Forged by passionate engineers.
ForgeDrive is an open-source research and development platform for modular, scalable, and industrial-inspired systems.
ForgeDrive is an ecosystem of reusable hardware, firmware, tools, and documentation covering the complete development process—from power electronics and embedded software to simulation, validation, and manufacturing.
The project aims to bridge the gap between academic learning, rapid prototyping, and industrial engineering practices.
Vision
ForgeDrive is built around one simple idea:
«Engineering should be understandable, modular, and reusable.»
Every hardware module, software component, and document is designed with long-term maintainability and extensibility in mind.
Whether developing a compact BLDC controller or a complete industrial servo drive, the same design philosophy applies:
- Modular architectures
- Well-defined interfaces
- Thorough documentation
- Reusable building blocks
- Continuous improvement through experimentation
##Core Principles
Modularity
Each subsystem has a single responsibility.
Examples include:
- Power stages
- Low-voltage distribution
- Communication modules
- Power supplies
- Signal conditioning
- Encoder interfaces
- Processing modules
Modules should be independently testable and reusable across projects.
Scalability
ForgeDrive is designed to scale across applications.
The same architecture should support:
- Laboratory prototypes
- Educational platforms
- Robotics
- CNC systems
- Industrial automation
- Research projects
Engineering First
Design decisions are driven by engineering rather than trends.
Topics documented throughout the project include:
- PCB layout
- Power electronics
- Thermal management
- EMC considerations
- Signal integrity
- Embedded software architecture
- Control algorithms
- System reliability
Learning by Building
ForgeDrive is intended to be as educational as it is practical.
Whenever possible, documentation explains:
- Why a decision was made
- Alternative approaches
- Trade-offs
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Experimental results
The goal is to share engineering knowledge—not only finished hardware.
Project Scope
ForgeDrive currently explores technologies including:
Hardware
- PMSM Inverters
- BLDC Controllers
- Three-phase power stages
- PFC converters
- Flyback power supplies
- Low-voltage power distribution
- Encoder interfaces
- Communication modules
- Protection circuitry
- High-speed PCB design
Embedded Software
- STM32 Development
- Embedded C/C++
- CMSIS
- Low-Level Drivers
- Real-Time Systems
- Communication Protocols
- Bootloaders
- Firmware Architecture
Control
- Field Oriented Control (FOC)
- Space Vector Modulation (SVM)
- Trapezoidal Control
- Current Control
- Position Control
- Speed Control
- Sensorless Algorithms
Modeling & Simulation
- MATLAB / Simulink
- Model-Based Design (MBD)
- Plant Modeling
- Controller Design
- System Validation
Mechanical
- Enclosures
- Thermal Design
- Mounting Systems
- Mechanical Integration
Documentation is considered a first-class component of the project.
Each hardware module includes:
- Board overview
- Bring-up guide
- Revision history
- Manufacturing notes
- Known issues
- Validation results
Shared documentation includes:
- System architecture
- Communication protocols
- Electrical standards
- Design guidelines
- Safety considerations
- Development workflow
Hardware revisions are maintained independently while Git preserves complete design history.
ForgeDrive emphasizes:
- Single Responsibility Principle (SRP)
- Interface-driven design
- Reusable modules
- Hardware abstraction
- Deterministic behavior
- Debuggability
- Maintainability
- Reliability over unnecessary complexity
ForgeDrive is developed in the open.
The repository welcomes:
- Bug reports
- Suggestions
- Design discussions
- Pull requests
- Technical reviews
Constructive engineering feedback is always appreciated.
Some long-term goals include:
- Modular PMSM inverter platform
- Modular PFC stage
- Modular power supplies
- Industrial communication modules
- FPGA acceleration
- Complete documentation
- Hardware validation reports
- Automated testing infrastructure
- Educational design guides
ForgeDrive contains hardware intended for development, experimentation, and learning.
Many projects involve hazardous voltages, high currents, and high-energy systems.
Always follow appropriate electrical safety practices and verify designs before use in real-world applications.
License
This repository is released under the applicable open-source license included in this project.
Please refer to the LICENSE file for details.
Acknowledgements
ForgeDrive is built through curiosity, experimentation, continuous learning, and a passion for engineering.
«Forged by passionate engineers.»