Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Creation
The design concept and approach of this drone are completely different from those of the current real world he is in. Recklessly deploying the mature design from Stark Industries in the Marvel world into the sky without any safeguards is something even Richard Castle, with all his daring, wouldn't dare to do.
It's important to note that Castle himself is not the primary user of this drone. The main user is the chubby kid responsible for monitoring and tracking Vincent and his group. Moreover, this drone will be flying over New York for extended periods. Since 9/11, anything airborne over Manhattan gets immediately tracked by the Department of Homeland Security and military radar. Although in recent years, the government hasn't imposed overly strict regulations and laws on civilian drones, it's crucial not to overestimate the integrity of government agents. If Castle were to build the drone exactly like Stark Industries did for the Marvel world's military, it might not return from its first flight. Therefore, to avoid attracting attention, particularly from the government and military, Castle only used the design principles of the original drone. Every part of this drone is well within the scientific and technological development level of this world.
In fact, when Castle initially designed and began manufacturing the drone, he fully considered the differences between this world and the Marvel world. He deliberately reduced the drone's performance to a level that, even if discovered by outsiders, wouldn't arouse too much attention or envy.
This was partly because he didn't have access to the advanced machinery of Stark Industries and partly because the scientific development of the Marvel world was more advanced than his current world. As a result, the drone Castle created can only be considered a downgraded version of Stark Industries' original.
This way, the drone can still meet the daily surveillance needs of Castle and the chubby kid, tracking Vincent and his activities. It also allowed Castle to build a functional drone using just the small-scale equipment rented in a nearby warehouse. Ultimately, except for the control system's source code, which came from Stark Industries, all other parts of the drone were bought by Castle through Winston. This ensures that even if the worst happens and the drone is discovered or crashes, its main components come from this world, preventing the revelation of Castle possessing technology from another world.
So when the chubby kid eagerly asked Castle when he could get the new drone, Castle confidently assured him it would take no more than five days to bring the finished drone for a test flight. With his purpose for visiting the chubby kid now achieved, Castle didn't linger any longer. During this relatively stable period, he needed to quickly assemble the drone. Recently, when he visited Zeus's shop to get acquainted and gather gossip about him and Bell, he specifically asked Zeus to help procure some less sensitive materials. Today, with no other pressing matters, Castle decided to visit Zeus, collect the materials, and head to the nearby rented warehouse to continue assembling the nearly completed drone.
Acting on his decision, Castle promptly bid farewell to the chubby kid, instructing him to prepare for the test flight as soon as the drone was ready. He then headed straight to Zeus's small hardware store. Upon entering, he saw the younger version of the notorious "motherfucker" character berating two young black kids, seemingly because they had skipped school and tried to sell a boombox to Zeus at a low price. Zeus was angrily scolding the kids for squandering their educational opportunities and instead learning to be petty criminals on the streets.
After Zeus refused to buy the boombox and threatened to report the kids to their school, they left grudgingly. Zeus, noticing Castle, walked over looking weary and said, "You see, this is the reality of the black neighborhood. These kids' parents are mostly irresponsible, junkies, or gang members..."
Seeing this character, so different from the fierce figure in his past life memories, Castle couldn't help but be a bit taken aback. The current Zeus had a full head of hair and was far from the memorable image of the future: a bald head, clad in a black leather trench coat even in summer, with a heart as dark as his appearance. The transformation into the ultimate "motherfucker" seemed to await the loss of his hair.
Shaking off these thoughts, Castle ignored Zeus's complaints and cheerfully asked, "Did the tools and parts I asked you to procure arrive? If they're all here, I need to take them today. I'm in a hurry."
Realizing his attempt to gain sympathy from Castle, a white man, was futile, Zeus didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, he replied, "Yes, everything's here. You want to take them now?"
Castle, pleased with Zeus's efficiency, paid a substantial amount of cash and requested the items be delivered to his nearby warehouse. With Zeus happy about the unexpectedly large payment and the quick delivery, Castle headed to the warehouse to await the materials.
With the materials from Zeus and the parts Winston had helped procure, Castle now had everything needed to build the first experimental drone. It was time for the mechanical proficiency skills he received from Tony Stark to shine.
Thanks to the previous tenant leaving behind basic equipment like lathes, milling machines, and even a small five-axis machining center, Castle's warehouse was well-equipped for drone manufacturing. With all preparations in place and his skills ready, the assembly of the first drone progressed rapidly.
Within an afternoon, Castle managed to create the basic shape of the drone, transforming it from a mere skeleton to a nearly complete device. Admiring the work on his table, Castle felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Despite the accelerated pace, the drone wasn't rough. Instead, it exhibited a sleek industrial design, a product of Castle's integration of Stark's inspiration with his modifications. Outwardly, it appeared as a DIY project, but its advanced control system concealed its true technical sophistication.
Castle deliberately avoided installing any weapons on this drone. Given that it would be flying around New York City, arming it would attract unwanted attention from Homeland Security or the military. A drone equipped only with cameras and communication gear could be explained away more easily. After careful consideration, Castle decided the first drone would be purely for reconnaissance.
With the drone's basic structure complete, Castle knew the more crucial task lay ahead: building the central control console. This drone wasn't a simple DJI; it had a flight range of at least 300 to 500 kilometers, making the control console the most critical piece of equipment.
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