TL;DR: I wrote a Python driver and web visualizer for the M1C1-Mini LiDAR as part of a robot I’m building. I used the ChatGPT Agent Research tool for exploration and Cline (with Anthropic models) for coding assists—but the project still demanded a lot of hands-on supervision and technical steering. If you’re looking for someone who can wrangle hardware, code, and UX into real products, I’m available for contract work.
The Project
I needed reliable, real-time 2D scans for my robot. That meant:
- Parsing raw LiDAR packets into meaningful XYZ data
- Streaming them over HTTP
- Visualizing everything in the browser with smooth pan/zoom
The result: a compact Python driver plus a lightweight web UI that lets me “see” what the robot sees.
Why It Was Hard
- Opaque protocols: Limited docs meant reverse-engineering packet formats and timing quirks.
- Real-time constraints: Serial jitter, partial frames, and maintaining a steady stream without blocking the UI.
- Clean UX: Making the visualizer intuitive (no one wants to fight their tools when debugging a robot).
How I Built It
- ChatGPT Agent Research tool: Rapidly surveyed specs, patterns, and alternative approaches.
- Cline + Anthropic models: Great for code scaffolding and refactoring loops, but still needed strong guidance.
- Human in the loop (me): Continuous validation, hardware debugging, and architectural decisions—the AI didn’t plug the wires or fix the baud-rate mismatch.
Hire Me (Yes, You)
I’m a senior software engineer/designer who ships. If you need someone to turn fuzzy ideas or tricky hardware/software mashups into something real, let’s talk.
Core skills:
Swift & SwiftUI • Python & Node.js • Arduino/ESP32/Raspberry Pi • Electronics & 3D printing (Fusion 360, ZBrush) • Real-time/data viz • AI/ML prototyping • UX/UI design • Educational/game development • Marketing-savvy product polish
Want this level of focus on your project?
📩 Reach out for contracting or collaboration.
🔗 GitHub repo (driver + visualizer): https://github.com/cosmindolha/m1c1_lidar
Thanks for reading—and if you’re building robots (or anything ambitious), I’d love to hear about it!
