From CAD to cybersecurity.
We look at connected physical technology as a complete system rather than treating mechanical design, electronics, software and security as separate disciplines.
Independent Creative Technology PracticeBogotá / Colombia
Designing, building and securing connected physical technology.
We explore how physical products evolve into intelligent, connected and secure systems through design, hardware, embedded computing, AI and cybersecurity.
01 / CAD02 / Hardware03 / Embedded systems
04 / AI05 / Connectivity06 / Security
FORMCAD / mechanism
BUILDhardware / power
CONNECTcompute / network
SECUREsurface / control
CSL–SYS–001SYSTEM VIEW / V1
01The Field
Physical products
are becoming systems.
Products increasingly combine mechanical design, electronics, software, sensors, connectivity and intelligence. Each new layer creates new capabilities — and new questions.
Curious Systems Lab studies and builds across those layers.
THE PHYSICAL TECHNOLOGY STACK
One object. Eight interdependent layers. Read from physical form to exposed surface.
- 01Physical formGeometry, ergonomics, material
- 02MechanicsMovement, structure, force
- 03ElectronicsSensors, actuators, circuits
- 04ComputeEmbedded processing
- 05SoftwareLogic, control, interface
- 06IntelligenceModels, inference, behavior
- 07ConnectivityProtocols, networks, data
- 08SecurityTrust, access, resilience
What changes when products become intelligent and connected?
Projects begin with questions about how these systems are designed, built, controlled, connected, experienced and secured.
Build it. Test it. Break it. Understand it. Document it.
Research happens through physical prototypes, experiments, technical analysis and hands-on cybersecurity labs.
02Research Questions
Questions guide
the work.
Long-running lines of inquiry connect projects, experiments, field notes and future talks.
RQ–01
Can useful AI run locally on small physical devices?
AI / Compute / Physical Interfaces↗ RQ–02What makes a physical product a cyber-physical system?
Systems / Design / Compute↗ RQ–03What happens to the attack surface when a product becomes connected?
Connectivity / Security↗ RQ–04Can cybersecurity be considered during physical product design instead of after it?
Design / Security / Method↗ RQ–05How should mobility systems combine power, compute and connectivity?
Mobility / Hardware / IoT↗ RQ–06How can physical interfaces make AI more understandable and useful?
AI / Interaction / Accessibility↗03Featured Projects
Projects are where
the questions become physical.
Prototypes, mechanisms and controlled experiments across the connected physical technology stack.
P–01
SERVO MATRIX / 06 AXIS
Functional prototype Active development
Animatronic
System
A physical computing platform combining 3D-printed mechanisms, servo control, electronics, embedded computing and experiments with local AI.
Explore project ↗P–02
COMPACT PLATFORM / REV–02
Physical prototype Active development
Tiny Mobility
Lab
A product-development project exploring compact mobility through CAD, mechanical design, digital fabrication and hardware prototyping — with future layers of power, connectivity and security.
Visit Tiny Mobility Lab ↗P–03
Concept Prototyping
NITO
An AI companion concept for older adults exploring accessible physical interfaces, AI interaction and cybersecurity awareness.
Visit NITO ↗P–04
Concept Prototyping
RIDEKIN
A connected motorcycle companion exploring embedded hardware, gamification, AI and rider interaction.
Visit Ridekin ↗P–05
LINUXSERVICENETWORKDEVICE
Active research
Cyber-Physical
Security Research
Hands-on exploration of Linux, networking, services and attack surfaces through Hack The Box, HTB Academy and controlled laboratory environments — supporting the broader study of connected physical systems.
Explore security research ↗04System Atlas
Understanding physical technology layer by layer.ANIMATRONIC
ANIMATRONIC
SYSTEM ATLAS
System Atlas is an ongoing project that decomposes connected physical systems into their mechanical, electronic, computational, intelligent, connected and security layers.
01MECHANICAL
02ELECTRONICS
03POWER
04COMPUTE
Interactive version in developmentExplore the atlas ↗
05Lab Notes
From the lab.
Short technical experiments, observations and working documentation—not formal papers.
LN–005Experiment
Running Local AI on a Raspberry Pi 5
COMING SOON↗ LN–004Build LogBuilding an Animatronic Eye Mechanism
IN PROGRESS↗ LN–003Security NoteWhat an Internal Service Can Reveal During a Security Assessment
DRAFT↗ LN–002ProcessFrom CAD Assembly to Interactive System Atlas
IN PROGRESS↗ LN–001Field NotePrototyping Compact Mobility Systems
ACTIVE↗06Talks & Conversations
Ideas from the lab,
shared in public.
Talks, videos, workshops and conversations about the systems forming between the physical and digital worlds.
From CAD to Cyber-Physical Systems
How physical product development evolves when electronics, software, AI and security become part of the design.
Design. Build. Connect. Secure.
A Creative Technologist's approach to connected physical products.
When Hardware Meets AI
Experimenting with local intelligence, embedded computing and physical interfaces.
The Attack Surface Is Becoming Physical
Why designers and hardware builders increasingly need to understand cybersecurity.
University talks · Workshops · Podcasts · Interviews · Conferences
Invite Leonardo to speak.
Speaking / Collaboration ↗07About the Practice
BUILT & RESEARCHED BYLeonardo
Creative Technologist
Leonardo
Hernandez
Creative TechnologistLeonardo Hernandez is a Creative Technologist working across CAD, hardware prototyping, electronics, embedded systems, AI and cybersecurity.
With a background in product development and digital fabrication across Colombia and Australia, his work explores how physical products evolve into connected, intelligent and increasingly security-sensitive systems.
Through Curious Systems Lab, he designs, builds, tests and documents physical technology across mobility, animatronics, embedded devices and cyber-physical security.
DESIGN.BUILD.CONNECT.SECURE.
Curious Systems Lab explores the systems forming between the physical and digital worlds.
Explore the work ↗