Armed Drone

The upgraded brainwave control device was far superior to the second-hand low-end model John was currently using. The latter had become inadequate for John's needs. With 13 computers generating a significant data flow, it was overheating, making John feel like his head was in a steam bath.

Upgrading the brainwave control device had always been part of his plan. The new model, incorporating some Itaran technology, boasted higher performance despite being smaller. It was only a few square centimeters in size, made from flexible materials, and could be directly attached to the back of the head. The only requirement was shaving that patch of hair.

However, there was no need to worry about appearance. The new device's antenna was disguised as hair. Once attached, it blended seamlessly with the surrounding hair, making it virtually unnoticeable.

Although even the new brainwave control device could only facilitate limited communication with electronic devices, making direct control inconvenient and impractical, it had another crucial advantage that John highly valued: it could connect directly to mobile networks.

This resolved a major pain point for John—being unable to leave home while operating robots. With this new device, as long as there was mobile signal, John could go anywhere. He could connect to the mobile network via the brainwave control device, then to his home network, and finally to the robots, allowing him to operate them remotely.

Data observed by the robots could also be transmitted back to John's brain through this network for processing and computation. As long as the signal delay was minimal, it would be almost the same as if John were controlling the robots at home, greatly enhancing convenience.

Correspondingly, the new brainwave control device was extremely expensive, costing $160,000, far beyond what an ordinary person could afford.

After purchasing the brainwave control device, the drone, and various custom steel pipes and other miscellaneous items, plus repaying Butcher Shawn's $20,000 , John's accumulated $300,000 from a month of work dwindled to just $30,000, leaving him feeling quite distressed.

"Money really doesn't last long," John sighed. "I still need to think of ways to move out sooner, get my own place, and expand my scale."

In the few days while waiting for the drone and brainwave control device to arrive, John heightened his vigilance. Sometimes he would even hide in the courtyard at night, watching for any suspicious activity. However, during these days, the person who had been watching him did not appear.

After a few days, the ordered items arrived one after another. John immediately began assembling them. The quadcopter drone, including its rotors and frame, had a side length of about one meter, appearing quite large when placed on the ground. It could carry up to several dozen kilograms and fly for about an hour on a full charge. When unloaded, it could fly for nearly two hours.

Controlled via a mobile app with an added remote control, the drone had a direct control range of up to 30 kilometers in good signal conditions. Even in areas with poor signal or heavy interference, such as in cities, it had a control range of at least five kilometers.

John turned the drone upside down, took out the custom steel pipe—which resembled a gun barrel but was just an ordinary steel pipe—and secured it to the drone's underside using clips and chains. Thus, a formidable-looking armed drone was born.

Next, John began assembling the robot. This robot required more precision than those operating computers, making it more challenging. Fortunately, John had accumulated enough experience and knowledge by this point, so the assembly was not difficult.

The robot still had two mechanical arms and a camera but was designed to operate a mobile phone and the drone's remote control. Once everything was assembled, John carefully shaved a patch of hair from the back of his head and attached the new brainwave control device. After ensuring it was undetectable, he stepped out of his house.

"Aunt Wang, a large bowl of noodles! Add some meat!"

"Sit down, it'll be ready soon!"

John again saw the middle-aged man, who despite his downtrodden appearance, always tried to maintain his dignity. But today, the man was not eating noodles; he stood dazed on the street corner. John paid him no mind.

Multitasking, John ate his noodles while using the new brainwave control device to connect to the mobile network, inputting a series of parameters to connect to his home network and then to the robots. Instantly, the screens of the 13 computers appeared in John's mind.

With a thought, the powerful computational and processing capabilities of the computer CPU and John's brain kicked in, calculating the next steps in an instant. The signal was sent out, and the 13 robots began their operations, changing the computer screens.

Everything was running smoothly, as John had anticipated, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Next, it was time to test controlling the drone. Carefully connecting the 14th robot, adjusting parameters, and successfully linking them, John issued a command, and the robot sprang into action.

At this moment, John's phone was attached to the drone's remote control and fixed to the table. The robot was also positioned before the table.

With a command from John, the robot extended its mechanical arm to press the takeoff button. In the courtyard, the drone's four rotors began to spin simultaneously, kicking up dust. Amidst the swirling dust, the drone successfully took off.

The drone's camera feed was transmitted to the phone, then through the robot's camera, through the network equipment, mobile signal network, and brainwave control device, ultimately reaching John's mind.

"The delay is about 80ms. Not low, but acceptable," John thought, relaxing a bit.

With another thought, a precise command was transmitted from John's brain to the robot operating the drone's remote control. The robot's mechanical arm moved carefully, controlling the drone's joystick, and the drone responded immediately.

Maintaining an altitude of two to three meters, the drone maneuvered deftly within the confined courtyard, even flying through an open window into the house.

After extensive testing and confirming all parameters were mastered, John finally felt confident.