Open Source Hardware is hardware that keeps its designs available in a way similar to the open source in software.

Definition

Edy Ferreira:

"any piece of hardware whose manufacturing information is distributed using a license that provides specific rights to users without the need to pay royalties to the original developers. These rights include freedom to use the hardware for any purpose, freedom to study and modify the design, and freedom to redistribute copies of either the original or modified manufacturing information.

This definition fits what McNamara calls "Open Implementation" hardware, described as "hardware for which the complete bill of materials necessary to construct the device is available."

In the case of open source software (OSS), the information that is shared is software code.In OSH, what is shared is hardware manufacturing information, such as hardware definition language descriptions, and the diagrams and schematics that describe a piece of hardware." (http://www.osbr.ca/ojs/index.php/osbr/article/view/570/523)

Typology

Developed by Make magazine at http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/open_source_hardware_what.html

The original article has many examples with diagrams.

Electronic hardware can be divided up into layers, each of which has different document types and licensing concerns. Each level can be open sourced, but the exact nature of what it means to open it varies. In practice, not every layer is fully open. Often only a subset of the layers are released, documented or open source.

1/ Hardware (Mechanical) diagrams

Dimensions for enclosures, mechanical subsystems, etc. For 2d models, preferred document type is vector graphics file, with dimension prints, DXF or AI, etc.

2/ Schematics & Circuit diagrams

Symbolic diagrams of electronic circuitry, includes parts list (sometimes inclusively). Often paired with matching layout diagram. Preferred document type is any sort of image (PDF, BMP, GIF, PNG, etc)

3/ Parts list

What parts are used, where to get them, part numbers, etc.

4/ Layout diagrams

Diagrams of the physical layout of electronic circuitry including the placement of parts, the PCB copper prints and a drill file. This is often paired with a schematic. Preferred distribution is Gerber RS274x and Excellon (for drills). These are like PostScript for printers but the primitives aren't text and arcs, they're lines of solder and components.

5/ Core/Firmware

The source code for that runs on a microcontroller/microprocessor chip. In some cases, the code may be the design of the chip hardware itself (in VHDL). Preferred distribution: text file with source code in it, as well as compiled 'binary' for the chip.

6/ Software/API

The source code that communicates or is used with the electronics from a computer.

Examples

Base-level hardware devices with schematics to hack them

Matt Harley [1]:

"One of the most daring developments within open source hardware world is start-up companies that provide base-level hardware devices, complete with schematics to hack or alter them to meet users' needs."

Chumby

The Chumby information device

URL = http://www.chumby.com/

A "friendly household Internet appliance. Chumby is a concept based on the belief that some people out there would be thrilled to have access to the Internet without the need for more traditional devices. Chumby provides the end user a unique means of accessing online maps, tracking auctions – nearly anything you might want from the Internet. For about $200, this widget-using Net appliance provides you with all the Internet you’d ever want, even from the strangest locations.

What makes Chumby different from any other Internet appliance running created widgets is that it allows users themselves to create widgets to further extend Chumby's functionality. Once Chumby has been connected to a LAN, it uses a user-defined 'widget playlist' as an interactive view screen. It’s something like you might find with Apple's Dashboard feature in OS X, but on a less powerful computing appliance." (http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/print.php/3700366)

Daisy MP3 Player

Open source MP3 player, at http://www.makezine.com/daisy/

supported by MAKE.

"Unlike the more consumer-friendly Chumby, Daisy opens itself up to new revenue possibilities by allowing the builder the opportunity to build the device into a customized appliance. Even though this is not likely the goal of the project itself, it does present the possibility of customized MP3 players for a variety of enterprise applications. Entrepreneurs would likely start out by targeting industries that need access to a low cost, custom-built music player than can be implemented to users’ specs." (http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/print.php/3700366)

Buglabs

URL = http://www.buglabs.net/

"The modular device offered by Buglabs is, at its core, a full-featured Linux computer known appropriately enough as a 'BUG'. Complete with all the abilities of a PC, the BUG allows budding computing enthusiasts to play hobbyist engineer so they can create a device with their own specifications in mind. A clever idea, considering most consumer products always seem to be lacking that one killer feature. Also a great remedy for those who tend to dream of how they would have built any given device 'better' or differently." (http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/print.php/3700366)

More Examples

Compiled by Makezine at http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/open_source_hardware_what.html

We now maintain a fuller list in our entry on Product Hacking

Arduino - physical computing platform at http://www.arduino.cc/

Chumby - information device at http://www.chumby.com/

RepRap / Fab@Home - Open source 3D printer, at http://www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome

OpenEEG - an EEG design that is OS & available as a kit, at http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/

x0xb0x - Roland 303 clone MIDI synth at, http://www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/

More Information

A business model for open source hardware, at http://pages.nyu.edu/~gmp216/papers/bmfosh-1.0.html

See related items on Open Hardware, Open Design, Open Cores, Product Hacking

See the info on the Open Hardware Licence

Directories

" Opencores and Opencollector are two Internet repositories of OSH projects. These two sites list more than 600 projects, from designs for printed circuit boards to hardware description language (HDL) code for microprocessors."

See our own listing under the entry: Product Hacking

Open Source Hardware

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