A Manifesto for Hardware Sovereignty: A Declaration of Independence
Hardware Sovereignty is the principle that an individual must possess absolute and inalienable authority over the physical hardware they own. This authority is not a license granted by a manufacturer but a fundamental right of ownership. It encompasses the right to fully understand every component, to modify or augment its function, to repair it when it fails, and to determine the entirety of its lifecycle, from its first use to its ultimate disposition.
This principle stands in direct and irreconcilable opposition to the prevailing model of consumer electronics, a system best described as an implicit subscription. We reject this model. It is a covert contract for substandard, disposable hardware engineered for premature failure. This paradigm of planned obsolescence deliberately consumes finite and critical resources—rare earth metals, clean water, and vast amounts of energy—only to transform them into mountains of toxic e-waste, filling landfills and poisoning ecosystems. It strips the owner of agency, rendering them a temporary user in a cycle of perpetual replacement.
Therefore, we propose a new standard, beginning with the most essential of modern tools: a portable energy store. This device is not designed for consumption but for permanence. It is an instrument of empowerment, built upon the following non-negotiable principles.
The Chassis is Permanent
The foundation of the device is its chassis, which is conceived as a lifetime component. It is machined from a single, solid billet of material, such as 6061-T6 aluminum or grade 5 titanium, chosen for its exceptional durability, resistance to fatigue, and recyclability. This monolithic construction serves as a robust housing, an ergonomic interface for the human hand, and a functional heatsink, passively dissipating thermal energy from internal electronics. All environmental sealing is achieved through user-replaceable O-rings and gaskets, eliminating the degradation of permanent seals and ensuring that protection from the elements can be maintained indefinitely by the owner.
The Energy Source is Replaceable
The energy source, being the component with a finite operational lifespan, must be entirely modular and user-serviceable. The device eschews proprietary, sealed battery packs in favor of standard, non-proprietary cylindrical lithium-ion cells, such as the widely available 18650 or 21700 formats. The battery compartment is designed for tool-less access, opening in seconds to allow cells to be inspected, replaced, or upgraded. This fundamental design choice decouples the limited lifespan of the chemistry from the near-infinite lifespan of the chassis and electronics, ensuring the core device never becomes obsolete due to a degraded battery.
The Electronics are Open and Robust
The device’s control system must be a model of transparency and resilience. The firmware that governs its operation is open-source, permitting any user to audit its code, modify its behavior, and contribute new features to a community-driven ecosystem. Power conversion and battery management are handled by high-quality, industry-standard integrated circuits with publicly available datasheets. All protection circuits are mandatory, robust, and transparent in their function. This includes explicit, documented safeguards against over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, short-circuiting, and excessive temperature. No critical function is hidden inside a proprietary, un-auditable black box.
The Interface is Universal
Connectivity must be based on open, non-proprietary standards to ensure maximum compatibility and longevity. The device’s primary port is a bidirectional USB Type-C connector supporting the full USB Power Delivery (PD) protocol. This allows the device to intelligently negotiate voltage and current to its maximum design specification for both charging its internal cells and discharging power to external devices. A single, universal port eliminates the need for a collection of proprietary chargers and cables, reducing e-waste and simplifying the user’s life, while ensuring compatibility with a vast ecosystem of existing and future electronics.
Service is a Core Design Feature
Serviceability is not an afterthought but a primary design objective from the first conceptual sketch. The device is assembled entirely with standard, non-proprietary fasteners, such as metric screws. All internal components, from the battery carriage to the circuit board, are modular and removable without the use of destructive force. No permanent adhesives, potting compounds, or solvent welds are used in any structural assembly. Furthermore, complete schematics, bill of materials, and printed circuit board (PCB) layout files are made publicly available. This empowers a global ecosystem of third-party repair and modification, ensuring the device can be maintained and improved long after its original manufacturer has ceased support.
Function is Extensible
The device is conceived not as a static product with a fixed purpose, but as an open platform for expansion. It features a standardized mechanical and electrical interface on its exterior, designed for the secure attachment of functional modules. This transforms the device from a simple power bank into a versatile system. Its utility is not fixed at the time of manufacture but is defined and expanded by the user according to their needs. Modules could provide high-efficiency lighting, a precision soldering iron, a data storage interface, a signal generator, or countless other applications, limited only by the ingenuity of the open-source community.
The End of Repair, The Beginning of Stewardship
This is not merely a design for a superior product; it is the foundation for a new philosophy of ownership. The principles outlined here transcend the reactive “Right to Repair” movement. In a truly sovereign device, the very concept of repair becomes obsolete. Regular use and maintenance are indistinguishable; replacing an energy cell or upgrading a module is not a reaction to failure but a routine act of stewardship. This framework supersedes the model of engineered obsolescence, not by fighting it, but by rendering it irrelevant. We declare independence from the disposable economy and its cycle of consumption and waste. This is a covenant for a different future, where our tools are not disposable products but permanent, evolving extensions of human intent, built to serve and adapt for a lifetime.