I'm considering a project involving an AI that could help people like my dad, who's a physics professor and only has experience with Labview, in programming hardware like lab microscopes. My dad asked me to create a program that controls a microscope to analyze images and find graphite deposits. This has been quite a challenge, especially in terms of programmatic control over motor drivers—finding and understanding the datasheet was a nightmare!
Now, I'm thinking: What if there was a coding agent that could understand hardware tasks and automatically gather necessary documentation, similar to existing AI solutions but focused on hardware? It would be super convenient to just describe what you want, and the agent takes care of all the coding and deployment. Is this a viable product idea? Would people find this useful? What are your thoughts and advice?
1 Answer
I think your idea has potential, but keep in mind that AI tools can struggle with niche tasks. The more uncommon the task, the more unreliable the AI can be. It may generate sensible output, but don't expect it to fully grasp the complexity of less common hardware subjects. Just be prepared for a lot of trial and error if you go this route.
That's a good point. But what if I give the AI access to relevant datasheets and manuals? Could that improve its performance?