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Repairable & Open-Source Electr nics By Dr David Maddison, VK3DSM Compared to older devices, anything with modern electronics tends to be challenging to repair. Replacement parts can be difficult to get, firmware may be unavailable and sometimes devices are designed to prevent part swapping! Bucking that trend are devices intended to be easy to repair, often by the user, including modular electronics and even open-source Image source: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13 – CC-BY-4.0 hardware. T his article will cover two related topics: electronics designed to be easily repairable/upgradeable, and open-source electronics. They are related because open-source electronic devices are, by their nature, repairable and upgradeable. That’s because all the documentation, like circuit diagrams, PCB layouts, part lists, part specifications and mechanical drawings are made public. Open source is a software and hardware design model for producing software and/or hardware with an open, flexible, future-proof design that is frequently free or low in cost. 14 Silicon Chip Older devices tended to be much more repairable than modern ones. They had to be, to some extent, because they were less reliable. For example, valve radios were generally designed to be repairable, as were early transistor radios. A modern radio is more reliable and cheaper but probably tricky (if not impossible) to fix if it goes wrong. In today’s society, replacing a device is often considered cheaper than repairing it (although that is usually not true; it’s more due to laziness). Some modern devices such as laptops and phones, including famous Australia's electronics magazine brand ones, are purposefully made difficult to repair by methods like manufacturer part serialisation or restrictions on the availability of spare parts, meaning that a device often needs to be discarded just because of a tiny fault. Open-source and repairable devices attempt to address these and other deficiencies. A device doesn’t need to be open source to be repairable, but if it is open source, that means at least you will have access to all the information required for repair. It may even mean you can fabricate replacement parts if they are no longer available. siliconchip.com.au Open source Open source originated as a software design model, which these days is called free and open-source software (FOSS). With FOSS, the source code is made publicly available so anyone can inspect or modify it. It is (generally!) developed with a spirit of community cooperation and accessibility because it is free of charge (although donations are often welcome). While there is a lot of closed-source software, much of which we rely on, it has several disadvantages. One is that no one except the manufacturer knows exactly what the code does. The original programmers might have retired, so nobody might know what’s in it! That means many bugs and security problems can be lurking within. Of course, FOSS software can also have bugs and security problems, but generally, they are more readily found (by examining the source code). Theoretically, anyone can fix them, even if the original authors are no longer working on the project. FOSS’s advantages include being available at no cost, with decent privacy and security due to its open nature. Disadvantages include little-­ to-no technical support (although some projects provide free or paid support), and no guaranteed development timelines or updates (with some exceptions, eg, Ubuntu Linux releases major updates every six months). Another motivation for open-source software is that some people don’t want the uncertainty of commercial products. There have been instances where they were disabled or made useless after a certain date, had unexpected price jumps, failed to support older versions or were given no support for newer operating systems. Take as an example the (formerly?) popular computer virtualisation software VMWare. They were probably the biggest vendor in their market, but after being purchased by Broadcom in late 2023, they jacked up the licensing costs so much that many customers jumped ship or are looking to move away from their platform ASAP. Many of their (possibly former) customers have learned a costly lesson about trusting software vendors. A further advantage of FOSS is that obsolete hardware is often supported. For example, some versions of Linux can still run on a 386 processor (released in October 1985). siliconchip.com.au What is and what isn’t open hardware? There is a DIN standard that itself comprises free and open source documents (unlike most standards) to strictly define the meaning of open hardware. It is called “Open Hardware Standard – Requirements for technical documentation and community-based assessment”, and you can download it from https://gitlab.com/OSEGermany/OHS-3105 It comprises DIN SPEC 3105-1 (“Requirements for technical documentation”) and DIN SPEC 3105-2 (“Community-based assessment”). DIN is the German ISO (International Standards Organisation) member body, the Deutsches Institut für Normung (‘German Institute for Standardisation’). Well-known examples of FOSS projects include Linux, LibreOffice, Open­ Office, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, Audacity audio editing software, GIMP image manipulation software and the VLC Media Player. Opensource software can be especially valuable for individuals or organisations on a budget. Open-source hardware Recently, the FOSS concept has been extended to hardware. OpenSource Hardware (OSH) or Free and Open-Source Hardware (FOSH) can include electronics, computers, mechatronics, 3D printers, silicon chip (integrated circuit) designs, radios, appliances, vehicles and many other devices. It may be in the form of non-electronic hardware components or electronic assemblies. With open-source hardware, there is usually some type of digital representation of parts that can be reproduced. For example, PCB CAD files, 3D printing files or other types of CAD files (eg, AutoCAD). That means anybody can build, repair, modify or improve these devices, or contribute to their development. Open-source hardware can keep old computers or gaming consoles usable, can be used to upgrade old cars or even new ones, or make new parts that would otherwise be unavailable due to obsolescence or because manufacturers are no longer interested in supplying them (or never were). An open-source solution is generally more repairable than closedsource equivalents and may be more economical. In the case of non-opensource (closed-source) hardware, there is typically no guarantee of spare parts availability or upgradeability into the future unless mandated by legislation (and even then, you may be out of luck). Australia's electronics magazine Some well-known examples of FOSH are Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico, ArduPilot and Micro:bit. FOSS and FOSH have evolved to embody a set of principles known as “the open source way”: transparency, collaboration, release early and often, inclusive meritocracy and community (https://opensource.com/opensource-way). Some ideas are successful, while others are not. In researching this article, we encountered numerous opensource projects that started with great hopes but failed for various reasons. Others are success stories. Also, some designs started as opensource but later became closed-source, such as the Luka EV (mwmotors.cz/ luka-ev). Like any human endeavour, it may be that certain ‘personalities’ dominate a project, and if they lose interest, the project could fail. The more people involved in an opensource project, the less likely that is to happen. Smartphones Repairing modern phones can be very difficult or even impossible. For a start, they are often glued together. The parts can also be ‘serialised’, meaning the software will refuse to work with replacement parts, even those identical to the ones originally in it (eg, swapped from another identical phone), as shown in the video at https://youtu.be/FY7DtKMBxBw Fairphone www.fairphone.com Like many smartphones, the Fairphone is based on the open-source Android software. Its hardware is not open-source, but the phone is highly modular, and parts can be replaced or upgraded (see July 2024  15 Fig.1: the components of the modular Fairphone 5 smartphone. Source: www. flickr.com/photos/fairphone/53152347626 Figs.2 & 3: the Framework 16 laptop. Swapping expansion bays takes just a few seconds, making it an easy upgrade. It’s even possible to use the GPU module at home but switch to the smaller and lighter version of the laptop for travel! Other parts of the laptop are easy to replace such as the battery, display, internal SSD, speaker and more. 16 Silicon Chip Australia's electronics magazine Fig.1). Fairphone also guarantees compatibility with five Android version upgrades, meaning 8-10 years of updates. Many other phones also have replaceable parts; however, the Fairphone is designed to be easy for the user to disassemble and repair (the phone is not glued shut). You can even replace the battery easily! They sell many spare parts at reasonable prices, and it comes with a five-year warranty. Fairphones can run various Android operating system versions and forks, including CalyxOS, DivestOS, /e/, iodeOS, LineageOS and Ubuntu Touch. For more information, see our article on Privacy Phones (June 2024; siliconchip.au/Article/16280). Fairphone also make headphones and earbuds, which are also designed to be repairable; see https://shop.­ fairphone.com/audio For further details, you can watch the videos titled “The easiest camera repair ever? Fairphone 5” at https:// youtu.be/69-I46FSB98 and “Replacing the Display | Fairphone 5” at https:// youtu.be/CTlUOw1b5wo Based on reviews we have read and seen of the Fairphone 5, besides a few glitches, it seems like a pretty good smartphone. It is a little chunkier and more expensive than other phones with similar specifications, but not by a huge margin. The processor, cameras and OLED screen get pretty good scores, and the battery life is good, even though the battery is easily swappable with no tools! Despite the removable battery, it is still rated IP55 for water resistance. You can read a review at www.wired. com/review/fairphone-5/ Besides the battery, parts on the phone you can swap (and get replacements for) are the screen, cameras (either separately or as a module), speaker, USB connector, back cover and earpiece. Fairphone does not sell their products directly to Australia but you can get them through resellers, including on Amazon. They are currently selling the Fairphone 5 for $1449 including GST, while the Fairphone 4 is somewhat less expensive at $1086. Reports are that they work fine on Australian networks, although one user said that the dual SIM feature did not work here. If you want to buy a smartphone that’s easy to fix should something go siliconchip.com.au wrong, iFixit gives all sorts of smartphones repairability ratings at www. ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-­ repairability-scores You won’t be shocked to find that the Fairphone 5 got their highest score, with the Nokia G22 being the second most favourable. Repairable Computers The Framework Laptop https://frame.work/au/en The main components for this modular laptop are replaceable and upgradeable (see the lead photo). As a result, it is highly repairable. The company is a prominent supporter of the ‘Right to Repair’ movement (see the lead photo and Figs.2 & 3). They sell two main models, the Framework 13 and Framework 16, where the number is the screen’s diagonal size in inches (and thus roughly corresponds to the device’s overall size). The Framework 16 is the latest model and introduces important and unique new features, such as a pluggable GPU which plugs in at the back of the laptop and sits under the display. The Framework 13 compact laptop has the option of either an Intel 13th Gen processor (previous versions had 11th or 12th Gen processors) or an AMD Ryzen 7040 series CPU, with the option of six cores at up to 4.9GHz or eight cores at up to 5.1GHz. The larger Framework 16 comes with an AMD Ryzen processor with 8 cores, 16 threads and 24MB of onboard cache memory running at a maximum of either 5.1GHz or 5.2GHz. You can use the Framework 16 without the GPU module, driving the screen and/ or an external display using its built-in Radeon 780M graphics support. Adding the graphics module, which slots between the main body and screen, makes the device slightly larger and heavier but adds an AMD Radeon RX 7700S graphics process with 8GB of onboard RAM. The GPU draws up to 100W and has two inbuilt cooling fans to handle the resulting heat. It’s handy that you could purchase and add it after owning the laptop for some time, if you later find you need it. Another interesting feature of the Framework computers is the pluggable I/O. Rather than having a fixed set of ports (say, one HDMI video port and three USB ports), the devices have four (Framework 13) or six (Framework 16) expansion slots into which a variety of different I/O ports and other devices can be inserted – see Fig.4. Available modules include USB-A, USB-C, SD card, microSD card, analog audio, SSD storage, HDMI, Display­ Port, and Ethernet, so you can really customise their devices. Third-party vendors also produce different accessories. Fig.4: there are three plug-in module bays on either side of the Framework 16 (and two on either side of the Framework 13). They use a USB-C interface internally and support external ports like USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet and more. SSD storage expansion modules are also available. siliconchip.com.au Australia's electronics magazine Because Framework computers are so modular, it’s relatively easy for the user to replace the battery, keyboard, trackpad and even the screen or motherboard. In addition to enabling repair, if they release a new laptop with the latest CPU and RAM technology, you can swap the motherboard out to upgrade it without replacing the whole device. For the Framework 16, three keyboards are available: the regular type, one with RGB lighting and one with clear keys (also with RGB lighting). You can customise it when you purchase the device or swap it for another later. It is also possible to add a numeric keypad next to the keyboard, or place a white LED matrix module on either side of the keyboard. You can also easily change the LCD bezel colour. Say you have a Framework 13 laptop, and you upgrade the motherboard. What do you do with the old one? Cooler Master makes a case that you can use to turn it into a new, standalone computer – see siliconchip.au/ link/abvp Framework laptops are competitive in performance with many ‘regular’, less repairable laptops, although the cost is somewhat higher for comparable systems. However, that higher upfront cost may be mitigated by the Framework laptops lasting longer due to the ability to repair and upgrade them. That should also lead to less waste to dispose of, as only broken modules need to be discarded, rather than the whole thing (if it couldn’t be repaired). It could also be argued that the flexibility provided by the modular design is a helpful feature worth paying for. There are no resellers of Framework laptops in Australia that we are aware of but you can order them directly from their website at https://frame.work/au/ en The prices are in AUD (check the upper-right corner of the website) and include GST and delivery. Due to high demand for the Framework 16, it could be a couple of months between placing an order and receiving the laptop. Framework 13 models appear to be in stock at the time of writing. Prices start at $1689 for the Framework 13 prebuilt with Windows, although we think 8GB of RAM is too little, so realistically you would need to spend $2359 for the ‘Performance’ July 2024  17 version (16GB RAM + 512GB storage) or $2679 for the ‘Professional’ version (32GB RAM + 1TB storage), which also have better processors. The base model of the Framework 16 costs $2819 prebuilt with Windows installed and comes with sufficient RAM (16GB) and 512GB of storage. If you don’t want to fork out for a Framework laptop, check iFixit’s repairability ratings at siliconchip.au/ link/abx6 and decide based on that. Unsurprisingly, they give the Framework 16 a 10/10 score. MNT laptops https://mntre.com MNT makes the Reform laptop, Pocket Reform, Reform, Reform Keyboard and Reform Camera (see Fig.5). These modular products use open hardware with open-source software. The main repository for the Reform laptop is at https://source.mnt.re/ reform/reform Due to the device being highly modular and using standard parts (such as user-replaceable 18650 cells for the battery), rather than everything being on one circuit board, the computer is quite large and somewhat more expensive than an equivalent non-­modular laptop. For more details, see the video titled “This laptop was made to be hacked!” at https://youtu. be/_DA0Jr4WH-4 One Laptop per Child (OLPC) https://laptop.org Also known as the “$100 laptop” (Fig.6), it was an initiative started in 2005 by a foundation to build an inexpensive and robust laptop for educational purposes. The software used was open-source, including the Sugar operating environment (www.­ sugarlabs.org), designed for interactive learning by children, which was used on some models. Sugar is still available and will run on a variety of platforms. Unfortunately, while the various computer products were good and did sell, they could never meet the targeted price points, and the foundation closed in 2014. For more on this, see the video titled “XO-1: The $100 laptop (which cost $200)” at https:// youtu.be/zZ7qkZkp57c Raspberry Pi www.raspberrypi.org The Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) runs the open-source Linux operating system. However, the hardware is proprietary, as the Raspberry Pi Foundation earns income from the sale of the boards. One variation has the Raspberry Pi and other components built into a 3D-printed open-source case to make a laptop – see Fig.7. Valve’s Steam Deck www.steamdeck.com The Steam Deck is a versatile handheld gaming computer. It uses the Steam­OS distribution, which is based on Linux and was developed by Valve, the maker of the Steam Deck. SteamOS is open-source but has some closed components. Fig.5: an MNT reform laptop with the lid open. Source: www.omgubuntu. co.uk/2020/01/mnt-reform-open-source-laptop 18 Silicon Chip Australia's electronics magazine Fig.7: a Raspberry Pi based laptop that you can build using the files at www.thingiverse.com/thing:3134603 The Steam Deck is modular and repairable by the user, with spare parts available from iFixit (australia.ifixit. com/collections/steam-deck-parts). Simputer https://w.wiki/A2Df The Simputer was an Indian project to design an open-source hardware Linux-based handheld computer (like an early tablet computer) as an alternative to personal computers. The project started in 2002 and ended in about 2006. They only sold about 4000 units, much lower than the goal of 50,000. The project’s failure seems to be due to the product being introduced before there was sufficient demand. For more details, see Fig.6: the OLPC XO-1 was intended as an inexpensive and robust laptop for educational purposes. Source: https://w.wiki/A4Tt siliconchip.com.au Fig.8: the BigFDM, a large opensource hardware 3D printer. Fig.9: an ECU from a Ferrari 360, made by Bosch using a hybrid construction technique on a ceramic substrate. There is no PCB; devices are connected by thin bond wires. Source: https://youtu.be/tEBe6QWTk9U?t=777s the YouTube video at https://youtu.be/ QbDLG2EoGCw intended as a self-­replicating machine. However, the project was discontinued in 2016 due to the large number of commercial 3D printers that had entered the market. Lenovo Thinkpad www.lenovo.com/au/en/c/laptops/thinkpad The Thinkpad line of laptops has a sizeable following online for their ease-of-repair & durability (www. thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki). Some of the Thinkpad models, such as the T430, are highly modifiable with the ability to change the screen or even the CPU. There is also custom BIOS software that can be flashed to allow for extra functionality. Open-source 3D printers Open-source 3D printing began in 2005 with the RepRap initiative. It was BigFDM https://github.com/fab-machines/BigFDM The BigFDM is an open-source large-scale 3D printer with an 800 × 800 × 900mm printing area – see Fig.8 and https://github.com/fab-machines/ BigFDM Prusa Research models www.prusa3d.com Prusa Research has a variety of open-source models and aims “for our printers to remain moddable, easily repairable, and produce amazing Repairing ‘non-repairable’ items In cases where you have an electronic module that is an expensive ‘throwaway’ item, some companies are set up to repair them. That is especially helpful if the original part is no longer available, as is becoming more common these days, although it can also be a lot cheaper than buying a replacement. It’s also vital if the module is ‘paired’ with the rest of the device or vehicle, so a replacement won’t necessarily work. One such company the author has used is www.modulerepair.com.au However, numerous other companies would offer similar services, perhaps specialising in particular kinds of modules (air conditioner controllers, TV parts, automotive modules etc). Besides modules, often, if something breaks down, it is possible to fix it yourself, even if circuit diagrams and other resources are not readily available. One of the first places many people look at for how to repair a closed-source device is in a YouTube video. You can also try a web search to find information on repairing a specific model or type of device. If you’re lucky, you could find information on a previous repair to a similar device in our “Serviceman’s Log” column! Another place to look is the website www.ifixit.com, which has free repair guides. They also sell specialised repair tools and spare parts. siliconchip.com.au Australia's electronics magazine prints even decades after their initial release”. These models can be seen on their website at siliconchip.au/ link/abvf with links to software and printable files. Models listed there include the Prusa SL1, SL1S Speed, MK2S, MK3S+, MINI, XL and MK4. The file downloads include models for the 3D-printed parts of those printers, firmware, circuit diagrams, PCB designs, parts lists and the mechanical details of other bits of hardware. Modifiable Vehicles Engine control units (ECUs) can be difficult to repair, and replacements are not always available, especially for cars built in small numbers or when they have a widespread defect and all the replacements have already been used up. Some ECUs used a hybrid construction technique (see Fig.9) without a circuit board, making component-­level repair very difficult. One solution is to replace the original ECU with a third-party version that’s either designed as a drop-in replacement or designed to be adapted to many vehicles. Such ECUs can even be used to upgrade an older car with an analog computer or a mechanical system like points and a distributor. Companies like Haltech (based in Sydney) make and sell such ECUs, but there are also open-source designs. Open-source ECUs include: • rusEFI (https://rusefi.com) • Speeduino (https://speeduino. com/home) • OpenECU (https://openecu.com/ product/openecu) July 2024  19 • FreeEMS (http://freeems.org) For more on ECUs, see our articles on Automotive Electronics in the December 2020 and January 2021 issues (siliconchip.au/Series/353). ECUs are not the only electronic modules used in cars. For example, Open Source Car Control (OSCC) is a set of “software and hardware designs that enable computer control of modern cars to facilitate the development of autonomous vehicle technology” (https://github.com/PolySync/oscc). Android Automotive https://built-in.google/cars Android Automotive, not to be confused with Android Auto, is an opensource version of the Android operating system developed by Google and Intel in collaboration with manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Porsche, Renault/ Nissan/Mitsubishi, Volkswagen Group and Volvo. It is embedded in the car, rather than running from the driver’s smartphone like the Android Auto App. Various manufacturers are offering it in their vehicles now, with many more coming next year. However, we urge caution as many car manufacturers have been caught violating owners’ privacy through in-car cameras, GPS tracking, phone contact synchronisation and other methods. DriveKit Fig.11 and https://polysync-xrcc. squarespace.com/drivekit Electric vehicle (EV) open-source hardware and software has also been developed, including Open Inverter, a project sharing information about how to reuse components from commercial EVs using open-source controllers (hardware and software) for EV conversions (https://openinverter. org/wiki/Main_Page). There is also an open-source inverter design to control commercial EV motors, which can be purchased prebuilt, or you can download the firmware source code, binaries, diagrams and various tools from https:// github.com/jsphuebner/ OpenEVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) www.openevse.com Open Source Electric Vehicle Charging Station is an open-source charger for electric vehicles; see Fig.12 & https://github.com/OpenEVSE The chargers can be purchased from https://shop.openenergymonitor.com/ evse and there is a construction guide at siliconchip.au/link/abvq Automotive Grade Linux www.automotivelinux.org An open-source project by car manufacturers, suppliers and technology companies to develop Linux-based software for the “connected car”. They hope that this open platform will become an industry standard. https://docs.drivequant.com DriveKit is a commercial vehicle control module that uses OSCC to support ‘drive-by-wire’ control of a motor vehicle, for “full control of steering, brake, throttle, and gear selection for advanced testing and development”. It works with the Kia Niro hybrid and Kia Soul EV, among others. See Fig.10, Toyota The eCorolla was an open-source electric vehicle conversion for a Toyota Corolla; see https://jww.fi/home Ford Ford has open-sourced aspects of their digital instrument cluster and related software; see: siliconchip.au/ link/abvr Porsche Unlike some companies who fight the open-source movement, Porsche embraces it. They state, “By using open source software, Porsche is able to shorten development cycles, reduce costs, promote innovation and talent and improve software quality” (see siliconchip.au/link/abve). Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is a rare example of a manufacturer with an excellent track record of supplying parts, even for older models. They attempt to maintain a supply of all parts for their classic cars, so there is less need for third parties to step in and make parts that are no longer available, at least for now. Hopefully, that will extend to electronic modules when more modern cars become ‘classics’ – siliconchip. au/link/abvs Also, a Mercedes-Benz owner made an open-source enhancement for displaying data and controlling some aspects of a W211/219/209/203 series vehicle – see his post at siliconchip. au/link/abvl Open-source Tractors The John Deere tractor company is frequently cited as a key example and motivation behind the Right to Repair movement, which we covered in the June 2021 issue (siliconchip. au/­Article/14881). Only their official dealers have access to proprietary software, parts and tools. Not only does that allow them to charge pretty much what they want for repair services, but dealers can be Figs.10 & 11: an EV control module that uses open-source software. Source: https://polysync-xrcc. squarespace.com/drivekit and www. researchgate.net/figure/PolysyncDrive-Kit-with-all-of-the-componentslisted-by-name-that-are-needed-for_ fig2_363024960 20 Silicon Chip Australia's electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au Fig.14 (left): the Tabby EVO open electric vehicle platform. Source: www.openmotors.co/product/tabbyevo/ too busy to make repairs promptly. Since they can’t always visit a farm to repair critical equipment, farmers must pay large sums to transport the equipment to the dealer. So, there is a great desire to find alternative ways to repair those tractors. Tractor ‘hackers’ are decoding and then open-sourcing aspects of the John Deere CAN Bus signals using software called PolyCAN, which was developed to do this. PolyCAN can both decode and send signals from and to the tractor computers. See the video titled “PolyCAN Demo | Manipulating the RPM gauge on a John Deere Tractor” at https:// youtu.be/oqHf6C9QBmY and https:// tractorhacking.github.io We mentioned in the previous article on the Right to Repair that older tractors have been gaining popularity due to their ease of repair. ‘Basic’ tractors from overseas are also quite popular because they are not ‘locked down’. However, several open-source Fig.15 (right): the Oggún II tractor. Source: https:// ronnietractors.com or repairable tractor designs have either been released or are in testing to try to help farmers. One of these is the LifeTrac (see siliconchip.au/link/abvt). To explain their motivation, they write, “Industrial tractors are being designed increasingly for planned obsolescence with 10 year lifespans, and the user typically cannot service their own tractor due to complexity of design.” The design has even been investigated for use as a Mars Rover, as described at siliconchip.au/link/abvg This vehicle appears to be under development, which has possibly stalled. Still, it gives an idea of the sort of things that can be done with opensource concepts. Open Motors TABBY EV www.openmotors.co An open electric vehicle car platform that includes the motor, drivetrain and running gear but not the bodywork (see Fig.14). The platform can be purchased, or you can build your own from downloadable plans. They have a four-seat version at siliconchip.au/link/abvh and a twoseat version at siliconchip.au/link/ abvi As they are open-source designs using readily obtainable parts, including standard batteries, the result is highly repairable and upgradeable. Before building one, you would need to check the legality of using them on public roads in your country or region; they are legal in the USA and Europe. This type of vehicle would typically come under a ‘kit car’ exemption but would still need to pass various checks. You can see videos on these vehicles at https://vimeo.com/157998468 and https://vimeo.com/113110682 Many commercial EVs are written off by insurance companies even after minor accidents due to concerns about possible damage to the expensive custom battery pack. Often, it isn’t Fig.12: parts that can be used to build the OpenEVSE EV charger. Fig.13: a prototype of the Acorn precision farming rover. Source: https://youtu.be/fFhTPHlPAAk siliconchip.com.au Australia's electronics magazine July 2024  21 possible to properly assess the damage due to the ‘all-in-one’ nature of the pack. Using multiple standard battery packs could therefore be a good idea. Oggún Tractor https://ronnietractors.com/oggun-tractor The Oggún Tractor (Fig.15) claims to be an open-source design, although the drivetrain is not fully open-source. Nevertheless, it mainly uses off-theshelf parts and is an attempt at a lowcost, repairable tractor that might be suitable for smaller farms. For more details, see the article at siliconchip. au/link/abvj Acorn https://github.com/Twisted-Fields Fig.16: the AgOpenGPS unit steers the tractor using 3D-printed gears attached to the steering wheel. Source: AgOpenGPS – siliconchip. au/link/abw1 Acorn is an open-source, precision farming rover to perform tasks such as planting seeds, destroying weeds, monitoring plant health and other tasks – see Fig.13. AgOpenGPS https://discourse.agopengps.com An open-source GPS guidance software and hardware for tractors that allows them to perform many tasks, including automatic steering for precision ploughing and planting – see Fig.16. Aviation systems ArduPilot https://ardupilot.org Fig.17: two configurations of the ArduPilot controller with different connectors. Source: Fruugo – siliconchip.au/link/abw0 ArduPilot is an autopilot system supporting autonomous multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers and others (see Fig.17). It initially used Arduino processors but now supports many other hardware platforms. The ArduPilot code of conduct prohibits utilising the device in crewed vehicles or weapons. titled “Arduino EFIS. Part 1” at https:// youtu.be/emqc_vi7-Rg MakerPlane https://makerplane.org MakerPlane is an open-source aviation community developing opensource plans, avionics and building a community of similar-minded people. See Fig.20 and the video titled “MakerPlane Overview | An Open-Source Aviation Community” at https://youtu. be/XFis22qoJ5c OpenVario www.openvario.org OpenVario is an open-source flight computer – see Fig.21. Stratux https://stratux.me This open-source software is for building an ADS-B receiver (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast for weather and air traffic data) using a Raspberry Pi, a radio module, a GPS module, a case and other commercially available parts. It can be connected to a smartphone, tablet or EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) to receive ADS-B data without paying a subscription. SUAVE https://suave.stanford.edu SUAVE is an open-source “aircraft design environment built with the ability to analyze and optimize both conventional and unconventional designs”. XCSoar www.xcsoar.org Open-source software for gliders Avare www.apps4av.com Avare is moving-map software for Android devices. It is compatible with Stratux (see below). As it uses FAA data, it may only be usable in the USA, with some unofficial support in Canada and the EU. Experimental Avionics https://experimentalavionics.com Figs.18 & 19: an EFIS display unit from Experimental Electronics. Source: https://experimentalavionics. com/efis-display-unit/ 22 Silicon Chip A website devoted to open-source avionics for experimental aviation, mostly based on Arduino devices. One example is an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) display, as shown in Figs.18 & 19. Information is received from the aircraft CAN bus and Arduino sensors. For more information, see the video Australia's electronics magazine Fig.20: the MakerPlane pyEFIS 2.0 beta software, electronic flight... siliconchip.com.au Fig.22: the HackRF circuit board, an open-source hardware SDR that operates from 1MHz to 6GHz. Source: https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/ hackrf?tab=readme-ov-file Fig.23: the open Module 17 implements the M17 digital radio mode in hardware. Source: https:// github.com/M17-Project/Module_17 that runs on Android, Kobo (eReader), Windows and Linux. and receive on frequencies from 1MHz to 6GHz – see Fig.22. 9600 baud serial communications is required. Radio & radio software M17 Meshtastic Codec 2 An open-source software-defined radio (SDR) platform that can transmit M17 is a project that develops hardware and software for the M17 amateur radio in digital mode. TYT model MD-380, MD-390 and MD-UV380 transceivers can be reflashed with open-source firmware to support this digital mode. It can also be used on just about any modern amateur radio that connects to a computer. An open-source hardware modem board called “Module 17” has been developed to perform the encoding in hardware rather than software (see Fig.23). A transceiver that supports Meshtastic is an open-source project that utilises the license-free LoRa mesh radio protocol to send messages over kilometres or tens of kilometres without connecting to any infrastructure, such as phone towers. It works by ‘meshing’ with other similar devices if available; the more devices are present, the longer the potential range. While LoRa boards are proprietary, the Meshtastic software is open source. There are videos about using Meshtastic devices titled “The Ultimate Meshtastic Device – Long ...information system software written in Python. Fig.21: the OpenVario open-source flight computer. Source: www.openvario. org/doku.php www.rowetel.com/?page_id=452 An open-source speech codec software for amateur radio and other digital voice applications. It is used by FreeDV and M17. FreeDV https://freedv.org FreeDV is open-source software for digital voice on HF amateur radio. HackRF https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf siliconchip.com.au https://m17project.org Australia's electronics magazine https://meshtastic.org/docs/introduction July 2024  23 Range Comms” at https://youtu.be/ knyg6EEiGOo and “Getting Started with Meshtastic – Devices” at https:// youtu.be/DUz6cVSaSl4 Note that you need devices that operate in suitable frequency ranges for your location, as the available frequency bands vary by country. Quansheng UV-K5 http://en.qsfj.com/products/3002 The UV-K5 radio can be reflashed with open-source firmware to dramatically improve its capabilities (see siliconchip.au/link/abvn). It has been described as “The Most Hackable Handheld Ham Radio Yet” by IEEE Spectrum (siliconchip.au/link/abvw). An amateur radio license is required to transmit using this radio – see our article on getting one in the April 2024 issue (siliconchip.au/Article/16206). uSDX https://github.com/threeme3/usdx uSDX is an open-source Class-E driven amateur transceiver. Appliances and other devices There are various possibilities for interested parties to develop opensource refrigerator designs; check out siliconchip.au/link/abvx Open-source medical ventilators were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was expected to be a shortage of ventilators. We already covered this topic in an article from the June 2020 issue (siliconchip.au/ Article/14459). Open Source Washing Machine siliconchip.au/link/abvk There was an attempt in 2008 to develop an open-source washing machine for use in ‘third world’ countries. It was called OSWASH or the Open Source Washing Machine Project. It was to use recycled parts and a Freeduino as a controller. Unfortunately, it never seems to have developed beyond an idea. Open Source Scan Converter (OSSC) https://retrorgb.link/ossc OSSC helps keep classic video games running (see Fig.24). This is an example of open-source products keeping older devices running. It is “designed primarily for connecting retro video game consoles and home computers to modern displays”. There is a video on it titled “OSSC: Getting Started and Taking The Next Steps” at https://youtu.be/vHqT1God9vk The reasons that proper scan converters are needed, rather than using 24 Silicon Chip Fig.24: the Open Source Scan Converter, ManuFerHi version, for connecting older devices like gaming consoles to modern TVs. Source: https://github.com/ ManuFerHi/OSSC analog inputs on modern TVs, are explained in the video titled “Why Retro Consoles Need A Scaler” at https://youtu.be/TdfFnR-hOK8 In summary, modern TVs have poor scan conversion hardware/software, and the lag on many modern TVs is way too high for playing video games. Open-source integrated circuits (ICs) Even ICs (silicon chips) can be made open-source. The first opensource commercially available chip was released earlier this year. OpenTitan https://opentitan.org OpenTitan (https://opentitan.org) is a type of security chip known as a root of trust (RoT) component. Being opensource, the internal code is verifiable for authenticity and can be examined by anyone for weaknesses. The OpenTitan project was initiated by Google in 2018 and led by not-forprofit company lowRISC with participating companies including Winbond, Nuvoton, zeroRISC, Rivos, Western Digital, Seagate, ETH Zurich and G+D Mobile Security. The objective is to use the chip to develop trustworthy and secure platforms. For more information, see the video titled “How the Silicon Commons, developed through Open­Titan, is revolutionizing chip design” at https://youtu.be/4YfCDnpYm1Y RISC-V https://riscv.org RISC-V is an open-source and royalty-­free standardised instruction set for CPUs. Individual chip designs based on RISC-V might be commercial Australia's electronics magazine or open source. You can see a photo of a prototype RISC-V chip in Fig.25. RISC stands for ‘reduced instruction set computer’. The main advantages of RISC chips are that they are easier to implement and can be made quite power-efficient. Bitlog (siliconchip.au/link/abw2) created an open-source RISC-V bit-­ serial CPU called “SERV”, with a focus on being as minimal as possible (the world’s smallest implementation), not as fast as possible. Its source files are at https://github.com/olofk/serv One advantage of its small size is that many cores can fit on one piece of silicon. There is a video about SERV at siliconchip.au/link/abvm If you want to try a RISC-V-based computer, you can get the BeagleBoard BeagleV-Ahead small-board computer (SBC) from https://au.element14. com/4205457 for around $220. It has a 64-bit, 1.2GHz quad-core Xuantie C910 processor, 4GB of RAM, 16GB of flash, a GPU, USB3, WiFi and Ethernet. The C910 processor is an opensource design; you can download its Verilog source code and simulation files from https://github.com/T-headSemi/openc910 OpenROAD https://theopenroadproject.org OpenROAD is open-source software that allows designers to perform all steps of silicon design, from a Register Transfer Level (RTL) description (a high-level description of the chip’s functionality) to the final Graphic Data System (GDS) file. The GDS file represents the complete layout of the chip, including details of physical layers, shapes, and interconnections. siliconchip.com.au Fig.25: a RISC-V prototype chip. Source: www.flickr.com/photos/ dcoetzee/8694597164 OpenROAD works with various commercial and open-source process design kits (PDKs). PDKs are used to design, model and verify the fabrication process before the design is committed to hardware in a silicon foundry. Available open-source PDKs and their feature size capability include GF180 (180nm), SKY130 (130nm), Nangate45 (45nm) and ASAP7 (Predictive FinFET 7nm). Miscellaneous Linux is open-source software, not hardware, but we mention it here because so much open-source hardware relies on it. That includes all Android devices and many smallboard computers (SBCs), like the Raspberry Pi 5 and Rock 4C+, as well as devices controlled by an SBC. Linux is an operating system for personal computers, servers, embedded computers and many other devices. Besides being free and usable as a substitute for Windows or MacOS, Linux can also be used on old and otherwise obsolete computers; it doesn’t need the latest hardware like Windows. It can be entirely usable on modest hardware. There are versions of Linux such as gray386linux (https://github.com/ marmolak/gray386linux) that will run on an ancient 386 computer or from a floppy disk (eg, FLOPPINUX – see siliconchip.au/link/abvy). But Linux isn’t just for old computers; it can run on the latest desktop and portable computers and is even used by most modern supercomputers, customised by the manufacturers. You might have a perfectly good siliconchip.com.au Fig.26: the Gazebo software for simulating robotics. Source: https://github.com/gazebosim Windows 10 computer, but many Windows 10 computers can’t run Windows 11, so what will you do when Windows 10 support ends in October 2025? Many people have said they will switch to Linux or already have. See the YouTube video titled “Windows Just Did What? | Time to Start Switching to Linux” at https://youtu. be/NohhYEO8jaM Linux can also be used to boot a computer from a USB flash drive if the computer is otherwise unbootable, to recover a corrupted installation, or just to try out using Linux. Unlike early versions of Linux, which were for “geeks only”, modern versions are much more user-friendly and can be operated without specialist knowledge. The large variety of Linux “distributions” (versions) is listed at https://w.wiki/32za Also see the video titled “Top 5 Linux Distros For Older Hardware” at https://youtu.be/qUpdHF69BQY We like Ubuntu, especially for its long-term support versions, but there are plenty of other good distributions. ELISA (https://elisa.tech) stands for Enabling Linux In Safety Applications. Its aim is “to make it easier for companies to build and certify Linux-based safety-critical applications – systems whose failure could result in loss of human life, significant property damage or environmental damage”. OpenSCAD (https://github.com/ openscad/openscad) is free and opensource software for creating three-­ dimensional objects, typically for 3D printing. Thingiverse (www.thingiverse.com) is a repository of over one million 3D Australia's electronics magazine printer files, all free and open-source hardware designs. The website is free to use once you set up an account. ROS (Robot Operating System; https://ros.org) is a set of software frameworks for developing robot software; Gazebo Simulator (https://­ gazebosim.org/home) is a robot simulator, while Open-RMF (www.openrmf.org) enables interoperability and sharing of spaces between different fleets of robots and building infrastructure – see Fig.26. More information ● You can take failed devices to a Repair Café or become a volunteer: www.repaircafe.org/en/visit ● List of open-source hardware repos: https://github.com/topics/opensource-hardware ● Major open-source software repositories include: ¬ https://github.com ¬ https://code.google.com ¬ https://sourceforge.net ¬ www.apache.org ● 3D printing files (not all free): ¬ www.thingiverse.com ¬ www.printables.com ¬ https://cults3d.com/en ¬ www.myminifactory.com ¬ https://pinshape.com ¬ www.redpah.com ¬ www.youmagine.com ● Learn to code for free at www. freecodecamp.org ● Journal of Open Hardware: https://openhardware.metajnl.com ● “Open-Source Electronics Platforms: Development and Applications” book (2019): siliconchip.au/ link/abvz SC July 2024  25