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firmware/esp32_node/README.md

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+# ESP32 Node Firmware
+
+This directory contains the ESP-IDF firmware skeleton for one ESP32 node that drives exactly three outputs:
+
+- top
+- middle
+- bottom
+
+The firmware is intentionally built around a driver abstraction. It does not assume that `UART 6`, `UART 5`, or `UART 4` are real UART peripherals.
+
+## Planned Modules
+
+- Network RX task
+- Command decode task
+- Render and apply task
+- Output task
+- Telemetry task
+- Watchdog and recovery path
+
+## Current Safety Posture
+
+The skeleton blocks activation while output channels remain marked as `PANEL_DRIVER_KIND_UNVALIDATED`.
+
+That is expected and desirable until the physical backend is confirmed.
+