Terri:
It is virtually always possible to write new code (even having to learn how to do it) than to try to reverse engineer other existing object code. For this reason the ethical path is also the most straight forward.

1) Write down in some format what you want to acheive.

2) Devise an algorithmic strategy of how that goal could be met.

3) Select components and software development tools that are capable of supporting an implementation of the strategy.

4) Design, buy, build, or contract to get a hardware platform built using the selected components.

5) Translate the algorithm to software instructions that will run on the hardware platform.

6) Debug and refine the design till you get it working just as required.

7) Document what you did so you and others can use, support, and maintain the product.

8) And most important of all .... feel good that you accomplished something that YOU created.

Michael Karas