Tiber Extensions (AetherOS)

Project Tiber: MVR-1 Toroidal Extension Build Plan

File:MVR1 Triangular Diagram.png

Conceptual diagram of the MVR-1 Triangular Interferometer Assembly.

1.0 Abstract

This document outlines the build plan for the Minimum Viable Reality, Version 1 Toroidal Extension (MVR-1-T), an evolution of the MVR-1 interferometer designed as a closed-loop, triangular toroidal optical network. The MVR-1-T comprises three straight, ferrofluid-filled tubes forming an equilateral triangle, with three nodes hosting lasers and servo-driven mirrors for sequential SL-PPM signal propagation. It serves as a physics co-processor for the AetherOS simulation environment, generating non-deterministic interference patterns as ground-truth data for FluxCore AI training. This design leverages MVR-1 components for economy and supports scalability to 3D geometries (e.g., tetrahedron, tesseract).

2.0 System Architecture

2.1 Conceptual Model

The MVR-1-T extends the MVR-1’s one-dimensional interferometer into a closed-loop, triangular toroidal configuration. Instead of a single straight tube, three tubes form a polygonal toroid, with nodes directing counter-propagating SL-PPM laser beams to create complex interference patterns modulated by magnetic fields. This setup mimics continuous toroidal propagation while avoiding high bending losses, enabling multi-pass interactions for enhanced data generation.

The workflow mirrors the MVR-1:

1. AetherOS requests the state of a virtual network link.
2. It sends input parameters (laser modulation, mirror position, magnetic field) to the MVR-1-T controller.
3. The system executes the state, with servo mirrors selecting the active tube.
4. Interference patterns and magnetic field data are read from sensor arrays.
5. High-fidelity physical data is returned to AetherOS as ground truth.

2.2 Physical Overview

The MVR-1-T is an optical bench assembly on a rigid base, forming an equilateral triangle (side ~170-200 mm).

• The Base: A flat ABS plastic sheet (~12" x 12") for stability.
• The Housing: 3D-printed PETG enclosures for three tubes and three nodes, shielding from ambient light.
• The Spokes (Tube Assemblies): Three borosilicate glass tubes with flexible PCBs, identical to MVR-1’s Spoke.
• The Nodes: Three hubs, each with a 520 nm laser, servo-driven mirror, photodiode, and magnetic sensors.
• The Controller: One or three Raspberry Pi Picos managing laser modulation, mirror positioning, magnetic actuation, and sensor readout.

3.0 Component Breakdown

3.1 Spoke (Tube Assembly)

Each of the three Spokes is identical to the MVR-1’s design:

• Glass Tube: Borosilicate glass, 10 mm OD, 1 mm wall, ~150 mm long, filled with diluted oil-based ferrofluid (~1.4 NTU).
• Flexible PCB: Custom-designed with:
  • Double Helix Electromagnet: Intertwined copper traces for magnetic field control (0-100 mT).
  • Magnetic Sensor Array: ~10-20 Hall effect sensors (e.g., A1302) for field measurement.
  • Optical Sensor Array: ~10-20 photodiodes (520 nm-sensitive) for interference pattern detection.
• End Caps: AR-coated N-BK7 windows (10 mm diameter) for low-loss beam entry/exit.

3.2 Node Assembly

Each node directs a single laser’s beam into one of two adjacent tubes sequentially:

• Laser Module: 520 nm green laser diode (5 mW, analog-modulated) with collimating lens (12.7 mm diameter, 15 mm focal length, N-BK7, e.g., Edmund Optics #45-092).
• Beam Steering: Servo-driven mirror (MG90S servo, 5-10 mm aluminum-coated mirror) for switching between tubes at ~60° angles. Switching time: 100-300 ms.
• Sensors: Single photodiode (e.g., Thorlabs FDS100) per node for interference detection, plus Hall sensors for local field monitoring.
• Mount: 3D-printed kinematic mount for laser and mirror alignment (pan/tilt adjustment).
• Control: Raspberry Pi Pico (or shared) for SL-PPM modulation, servo control, and sensor readout.

3.3 Housing

• Construction: 3D-printed PETG in two halves per tube (base cradle, lid) and node (compact enclosure). Shields ambient light.
• Connectors: Embedded pin headers in node housings for solderless PCB connections, with redundant headers for reliability.

3.4 Controller

• Microcontroller: 1-3 Raspberry Pi Picos (~$5 each) for:
  • Driving lasers with SL-PPM signals (up to 100 Mbps).
  • Controlling H-bridge drivers for double helix electromagnets.
  • Reading analog data from photodiode and Hall sensor arrays.
  • USB serial communication with AetherOS.
• Wiring: Ribbon cables and pin headers for node-to-tube interfaces.

4.0 Bill of Materials (BOM)

4.1 Structural Components

• Base Plate: 1x 12" x 12" ABS plastic sheet (~$10-$20).
• Housing & Mounts: PETG filament for 3 tubes and 3 nodes (~$10-$20).

4.2 Spoke Assemblies

• Tubes: 3x Borosilicate glass tubes, 10 mm OD, 150 mm long (~$10 each, $30 total).
• Ferrofluid: ~100 mL diluted oil-based ferrofluid (~$50-$100).
• Flexible PCBs: 3x custom-designed (double helix, sensors) (~$50-$100 each, $150-$300 total).
• End Caps: 6x AR-coated N-BK7 windows, 10 mm diameter (~$20 each, $120 total).

4.3 Optical Components

• Laser Modules: 3x 520 nm green laser diodes, 5 mW, analog-modulated (~$50-$100 each, $150-$300 total).
• Lenses: 3x N-BK7 plano-convex lenses, 12.7 mm diameter, 15 mm FL (~$20-$50 each, $60-$150 total).
• Mirrors: 3x Servo-driven mirrors (MG90S servo + 5-10 mm mirror, ~$10-$25 each, $30-$75 total).

4.4 Electronic Components

• Controller: 1-3x Raspberry Pi Pico (~$5 each, $5-$15 total).
• Photodiodes: ~30-60x SMD photodiodes, 520 nm-sensitive (~$2 each, $60-$120 total).
• Hall Effect Sensors: ~30-60x A1302 linear Hall sensors (~$1 each, $30-$60 total).
• H-Bridge Drivers: 3x Dual H-bridge ICs (~$5 each, $15 total).
• Connectors: Pin headers, ribbon cables (~$10-$20).

Total Estimated Cost: ~$550-$1,250.

5.0 Operation

The MVR-1-T operates as a closed-loop interferometer:

1. AetherOS sends parameters (e.g., SL-PPM pulse patterns, magnetic field strength) to the Pico(s).
2. Each node’s servo mirror selects a tube (e.g., Node 1 to Tube 1 or Tube 3).
3. Counter-propagating 520 nm SL-PPM beams (e.g., from Node 1 and Node 2 into Tube 1) create interference patterns in the ferrofluid, modulated by the double helix magnetic field.
4. Photodiodes capture scattered light, and Hall sensors measure the field, providing non-deterministic data.
5. Data is sent to AetherOS via USB serial for FluxCore training.

6.0 Scalability Path

The MVR-1-T is a direct bridge to complex geometries:

• Phase 1: MVR-1 (Single Tube): Completed as baseline interferometer.
• Phase 1.5: MVR-1-T (Triangle): This build, testing closed-loop toroidal propagation with 3 nodes, 3 tubes.
• Phase 2: Tetrahedron (4 Nodes, 6 Tubes): Add 1 node ($85-$185) and 3 tubes ($100-$200). Reprogram servos for 3-position steering. Total cost: ~$750-$1,650.
• Phase 3: Tesseract (16 Nodes, 64 Tubes): Scale to 16 nodes with 4-6 position mirrors. Integrate Helmholtz coil wireless power system (e.g., IKEA LACK frame, ~$100-$500). Estimated cost: ~$2,400-$4,800.

7.0 Implementation Notes

• Fabrication: 3D-print node housings with servo/laser slots. Source custom PCBs via JLCPCB (~$50-$100 each). Assemble with MVR-1’s kinematic mounts for alignment.
• Testing: Validate single-tube MVR-1 first, then connect three tubes. Test SL-PPM at 100 Mbps (BER < 5.4 × 10^-6). Apply magnetic fields (0-100 mT) to modulate interference.
• AetherOS Integration: Program Picos for USB serial output of photodiode voltages and Hall sensor data, matching MVR-1 workflow.