Samuele Garbati Retail · Projects · Astronomy

03 Personal projects

From an idea to a working system.

I design, build, connect and test. DriveOS, Casa Asciutta and LowSpec 3.0 are three different ways of turning a real need into a working system: software, electronics, home automation and astronomical instrumentation.

DriveOS ↓Casa Asciutta ↓LowSpec 3.0 ↓

01 Onboard systems

Personal project · In development

DriveOS

A custom digital cockpit for my Suzuki.

The starting point is a practical question: how can a vehicle bring together useful information and modern tools in a coherent interface? DriveOS is my answer, built on Raspberry Pi and developed around the way I use the vehicle.

DRIVEOS / RASPBERRY PI01
<span data-i18n data-en="DriveOS displayed inside the Suzuki cockpit" data-it="DriveOS visualizzato all’interno del cockpit del Suzuki">DriveOS displayed inside the Suzuki cockpit</span> In-vehicle setup
<span data-i18n data-en="DriveOS off-road interface with vehicle data and attitude horizon" data-it="Interfaccia off-road di DriveOS con dati veicolo e orizzonte artificiale">DriveOS off-road interface with vehicle data and attitude horizon</span> Off-road cockpit
<span data-i18n data-en="DriveOS weather and storm screen with radar map" data-it="Schermata meteo e temporali di DriveOS con mappa radar">DriveOS weather and storm screen with radar map</span> Weather / storm
<span data-i18n data-en="DriveOS launcher with app navigation" data-it="Launcher di DriveOS con navigazione delle app">DriveOS launcher with app navigation</span> Launcher
SDL / ECUMaps + weatherCustom launcherReal interfaces / project screenshots
01 / DATA

Read the vehicle

Read-only acquisition of diagnostic data from the Suzuki ECU through SDL. Decoding, checking signals and presenting useful parameters in the dashboard.

02 / MAPS

Find your way

Topographic and satellite views, selectable map layers and convoy tools bring geographic information into the onboard experience.

03 / INTERFACE

Bring the tools together

A custom launcher connects the dashboard, maps, applications and multimedia. Layout and controls evolve through tests on the actual display.

My contribution
System design, software, electronics integration and field testing.
Technology
Raspberry Pi · Python · SDL / ECU · Web UI
Ongoing work
Interface refinement, diagnostic validation and power-system development.

Inside DriveOS · Electronics & PCB

From schematic to routed board.

One of the technical layers of DriveOS is the electronics behind it: schematic capture, component integration, PCB placement and routing, and design review in KiCad.

<span data-i18n data-en="KiCad PCB layout with routed copper tracks" data-it="Layout PCB in KiCad con piste di rame instradate">KiCad PCB layout with routed copper tracks</span> 01PCB layout & routing
<span data-i18n data-en="Electronic schematic designed in KiCad" data-it="Schema elettronico progettato in KiCad">Electronic schematic designed in KiCad</span> 02Schematic design <span data-i18n data-en="PCB layer and fabrication preview" data-it="Anteprima layer e fabbricazione PCB">PCB layer and fabrication preview</span> 03Layer review

These images document the DriveOS power controller: a real board developed to integrate power management, relays, protection and Raspberry Pi control signals.

  • KiCad
  • Schematics
  • PCB routing
  • Design review

02 Home automation

Personal project · In development

Casa Asciutta

From condensation prevention to a connected home.

A real humidity problem became a project: observe the most exposed areas, understand the conditions and coordinate the available devices. Born on ESP32 and now running on a Mac mini with Ubuntu, Casa Asciutta brings monitoring, custom automation and household controls into one portal.

CASA ASCIUTTA / MQTT02
<span data-i18n data-en="Casa Asciutta home dashboard with sensors, climate and media controls" data-it="Dashboard principale di Casa Asciutta con sensori, clima e controlli media">Casa Asciutta home dashboard with sensors, climate and media controls</span> Home dashboard
<span data-i18n data-en="Casa Asciutta floor plan with device positions" data-it="Pianta di Casa Asciutta con posizione dei dispositivi">Casa Asciutta floor plan with device positions</span> Interactive floor plan
A real control portal for a real home.
  • Mac mini / Ubuntu
  • MQTT · Zigbee2MQTT
  • Climate logic + touch UI
SensorsLogicInteractive mapReal interfaces / project screenshots
01 / SENSE

Observe the conditions

Wireless temperature and humidity sensors and a wall probe provide a view of the areas most exposed to condensation. The readings support decisions about when to intervene.

02 / CONTROL

Coordinate ventilation

Custom logic connects environmental readings to ventilation and climate devices. Mechanical ventilation runs continuously at minimum speed, with relay-controlled boost when needed.

03 / INTERFACE

Make the home readable

A shared portal collects sensor states, device controls and household integrations. The interface is evolving towards a dedicated touch display.

My contribution
Architecture, control logic, device integration and interface design.
Technology
Mac mini / Ubuntu · MQTT · Zigbee2MQTT · Node.js
Ongoing work
Adapting the control logic, refining the touch interface and extending household integrations.

03 Astronomical instrumentation

Personal project · Built and in use

LowSpec 3.0

A self-built slit spectrograph to turn starlight into measurements.

I built and aligned a LowSpec 3.0 based on Paul Gerlach’s public design, then integrated it into my own observing setup. The project goes beyond assembling the instrument: it includes optical alignment, acquisition, calibration and reduction of real stellar spectra. LowSpec 3.0 ↗

LOWSPEC 3.0 / SPECTROGRAPH03
<span data-i18n data-en="LowSpec 3.0 optical alignment test with a green laser" data-it="Test di allineamento ottico del LowSpec 3.0 con laser verde">LowSpec 3.0 optical alignment test with a green laser</span> Optical alignment
<span data-i18n data-en="Processed spectrum of Vega acquired with the spectroscopy setup" data-it="Spettro elaborato di Vega acquisito con il sistema spettroscopico">Processed spectrum of Vega acquired with the spectroscopy setup</span> Vega / α Lyrae
<span data-i18n data-en="Spectrum of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136" data-it="Spettro della stella Wolf-Rayet WR 136">Spectrum of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136</span> WR 136
SLIT SPECTROGRAPH300 / 600 l/mmBASSReal build / real spectra
01 / BUILD

Build the instrument

Assembly of the 3D-printable LowSpec structure, integration of the optical components and mechanical adjustment of the spectrograph around a real observing setup.

02 / ALIGN

Bring light to the slit

Optical alignment, focus and grating setup are verified experimentally, including laser tests and the use of 300/600 l/mm gratings with the Moravian G-8300 and ASI120MM cameras.

03 / REDUCE

Turn spectra into data

The acquisition workflow continues in BASS with wavelength calibration, background and cosmetic correction, response/continuum work and extraction of comparable one-dimensional spectra.

My contribution
Fabrication, assembly, optical alignment, acquisition, calibration and spectral analysis.
Setup
LowSpec 3.0 · Moravian G-8300 · ASI120MM · 300/600 l/mm · BASS
Observed spectra
Vega · WR 136 · Nova Cas 2021 · Antares

Selected measurements

From the instrument to the spectrum.

More spectroscopy ↗
<span data-i18n data-en="Raw Vega spectrum with Balmer absorption lines" data-it="Spettro grezzo di Vega con righe di assorbimento della serie di Balmer">Raw Vega spectrum with Balmer absorption lines</span>Vega · Balmer <span data-i18n data-en="Spectrum of Nova Cassiopeiae 2021" data-it="Spettro di Nova Cassiopeiae 2021">Spectrum of Nova Cassiopeiae 2021</span>Nova Cas 2021 <span data-i18n data-en="Processed spectrum of Antares" data-it="Spettro elaborato di Antares">Processed spectrum of Antares</span>Antares / α Sco

A shared approach

Build. Use. Improve.

These projects grow through the same cycle: a concrete need, a working prototype, integration with real devices or instruments and tests in real use. Each iteration connects the design more closely to the problem it should solve.

Talk about a project ↗