How It Works

MaD is a full stack, from steel to pixels. This section explains each layer and how they connect.

flowchart TB
    user["Operator"] --> app
    subgraph host["Computer (browser)"]
        app["Control app<br/>Control"]
    end
    subgraph machine["MaD machine"]
        fw["Firmware<br/>(Propeller 2, C)"]
        periph["Motor · force gauge ·<br/>encoder · endstops · SD"]
    end
    app <-->|"Web Serial · ProtoEmb"| fw
    fw <--> periph
    periph --> sample["Sample under test"]

Start with the system overview for the end-to-end data flow, then dive into any layer:

• Theory of operation — how the machine moves, measures, runs a test and keeps itself safe
• Firmware — layered C on the 8-core Propeller 2
• Communication protocol — the ProtoEmb binary wire format
• The control app — Web Serial + WASM in a worker
• SIL emulator — running the real firmware with no hardware
• Hardware — the PCBs