Open source hardware

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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.

Because 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.

Notable projects and collections

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.

3D Printers

The RepRap Project: An open source, self-replicating 3D printer
- The Clanking Replicator Project: An open source, self-replicating 3D printer - RepRap variant
Fab@Home - An open source Desktop manufacturing system ^[1]

Computers and Computer Components

Designing the CPU itself

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Open CPU. (Discuss)

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

OpenSPARC is a project with an already created UltraSPARC T1 multicore chip by Sun Microsystems. As of August 2007 a T2 chip is also in the pipeline Sun's OpenSPARC
OpenRISC is a group of developers working to produce a very high performance open source RISC CPU.
LEON is an open source 32-bit SPARC-like CPU created by the ESA. It's the standard CPU for the European Space Industry.
coreboot
F-CPU, Freedom CPU project initiated in mid-1998.^[2]^[3]

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.
SquidBee - Open Mote based in Arduino for developing sensor networks. [4]
OpenBook - tablet design, positioning between $100 laptop and consumer Tablet PC´s price, which wants allow tablet usage to masses by high volume production.
BalloonBoard.org produces open arm-based development boards, aimed at OEMs and further education.
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.
OpenPCD - Open RFID reader/writer project, using AT91SAM7S128 microcontroller. [5]
ASoC (ALSA System on Chip).

Graphics cards

Open Graphics Project aims to design an open architecture and standard for graphics cards.
Project VGA ^[4]

Open computers

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Open hardware computer. (Discuss)

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 [6]
Simputer - handheld computer aimed at developing countries

Open wireless hardware

opensensor ^[5] An open platform (software/hardware/teaching) for wireless sensor networks
OpenPattern ^[6] ^[7]^[8] ^[9]
Sun SPOT is an open source hardware and software platform for sensor networks and battery powered, wireless, embedded development.^[10]^[11]

Laptop case

VIA OpenBook - a subnotebook case design released by VIA Technologies

Machines and tools

The Multimachine, an open source machine tool project. ^[12] ^[13]
Build-It-Solar - Plans and tools and information to do renewable energy and conservation projects. ^[14]

Medicine

The Open Prosthetics Project- A Prosthetics designed with open source principles.

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.

Renewable energy

Telephony

Astfin - Free Telephony Project open source telephony hardware
Opencellphone.org - also called 'TuxPhone'
OpenMoko - open phone framework (first use case: FIC neo1973, expected in Q3, 2008)

Vehicles

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Open source vehicle. (Discuss)

c, mm,n: c, mm, n is a Dutch project to design an environmental friendly car using open source principles. ^[15]
OScar (open source car): OScar is the first attempt to design an entire car using open source principles.
OSCav : open source compressed air vehicle. ^[16]
Open Source Velomobile Development Project: build your own velomobile.
Open Source Green Vehicle ([7]): The Open Source Green Vehicle project is an attempt to design an environmental friendly SUV using open source principles.
EVProduction club ([8]) is an organization with a wiki to design and produce open source electric vehicles and complements.

Other Projects

Arduino - open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software.
Chumby - 'Glancable' information device
Daisy - An open source MP3 player [9]
gEDA - full GPL'd suite of Electronic Design Automation tools.
GP2X an open-source, Linux-based handheld video game console and media player created and sold by GamePark Holdings of South Korea.
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 [10]
Neuros "Open Source Device" an open source set-top box type device designed to serve as a low cost Linux "media center" New York Times article
OpenEEG - creating a low cost EEG device and free software to go with it. [11], [12]
Open-rTMS - creating a low cost rTMS device and free software to go with it. [13]
OpenServo - creating a low cost digital servo for use with RC and robotics projects. [14]
OpenStim: The Open Noninvasive Brain Stimulator
OpenStomp, the world's first open source guitar effects processor
OSMC - An open source Motor Control project, meant primarily for robotics but applicable to low-power electric vehicles and other uses [15]
Pandora (console), an upcoming Open-Source video game console, media player and PDA hybrid using Linux and a OMAP SoC from Texas Instruments
RONJA - Open source Free Space Optic system, DIY in a garage, 10 Mbit/s full duplex/1.4 km
SHPEGS - Open source Solar Heat Pump Electrical Generation System
Gray-Hoverman Antenna The Gray-Hoverman Antenna For UHF Television Reception.
LED Throwies - non-destructive graffiti and light displays.

References

Free Hardware Design - Past, Present, Future by Graham Seaman

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