Open source hardware

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The Aurora 224: a 2 channel open source DJ mixer featuring 24 analog potentiometers, three linear sliders, and 8 buttons with LED feedback.

Open source hardware refers to computer and electronic hardware that is designed in the same fashion as free and open-source software. Open source hardware is part of the open source culture that takes the open source ideas to fields other than software. An example of this is the Simputer project.

Some of the impetus for the development of open source hardware was initiated in 2002 through the Challenge to Silicon Valley issued by Kofi Annan.[1] Because the nature of hardware is different than software, and because the concept of open source hardware is relatively new, no exact definition of open source hardware has emerged.

Hardware has direct variable costs associated with it, no open source software definition can directly be applied without modification. Instead, the term open source hardware has primarily been used to reflect the use of free/open source software with the hardware and the free release of information regarding the hardware, often including the release of schematics, design, sizes and other information about the hardware. The freely released information includes the hardware design and element distribution on the motherboard (i.e. a notebook where one can replace elements.)[2][3]

With the rise of reconfigurable logic devices, the sharing of logic designs is also a form of open source hardware. Instead of sharing the schematics, HDL code is shared. This is different from free/open source software. HDL descriptions are commonly used to set up SoC systems either in FPGAs or directly in ASIC designs. HDL modules, when distributed, are called semiconductor intellectual property cores, or IP cores.

Contents

[edit] Notable Licenses

[edit] Notable projects and collections

[edit] Computer Components

[edit] Bus

Wishbone (computer bus)

[edit] Designing the CPU itself

There are several "open source hardware" CPUs, typically implemented as a soft microprocessor.

[edit] Designs that Include a CPU

  • Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple I/O board and a development environment that implements the open source Processing / Wiring language.
  • ASoC (ALSA System on Chip).
  • BalloonBoard.org, produces open ARM-based development boards, aimed at OEMs and further education.* SquidBee - Open Mote based in Arduino for developing sensor networks. ref
  • N8VEM is an home brew Z80 CP/M computer project with open hardware and software
  • OpenBook Project - tablet design, positioning between $100 laptop and consumer Tablet PC´s price, which wants allow tablet usage to masses by high volume production.
  • OpenPCD - Open RFID reader/writer project, using AT91SAM7S128 microcontroller. [1]
  • PLAICE - The PLAICE is an open source hardware and software project developing a powerful in-circuit development tool that combines in one device the features of a FLASH Programmer, Memory Emulator, and High Speed Multi-Channel Logic Analyzer. It runs uClinux.

[edit] Graphics cards

[edit] Open computers
  • Bug Labs - Produces BUG, an open DIY consumer electronics device platform comprising of BUGbase mini-Linux computer and various BUGmodules, functional components such as camera, accelerometer, motion detector, touchscreen LCD, and GPS
  • ECB AT91 - Single-board computer based on the Atmel AT91RM9200 ARM9 processor (180 MHz).
  • ECB ATmega32/644 - Single-board computer based on the Atmel ATmega32/644 (20 MHz) with webserver-capability and less than 100mA power consumption
  • Open OEM - Project to build the first open source computer [2]
  • Simputer - handheld computer aimed at developing countries

[edit] Open wireless hardware

[edit] Network reconfigurable cameras

  • Elphel, Inc. - Imaging Solutions with Free Software and Open Hardware. All PCB layouts, socket diagrams and FPGA Verilog sources are available under GNU/GPL license. Elphel's wiki.

[edit] 3D Printers

[edit] Laptop case

[edit] Electronics

[edit] Audio Electronics

  • Aurora - a dual channel USB-powered mixer with two linear faders, one crossfader, eight backlit buttons and 24 potentiometers, all built around a PIC 18LF4525 microcontroller.
  • x0xb0x - a Roland TB-303 clone
  • MIDIbox The MIDIbox project is an open source modular DIY hardware and software platform for MIDI devices like controllers, synthesizers, sequencers
  • Monome 40h - A reconfigurable grid of sixty-four backlit buttons, used via USB. A limited batch of 500 monome 40h has been produced. All the design process, design specifications, firmware and PCB schematics are available online [3]
  • OpenStomp, the world's first open source guitar effects processor
  • Daisy MP3 Player - An open source MP3 player [4]
  • The Stribe - A programmable open source touch controller with illuminated feedback [5]

[edit] Telephony

[edit] Other

[edit] Machines and tools

[edit] Medical


[edit] Renewable energy

[edit] Robotics


[edit] Other Projects

[edit] Organisations

  • Open Hardware (OH) is a project in which hardware designers share their work by disclosing the schematics and software (drivers) used in their designs. Open hardware designers meet, discuss what they ar and ask each other for assistance in finding parts, or seek ideas to solve design problems. OH is also an opportunity to exhibit designs, so some may learn from what others have done.
  • OpenCores is a foundation that attempts to form a community of designers to support open-source cores (logic designs) for CPUs, peripherals and other devices. OpenCores maintains an open-source on-chip interconnection bus specification called Wishbone.
  • Open Hardware Foundation
  • Open Innovation Projects Community driven directory of open source innovation projects
  • Thinkcycle

[edit] Events

OpenTechSummit in Taiwan with participants from Asus, Intel, Openmoko, Openpattern, Freifunk.net[19]

[edit] See also

Free software portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kofi Annan's IT challenge to Silicon Valley - CNET News.com
  2. ^ http://www.communitywiki.org/odd/ComputerComponent/CustomNotebook
  3. ^ http://obook.info/
  4. ^ "The F-CPU Project". 070828 erste.oekonux-konferenz.de
  5. ^ "Welcome to the Freedom CPU website !". 070828 f-cpu.seul.org
  6. ^ Wacco Webstack - Home of Project VGA, the Low Budget, Open Source, VGA Compatible video card
  7. ^ Mobile Devices: opensensor
  8. ^ OpenPattern.org
  9. ^ Holistic ICT for EcoLiving » Open Hardware Router
  10. ^ Open source router challenges proprietary networking market
  11. ^ Halfbakery: Open Source Hardware Initiative
  12. ^ spots-hardware: Home
  13. ^ SunSpotWorld - Home of Project Sun SPOT
  14. ^ Build this open-source machine, change the world with it
  15. ^ Open source machine website
  16. ^ MultiMachine Group
  17. ^ BuildItSolar: Solar energy projects for Do It Yourselfers to save money and reduce pollution
  18. ^ Jua Kali Wind Turbines open-sourced
  19. ^ Open Hardware: Jürgen Neumann of Freifunk.net and Marek Lindner from the Openmoko project about Open Source and Hardware

[edit] External links

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