Taha Abbasi
About
I build and test frontier technology in the real world — and beyond.
I grew up wrenching in my father's automotive workshop in Lahore, Pakistan. After moving to the U.S., I lost him in 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Carrying his adventurous spirit forward is the reason I build, explore, and share what I learn.
Off-road rigs, EVs, overland builds. Satellite internet in the backcountry. Self-driving on roads it wasn't trained for. What works, what fails, and why — tested in the field, not just the lab.
Years of building software for NASA, Apple, and startups taught me how to test things properly and break them on purpose. Now I do it with Cybertrucks, Land Cruisers, satellite systems, autonomous driving, and whatever frontier tech needs proving in real conditions.
My approach is simple — take something apart until it makes sense, then push it to its limits to see where it falters. When you're pushing the frontier of technical innovation, often there's no manual to follow and no one who's solved it before. That's where the workshop mentality my dad gave me kicks in — when there's no known solution, you engineer one. That curiosity and ingenuity is what drives everything I build, test, and share.
Engineer by trade. Builder by instinct. Explorer by choice.
YouTube
The Brown Cowboy Channel
Real-world tech testing, vehicle builds, and frontier adventures — no studio, no scripts, just the field.
Focus Areas
What I Test & Build
Technology meets the real world. These are the areas I explore, test, and create content around — always hands-on, always honest.
Electric Vehicles
Real-world EV testing in extreme conditions — range, charging infrastructure, durability, and daily living with electric vehicles.
- Range testing in cold weather
- Charging network reviews
- Long-distance EV road trips
Vehicle Builds & Mods
Hands-on builds from LS swaps to overlanding rigs. Wrenching, fabricating, and pushing vehicles to their limits.
- LS3 V8 swaps
- Suspension & armor upgrades
- Performance tuning
Connectivity & Power
Satellite internet, mobile power systems, and off-grid technology — tested where it actually matters: the backcountry.
- Starlink field testing
- Mobile power stations
- Off-grid setups
Overlanding & Adventure
Multi-day expeditions through remote terrain. Gear reviews, route planning, and documenting what works when you're miles from anywhere.
- Gear durability tests
- Tire & traction reviews
- Campsite tech setups
Autonomy & Self-Driving
No-hype testing of autonomous driving technology across diverse road conditions — city, highway, dirt roads, and edge cases.
- FSD version comparisons
- Edge case documentation
- Safety analysis
How-To & DIY
Practical guides for real problems. Maintenance, installs, and fixes that save time and money — explained by an engineer.
- AC recharge guides
- Camera mount installs
- Tire inflation systems
Have a product that belongs in the field?
Let's Talk CollaborationBackground
Credentials & Experience
33+ countries. 15+ years of engineering. From mission-critical systems to open roads.
NASA JPL
Team Leadership — Mars 2020, Europa Missions
Led engineering teams at Web N App supporting NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Apple
Swift CI Pipeline Optimization
Engineered performance improvements for Apple's developer toolchain.
National Geographic
Earth Day Run 2016
Technology platform supporting National Geographic's global Earth Day initiative.
Turkish Airlines & Enterprise
Platforms Serving 15M+ Users
Built and scaled technology platforms used by millions worldwide.
CTO at 5+ Companies
Technical Leadership
Fractional and full-time CTO across startups and growth-stage companies.
TEDx Speaker
Technology & Innovation
Sharing insights on frontier technology and real-world engineering.
Writing
Thoughts & Dispatches
Long-form writing on technology, engineering philosophy, and adventures from the field.
SpaceX Starlink Constellation Passes 6,000 Satellites: The Internet Infrastructure Revolution | Taha Abbasi
Taha Abbasi examines how SpaceX's relentless Starlink deployment pace — now past 6,000 satellites — is building a…
NASA Restructures Artemis: New Missions Added But Lunar Landing May Slip Further | Taha Abbasi
Taha Abbasi analyzes NASA's Artemis program restructuring, the addition of new missions, and what the updated…
Tesla FSD Testing Expands to Chicago: Why Cold Weather Is the Ultimate Proving Ground | Taha Abbasi
Taha Abbasi analyzes Tesla test vehicle sightings in Chicago and why expanding FSD testing to harsh cold-weather…
Contact
Let's Work Together
Interested in a collaboration, sponsorship, or just want to connect? Drop a message and I'll get back to you.