Tech tree
Every system builds on the same roots. Finish a node to unlock the ones that depend on it. Blocked by a missing node? That's your next project.
9 available0 in progress0 done130 locked
Available means nothing is blocking it: members can start now. Locked nodes open up once the nodes they require are done.
Start here
- R-COM1 Basic radio link (off-the-shelf)
- R-COM3 Physical links (copper/fiber tether)
- R-SEC1 Device identity, keys, pairing
- R-PWR1 Batteries and BMS basics
- R-NAV1 GNSS positioning
- X-1 Camera and video streaming
- T-LOG1 Black box logs (OASA-LOG)
- T-BENCH1 Test bench + test software
- M-6 Shore launcher (throws self-inflating flotation device)
How to read the tree
Example: R-COM1 (basic radio link) and R-SEC1 (device identity, keys, pairing) are both needed for R-COM2 (encrypted link). Finish that, and T-MAP1 (TAK bridge) is one step closer.
In Requires, commas mean all of these are needed. "A or B" means either one. "two of A, B, C" means any two. Unlocks is worked out from Requires.
ID prefixes
- R- Roots (every system needs these)
- T- Trunk (shared platform)
- A- Air
- L- Lighter-than-air & wind
- G- Ground
- S- Surface water
- U- Underwater
- X- Sensing
- M- Manipulation
- O- Operations
- I- Infrastructure inspection
- C- Commercial services
- SP- Space
- MS- Moonshots
- ST- Starshots (beyond moonshots: space and interstellar)
Critical path
The nodes that unlock the most of the tree.
- R-SEC1 then R-COM2 (encrypted link): needed by nearly everything
- R-NAV1 then R-CTL1 then R-CTL2 (autonomous control): unlocks every vehicle branch
- T-MAP1 then T-MAP2 (TAK bridge and control): the shared picture
- T-NET1 then T-NET2 (mesh): the backbone of every moonshot
- T-PAY1 (payload standard): unlocks sensing, manipulation and AI
- R-PWR1 then R-PWR2 (batteries and solar): unlocks long-endurance everything
Roots
What every system needs: communications, security, power, control, navigation and timing.
R-COM1Basic radio link (off-the-shelf)Unlocks 4Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
R-COM2Encrypted link (OASA-SEC v0)Unlocks 6Locked
R-COM3Physical links (copper/fiber tether)Unlocks 6Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
R-COM4Laser links (free-space optical, encrypted) with in-flight pointing and trackingUnlocks 2Locked
R-SEC1Device identity, keys, pairingUnlocks 2Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
R-SEC2Key rotation and device removalUnlocks 1Locked
R-PWR1Batteries and BMS basicsUnlocks 7Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
R-PWR2Solar chargingUnlocks 8Locked
R-PWR3Wind / kite powerUnlocks 1Locked
R-PWR4Tether powerUnlocks 2Locked
R-PWR5Wireless power beaming (laser/microwave) to vehicles in flightLocked
R-CTL1Piloted (manual) controlUnlocks 2Locked
R-CTL2Autonomous waypoint controlUnlocks 9Locked
R-NAV1GNSS positioningUnlocks 6Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
R-NAV2RTK precision positioningUnlocks 3Locked
R-NAV3GNSS-denied navigationUnlocks 5Locked
R-TIME1Time sync (OASA-TIME)Unlocks 4Locked
R-TIME2Backup timing and positioning network (works when GPS fails)Locked
Trunk
The shared platform: mesh, TAK map, payloads, logs, AI, docks and RF.
T-MAP1TAK bridge (position, battery, status)Unlocks 3Locked
T-MAP2Tap-to-control from TAKUnlocks 3Locked
T-NET1Small encrypted mesh (3–5 nodes)Unlocks 5Locked
T-NET2Best-path routing + traffic priorityUnlocks 7Locked
T-NET3Multi-GCS handoff, multi-operator controlUnlocks 2Locked
T-NET4Large mesh scaling (100+ nodes)Unlocks 3Locked
T-NET5Meshtastic / LoRa bridge (encrypted gateway between OASA and Meshtastic networks)Unlocks 2Locked
T-PAY1Payload standard (OASA-PAY)Unlocks 9Locked
T-LOG1Black box logs (OASA-LOG)Unlocks 3Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
T-AI1Edge AI moduleUnlocks 16Locked
T-AI2Mission from a sentence ("survey the north field, find hogs")Unlocks 2Locked
T-AI3Live voice commands mid-mission ("closer," "go further north," "look for thermals within 100 m of me")Locked
T-VID1On-demand video over meshLocked
T-TSK1Tasking, idle status, task handoffUnlocks 7Locked
T-TSK2Deploy-scout-return (a carrier launches a scout that comes back with where to go next)Locked
T-DOCK1Precision landing on a dockUnlocks 3Locked
T-DOCK2Auto charging (OASA-DOCK)Unlocks 7Locked
T-SIM1Simulator / digital twinUnlocks 1Locked
T-BENCH1Test bench + test softwareAvailable
Members can start this now. Apply to join
T-RF1RF scanning in radiosUnlocks 3Locked
T-RF2Direction finding (bearings on TAK)Locked
T-RF3BeamformingUnlocks 2Locked
T-NODE1Backpack node kitUnlocks 1Locked
T-NODE2Tower / vehicle / home node kitsUnlocks 1Locked
Air
From a low-cost quad to aircraft that stay aloft indefinitely.
A-1Reference quad (low cost)Unlocks 15Locked
A-2Reference fixed-wingUnlocks 5Locked
A-3Reference VTOLUnlocks 1Locked
A-4Tethered relay droneLocked
A-5Solar fixed-wingUnlocks 1Locked
A-6High-altitude solar plane / gliderUnlocks 1Locked
A-7Relay drone (extends small-drone range)Locked
A-8Autonomous soaring (thermal, ridge, dynamic soaring)Unlocks 1Locked
A-9Perma glider / atmospheric satelliteLocked
A-10Biomimetic flyer (flapping wing, bird/insect-like)Locked
Lighter-than-air & wind
Kites, aerostats and solar blimps.
L-1Kite payload platformUnlocks 3Locked
L-2Solar kite (powers sensors aloft)Locked
L-3Kite generator (airborne wind power)Locked
L-4Tethered aerostatUnlocks 1Locked
L-5Steerable solar blimpUnlocks 2Locked
L-6Disaster blimp (heavy-lift sensors + repeaters)Unlocks 1Locked
L-7Blimp mothership (launch/recover drones)Locked
Ground
Rovers, legged robots and city and snow robots.
G-1Wheeled / tracked roverUnlocks 9Locked
G-2Legged robotUnlocks 2Locked
G-3City trash-pickup robotLocked
G-4Rover mothership (carries/charges drones)Locked
G-5Underground explorer (caves, tunnels, collapsed buildings; autonomous 3D mapping; drops its own relays)Unlocks 1Locked
G-6Snow and ice robot (sidewalks first, then streets; de-icing)Locked
G-7Mobility assist robot (guide, delivery for elderly/disabled neighbors)Locked
Surface water
Boats, buoys and cleanup vessels.
S-1Survey boatUnlocks 3Locked
S-2Buoy node (mesh + weather)Unlocks 1Locked
S-3Solar boatUnlocks 2Locked
S-4Water sampling payloadLocked
S-5Cleanup boat (algae, debris)Unlocks 1Locked
S-6Drone carrier boatLocked
Underwater
Subs, tethers and acoustic links.
U-1Tethered ROV (build on ArduSub)Unlocks 1Locked
U-2Strong, light fiber tether (power + data)Unlocks 1Locked
U-3Acoustic modem (encrypted)Unlocks 1Locked
U-4Surface gateway (buoy/boat ↔ sub)Unlocks 1Locked
U-5Autonomous subUnlocks 2Locked
U-6Biomimetic sub (fish-like, quiet)Locked
U-7Reef and wetland restoration robot (replant coral, remove invasives)Locked
Sensing
Cameras, thermal, LiDAR, radar, acoustics and mapping.
X-1Camera and video streamingUnlocks 7Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
X-2Thermal core (monocular, gimbal, fixed)Unlocks 6Locked
X-3Lightweight open LiDARUnlocks 4Locked
X-4Small radarUnlocks 2Locked
X-5Acoustic triangulationUnlocks 2Locked
X-6Mapping and 3D scenesUnlocks 16Locked
X-7Sensor fusionLocked
X-8Swarm mappingUnlocks 2Locked
X-9Autonomous thermal search gridUnlocks 1Locked
X-10Water rescue drop (lines or flotation to people stranded in floods)Locked
X-11Avalanche beacon and phone detection (supports ski patrol)Unlocks 1Locked
X-12LiDAR survey (archaeology, terrain, under-canopy mapping)Unlocks 1Locked
X-13Buried hazard sensing (UXO on former military sites, abandoned mines; LiDAR, magnetometer, ground-penetrating radar + AI)Locked
Manipulation
Arms, drops, launchers and speakers.
M-1Grabber / collector armUnlocks 7Locked
M-2In-air capture / recoveryUnlocks 1Locked
M-3Drop / delivery payloadUnlocks 7Locked
M-4Speaker / deterrent payloadUnlocks 1Locked
M-5Relay dropper (drops mesh nodes as a robot moves)Unlocks 1Locked
M-6Shore launcher (throws self-inflating flotation device)Unlocks 1Available
Members can start this now. Apply to join
Operations
Fleets, repair, logistics and community services.
O-1Living Network coverage mapLocked
O-2Persistent low-power sensor nodes (OASA-SENSE)Unlocks 5Locked
O-3Weather nodes + go/no-goLocked
O-4Fleet managementUnlocks 2Locked
O-5Feral hog detection + deterrenceLocked
O-6Mobile hive (truck + trailer)Locked
O-7Wildfire watch (anchored or roaming solar blimp, thermal/smoke detection)Locked
O-8Field repair cell (prints parts and swaps them on site)Unlocks 1Locked
O-9Automated repair centerLocked
O-10Autonomous logistics fleet (carries damaged devices to repair, brings parts out)Locked
O-11Wildfire risk mapping (fuel load, dry vegetation near communities)Unlocks 1Locked
O-12Controlled burn support (with fire agencies)Locked
O-13Seed-planting and regrowth trackingLocked
O-14City sensing platform (intelligent sensors that talk to each other and the map)Locked
O-15Drowning detection (vision + acoustic, e.g., screams)Unlocks 1Locked
O-16Lifeguard assist kit (shore launcher with self-inflating float, drone flotation drop, two-way speaker to lifeguard station; budget tiers)Locked
O-17Ocean cleanup base (unload, recharge, relaunch)Locked
O-18Utility-pole sensor network (air quality, weather, mosquito; solar + radio; partner with utilities)Unlocks 1Locked
O-19Mosquito control (map standing water, larvicide drops with county programs)Locked
O-20Invasive species patrol (land and water)Locked
O-21Ski patrol support (slope watch, beacon search, supply drops)Locked
O-22Citizen science sensor kits + open map (anyone can host a node)Locked
Infrastructure inspection
Roads, pipes, power lines, bridges, dams and levees.
I-1Pipe and sewer crawlerLocked
I-2Powerline inspection (drone + line-crawling robot)Unlocks 1Locked
I-3Bridge and structure inspectionLocked
I-4Mountainous / rough-terrain robotLocked
I-5Inspection reports + defect AILocked
I-6Road condition patrol (potholes, wear on major and suburban roads; flags clogged storm drains and culverts)Locked
I-7Water main leak sensors (acoustic, strategically placed)Locked
I-8Grid pre-mapping + autonomous line and substation inspectionLocked
I-9Dam and levee watch (persistent sensors + autonomous or assisted inspection)Locked
Commercial services
Roof inspection, construction tracking, cleaning.
C-1Automatic roof inspectionUnlocks 1Locked
C-2Construction progress trackingUnlocks 1Locked
C-3Pressure-washing / cleaning droneLocked
C-4Site survey + build monitoring robotsLocked
C-5Automated home inspection kit (roof, chimney, foundation)Locked
Space
Near space, CubeSats and planetary analogs.
SP-1High-altitude balloon to near space (sensors, OASA link, recovery)Unlocks 1Locked
SP-2OASA CubeSat (encrypted link, laser comms test)Locked
SP-3Planetary analog missions (deserts, caves, ice)Unlocks 1Locked
SP-4Thin-atmosphere / low-gravity vehicle concepts (Mars and Moon)Locked
SP-5Space-rated autonomy (long delays, no human in the loop)Locked
No nodes match. Try another search or branch, or tell us what is missing at hello@joinoasa.org.