**Sergey Lonshakov** is the architect and creator of the Robonomics project. He is also engaged in testing and monitoring developments in Ethereum and Polkadot. *Automatically translated by AI*
## Experience with Ethereum in 2015–2017 2015–2017 was the time when the Robonomics team carried out its first experiment and truly engaged with Ethereum: writing software around Ethereum, building a concept, and deciding on the next steps. The team of 5–6 people spent about 1.5 years of actual R&D on a single subproject. ## 2015 Ethereum launched on July 30, 2015, and by December 14, 2015, you could already see a Forklog article about an experiment simulating how a drone performs delivery via a smart contract. The Robonomics team had been interested in robotics and Web3 technologies even before Ethereum’s launch, but on December 14 they demonstrated how the Ethereum console client works and how it could be extended with additional scripts — in this case, automation scripts for launching and transmitting data to a drone. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0006.jpeg) ### Creating a project on Ethereum in 2015 meant: * Finding an interesting topic to study for years ahead; * Tackling research-heavy tasks like a wizard; * Working without tools, slowly, and dealing with side problems; * Enjoying freedom, crypto-anarchism, and the vision of a future society where the network safeguards what matters. ## 2016–2018 By February 2016, **Sergey Lonshakov** and his team had demonstrated experiments with a live drone, and by April they staged a full performance scenario. It took about 6–8 months from Ethereum’s launch for the project to take shape. Robonomics had interacted with the Ethereum client even before its mid-2015 launch to understand the system. Being present at launch and understanding what was happening was perhaps the most valuable takeaway from that time. The team also had experience with Bitcoin projects, a Litecoin fork, and helping create mining pools — which proved useful. Only about 20% of their time was spent directly on Ethereum to deliver the proof of concept. 2017 was a wild year for Ethereum, with numerous projects of varying quality launching ICOs. Robonomics published its first scientific articles. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0013.jpeg) They developed a concept in robotics and needed to figure out how to integrate a smart contract — what to write, how to work with the client, and how to get tokens to use the network. A key part of the R&D phase in Ethereum for Robonomics was to constantly do something in the Ethereum community. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0014.jpeg) ### Launching a program on Ethereum in 2018 meant: * Writing a set of smart contracts for a decentralized computer; * Understanding which parts run off-chain and which on-chain; * Identifying added value and expressing it in tokenomics; * Deploying the program to the network. ## Robonomics R&D from 2018 onward The project needed to grow. **Sergey** felt that Polkadot would catch up to Ethereum in maturity and people would migrate over. The first step was to study the differences between Ethereum and Polkadot — not to eliminate them, but to adapt to them. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0023.jpeg) ### Maintaining a program in Ethereum in 2019 meant: * Writing without immediate deployment and staying focused; * Facing a period with little practical work in Ethereum; * Dealing with potential staff or motivation issues, but knowing that what was created would remain. ## 2019 2019 for Ethereum boiled down to attending Devcon V, where it became clear that for the next couple of years there would be little for developers to do and R&D was no longer in demand. By that time, Robonomics already had some Substrate-based work. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0020.jpeg) ## Kusama parachains The first signs that Robonomics was moving to Substrate appeared in mid-2020, during the start of Kusama auctions — when the concept of a heterogeneous multichain network began to be implemented. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0028.jpeg) ## Mars experiment At that time, Robonomics also carried out another experiment: the team filmed at a quarry with filters applied to make it look like they were on Mars studying hardware. One of the features of the heterogeneous multichain concept is that each parachain can operate on its own schedule. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0029.jpeg) ## Developing for Polkadot in 2019 meant: * Trying to keep pace with Substrate developers; * Beta-testing standalone Substrate chains; * Learning the features of the first version of the heterogeneous multichain network — auctions, collators/validators, two layers of consensus (“babe” and “grandpa”), dropping collator consensus; * Keeping up with growing popularity. **Developing for Polkadot is fundamentally different from developing for Ethereum.** ## Kusama parachain slot In August 2021, during the wave of Kusama auctions, the Robonomics team announced its intention to join Kusama. At the time, the project had 3–4 scenarios. Their experimental Polkadot chain was used for tasks involving 3–4 groups related to the core team. Existing work didn’t directly help in securing a slot to grow within the ecosystem. Robonomics lost 20 auctions before making it into the top five. They were doing well but losing because they resisted the trend of treating auctions like ICOs, offering large percentages of tokens to win bids. Instead, they focused on leasing Polkadot’s shared security capacity for a fair price. As a result, they entered in the 5th parachain batch, but at a more acceptable cost. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0031.jpeg) ## Educational platform After launching the parachain, the Robonomics team began building a serious educational platform to explain the parachain’s workings. In Polkadot, this is valued. The future in terms of partnerships or users was uncertain, but educational content could always be developed. When popularity arrives, courses on how the software works will already be in place. When it became clear that focusing only on user acquisition was too risky, the project pivoted toward educational content. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0036.jpeg) ## Developing for Polkadot in 2020 meant: * Skipping the first 15–20 auctions; * Handling “manual” automations; * Continuing to keep pace with Parity; * Getting the first tests of the heterogeneous multichain network. ## Polkadot vs Ethereum * Ethereum 2.0 is like a homogeneous sphere — identical chains. Polkadot consists of heterogeneous blockchains. This is a major difference. * Polkadot has on-chain governance. In Ethereum, if there’s no on-chain governance, some side effects like “tyranny of the crowd” can be avoided. * Polkadot offers something close to wholesale capacity purchasing — you lease throughput and manage it yourself. In Ethereum, users pay for each transaction individually. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0038.jpeg) ## R&D in Polkadot and Ethereum in 2023–2024 **In Polkadot, it’s worth watching for:** * Dropping parachain communication via Relay Chain — seeing how two parachains can send transactions directly; * OpenGov starting in Kusama — a sign of a living network evolving between versions; * Substrate Connect — a prototype for light clients; * Professional RPC node hosting — enabling dApps to work directly with professional providers. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0039.jpeg) **What might Ethereum look like in 2024?** There’s a possibility Ethereum could become heterogeneous — but not at the base layer. With the rise of zkRollups, if a single Ethereum chain can achieve enough throughput, sharding might be replaced by zkRollups. This would allow fully specialized programs to run on one chain, potentially slowing sharding development. Still, seeing Ethereum with hundreds of shards would be interesting — another take on building a multichain network. ## Robonomics Academy course If you want to know exactly what the Robonomics team does, check out the Academy course. All lessons are free — you’ll build a smart home control center from open-source resources, connect the Robonomics parachain to generate cryptographic keys, encrypt your data via dApps (ensuring only you, the key owner, can see it), learn MQTT and Home Assistant, and see how it all works on the Robonomics parachain. ![alt_text](https://cyberacademy-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/uploads/post/images/83/lightbox_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2_Ethereum_%D0%B8_Polkadot_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_page-0041.jpeg)

Sergei Lonshakov

Speaker's reports

Speaker's events

Life of a Project in Ethereum and Polkadot: Robonomics Case Study

Articles

See also

Roman Kravchenko

Boris Grigoryan

Matvey Sivoraksha

Leonid Foyu-Khatskevich

Makar Cherniaev

Aleksey Proshutinskiy

Pavel Tarasov

Alisher Khassanov