A open hardware DIY ESC (Electronic Speed Controller).

In order to control the electric motor of the future one needs a ESC. This principal is pretty simple - current is pulsed to stator at the right time thereby repelling or attracting the permanent magnets - motor moves. But in order to make the motor the timing has to be pretty good and there is the small problem of determine where the Permanent magnets has moved since last injection - this is done through EMF or a HAL-effect sensor. A PIC then keeps track and fire the coils lets say a 100,000 times a sec. ESC are expensive today but this don't have to be the case for eternity. China has proved it can make ESC for hobby planes and cars pretty cheap and prices are coming down, but off-course the are small and glued together. The power in an ESC is handled by MOSFETS. If the ESC breaks down it surely to be a dead MOSFET - and I would off-course be preferable to be able to change this part without to much hassle (not having a microscope and surgeon hands). Another problem with todays consumer ESC is that they can be reprogrammed (some can, but that comes with a hefty price tag). If you can program your ESC and chose size of MOSFETs you can fit it to practically any PM 3 phase motor independent of size - from 10W to 100KW - the PIC and the logic is the same.
There are a few DIY ESC projects out there - focused on PM motors for RC cars and planes. Thats all very well but a ESC for a RC has to be small (very small) and light, so the projects goes in the direction of miniaturization.
What is needed is a generic open hardware ESC - this is sure to be a project to go down in history.