designing-hardware-products
AI-automated hardware product pipeline: from requirements to manufacturable Gerber + compiled firmware + cross-platform app. Orchestrates system design, ESP-IDF firmware, KiCad PCB, UniApp client, and release packaging in a zero-human-touch flow.
SKILL.md
Full skill instructions
Designing Hardware Products
判断先于执行：决定「是否做 / 选什么 / 如何取舍」（栈、方案、架构、权衡）前，先读领域判断内核
skills/_kernel/hardware/SKILL.md——它管 judgment，本秘典管 execution；冲突时以内核判断为准。
From empty directory to shippable product. Requirements in, Gerber + .bin + .apk out.
When to use
| Scenario | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New IoT / embedded product from scratch | Yes | Full pipeline |
| Adding BLE app to existing hardware | Partial | Phase 4 only |
| PCB redesign with existing firmware | Partial | Phase 3 only |
| One-off breadboard prototype | No | Overkill, just wire it |
Pipeline phases
Phase 1: System Design → DESIGN.md (architecture, topology, protocol)
Phase 2: Firmware → ESP-IDF components, FreeRTOS tasks, BLE GATT
Phase 3: Hardware → KiCad schematic → PCB → route → DRC → Gerber
Phase 4: Mobile App → UniApp (BLE, i18n, dev mode, SVG icons)
Phase 5: Verify + Package → build all → zip release
Each phase is independently re-runnable. Skip phases that already exist.
Key decision points
- MCU selection — ESP32-C3 (BLE+WiFi, RISC-V, cheap) vs ESP32-S3 (AI, USB) vs STM32 (low power) vs nRF (BLE-only)
- HV topology — if product needs high voltage (mosquito swatter, taser), see references/hv-design.md
- PCB form factor — match physical product shape, not default rectangle
- App framework — UniApp (WeChat+Android+iOS) vs React Native vs Flutter
Companion skills
- operating-kicad-eda — Phase 3 detail, KiCad MCP tool routing
- developing-software — firmware language patterns (C for ESP-IDF)
- developing-mobile-apps — app framework patterns
Usage
/designing-hardware-products "BLE mosquito swatter with kill counting, ESP32-C3, 30x100mm PCB strip"
References
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Phase execution details | pipeline-phases.md |
| KiCad 9 gotchas | kicad9-quirks.md |
| ESP-IDF patterns | esp-idf-patterns.md |
| HV circuit design | hv-design.md |
| UniApp patterns | uniapp-patterns.md |
Exit criteria
-
idf.py buildpasses (firmware) - KiCad DRC = 0 violations (hardware)
-
npx uni buildpasses (app) - Release zip contains: source + binary + Gerber + BOM + docs