Contact Me page.
• Click here if you're looking for my About Me page.
• Read here to be inspired:
• "Aim High"
• "The Goal of a Lifetime"
• If you're looking to learn more about me and my background, see my introduction, resume, and LinkedIn profile on my About Me page, and feel free to contact me via my email above.

Hire Me:

If you're looking for some custom firmware/embedded software development and electronics-related engineering work, you've come to the right place.

Bluetooth-enabled touch lamp.

I am a custom electronics and embedded systems software developer. I design and build custom digital circuits, write code, and use micro-controllers to meet your electronics needs.

If you are using an Arduino for your project, and want your engineers to be able to do the same, I am a perfect fit for the job, as this is my go-to tool of choice.

• From building an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) “drone” (fire-shooting 10-lb hexacopter) that appeared on ABC’s BattleBots in 2016, and designing and producing a camera controller wireless interface board used in the filming of Mission Impossible 5 and other Hollywood movies, to writing my own quadcopter navigation/path planning algorithm from scratch (demo video 1 / demo video 2 / simulation), I have clearly and consistently demonstrated my passion and enthusiasm for solving tough engineering problems. 
• My intense self-motivation is what sets me apart. I do not limit myself to just what I have been taught, I teach myself when necessary, then I use this knowledge to solve problems others can't. When you hire me, I share my knowledge with you and your engineers and work with you to make your life easier. When I don't know how to do something, I do extensive research, ask questions and figure it out.

Hollywood camera wireless control board
--helped film Mission Impossible 5 and
other Hollywood films, as well as the
2014 Emmy Awards.

• If we're not a good fit, I'll say so. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back (details below). 
• Career supported by a Master of Science degree and vast real-world expertise, with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, graduating Summa Cum Laude from a top university.
• 5 yrs. full-time R&D experience + 2.5 yrs. part-time, including 3 yrs. full-time UAV/UAS experience + 4.5 yrs. part-time.
• In my day job I write embedded systems software for self-driving semi trucks at a top San Francisco-based company.

Other projects I have completed are listed below.

Fire drone I built, programmed, and flew
for ABC's BattleBots TV show in 2016.

If you’d like to hire me for custom work, begin by sending me an email to the address listed at top of this page. Make the subject line "Custom embedded work--name of project". Not sure if I can handle it? ASK! The worst I'll say is I don't have time, we're not a good fit, or it's out of my area of expertise.

Once you email me with a good description of what is the problem and what you'd like me to do about it, the first thing we'll need to do is set up a video or phone chat. I do this freelancing on the side, so it will have to be outside of normal US Pacific-time business hours, as my first paid obligations are to my primary employer. 

Once we establish if it's a good fit for both of us, I will give you a fixed-price or monthly-retainer fee proposal. If we agree on the proposal, I take on the project for the agreed-upon price. 

My work is guaranteed. If at any point in our first 30 days you decide that I am not meeting the standards described in my proposal, just request a refund and I'll send your money back.

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Why me?
I have experience in a variety of disciplines. I am a keen engineer and an avid learner, always seeking to expand my horizons and take on the next challenge. Some of my past, present, and future experience is listed below.

Previous Custom Projects:

• Quadcopter MATLAB flight controller with "lead point" vector field navigation algorithm and MATLAB GUI (video)
• MATLAB GUI and radio control (RC) transmitter PPM output signal interpreter and plotter (video)
• Piezo-electric high precision (0.01mm), closed-loop linear servo driver, including quadrature encoder decoding, with command-line interface (videos x 3)
• Sensorless brushless RC motor rotations per minute (RPM) decoder/datalogger and command-line motor throttle control interface for laboratory bench top testing (photos & unedited demo videos)
• Barometric pressure sensor altimeter data-logger
• CineMoves Hollywood action camera wireless control board interface to 2.4GHz RC Rx (bench-top demo video from CineMoves); among other things, this board has been used to help film the red carpet portion of the 2014 Emmy Awards, as well as scenes from Mission Impossible 5
• High speed PC to RC Radio C++ software API serial interface and microcontroller firmware for off-board unmanned vehicle control-algorithm development and testing
• 60W speaker driver/amplifier and custom siren sound generation (info & videos)

Current Projects In-Work:

• TBD: possibly custom embedded work to add telemetry and "smarts" to an electric skateboard.

Other Projects:

• Ultra efficient high precision ultrasonic ping sensor library for Arduino
• Altitude hold and flip mode for Buzz the BattleBot
• 16-Ch RC Rx reader/multiplexer library for Arduino
• Arduino robot car (miscellaneous custom algorithms)
• High power (100A+ at 12~24V+) power meter and car battery saver
• Atlas V wireless mesh network Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) distance telemetry parking aid (utilizing Arduino, Xbee radios, & Raspberry Pi)
• Analog IR remote control (incl PCB design) and library for Arduino
• Redesign of my MOSFET gate driver for my 60W siren in order to actively drive the gate voltage high and low--to minimize time in the ohmic region of the MOSFET, thereby reducing heating--instead of driving high and pulling low
• Burchfield positioner-based rocket (space launch vehicle) tracking and filming system
• "Computa Pranksta" USB prank device (to be sold on Amazon.com)
• Bluetooth-enabled touch lamp circuit board educational and solder kit (including the PCB design) (prototype photos)
• Economical multi-thermocouple driver/sensor board for inexpensive home, school, university, and laboratory use--will easily allow live thermocouple temperature measurements and datalogging

Note that if you want my services you need to convince me to put your project at the top of my list. Please contact me and let's discuss your needs.

END

Update History (newest on top):
- 20180724: updated status: not available for new projects (too busy)
- 20180202: added new intro., mentioned Cinemoves, & added Cinemoves Hollywood stunt car camera slider picture
- 20180126: minor change: added link to page for info on free help
- 20180121: major update: added new email address, changed "consulting" wording to be more in-line with what I really do: custom embedded firmware and microcontroller/electronics development work; added photos of Hollywood project and Battlebot; added a line about my day job: embedded software on self-driving semi trucks 
- 20170110: initial version

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