# Appendix C — Project Origins

Project Frankenstein began from a reasoned engineering hypothesis.

The GDR-8163B was known to execute GDR-8050L firmware when cross-flashed. This demonstrated that optical-drive firmware is not inseparably bound to a model name when CPU, memory map, flash organization, peripherals, servo/laser hardware, and board architecture are sufficiently compatible.

Investigation showed that direct cross-flash compatibility is uncommon even among drives sharing Panasonic MN103S architecture because memory maps, servo/laser drivers, peripherals, and board design often differ.

The key engineering leap was therefore:

If whole firmware cannot be transferred safely, perhaps validated firmware capabilities can be understood, isolated, adapted, and integrated into capability recipient firmware.

This became Firmware Capability Engineering.
