Unlike the original board, I didn't have a lot of thoughts during the construction of this variation of what I'd do on the "next one". I'm still trying to figure out what this means. Maybe it means I've explored this sort of project as far as I need to.

Lessons Learned

I did make a few mistakes this time around that are worth noting.

• Using rubber grommets to shockmount the OSMC board. I eventually tightened down the bolts far enough to short the board on the aluminum baseplate, frying it once again. I should have used rigid spacers instead of compressable grommets.
• I should have tested the electronics with a fuse, or a more limited power supply. This could have prevented a few of the meltdowns of the motor controller.
• While my first complex custom shield was a success, there were several spacing issues and unecessary components on it. I also used too many individual headers on it, eventually creating a spaghetti collection of wires sprouting out of it. Using ribbon cable and better connectors would have helped this a lot.

Successes

Now onto the things that worked well:

• Re-use of components. From software, to electronics, to mechanical items, it was great to be able to build upon successful decisions from the past
• Stretching my skill sets in machining and electronics. In both cases, I was able to justify additional tools that I can now use on other projects. I also built an area to work on electronics that is well lit and has plenty of power outlets that will be handy in the future. And of course there is the knowledge gained from learning new skills.
• All the upgrades I attempted worked out well. It's maneuverable, easily configurable, and pretty cool to look at.

Future Upgrades

This board has enough features that I hope to be updating the software for a long time. Some possible future ideas that should just be software upgrades:

• Android/iOS app to monitor/configure skateboard. I can do this now via a serial Bluetooth telnet session, but it'd be a lot slicker to do this on a tablet or phone with a real GUI.
• Additonal lighting modes: Police car lights, speed contests (see who can maintain the highest speed for half a second), Night mode (head lights turn on based on which direction you're moving, blinks turn on as you lean into turns, brake lights turn on as you slow down, etc.)

All in all, I loved nearly every minute of this project. The multiple OSMC meltdowns started to drag on a bit, but that's a minor complaint overall. I'm glad I built it, and look forward to figuring out what to build next!