ESP – Product Engineering – Platform and Software Products

As per a news item here, a group of open source hardware enthusiasts have been working on the draft version of a definition of open source hardware which they plan to finalise at a summit, scheduled for September in New York.

Open Source was meant to be 'free' and everyone is quite used to simply downloading necessary open source software from the internet and using it as per the corresponding license conditions. However, open source hardware might not be completely 'free' in the same sense as in open source software.  In open source hardware, when you buy the hardware, you will be entitled to the complete collection of documents (schematics, drawings, PCB layout etc) that form the basis for the development of the device, thus enabling you to modify and innovate further. Open source hardware can also consist of units which allow reprogramming or modification to install customized firmware for specific needs.

Bug Labs is a modular, open source hardware company that aims at making it easier for people and companies to create their own electronics products. Bug Labs allows its open source hardware components to be integrated together and programmed to build custom devices performing specific functionality. A portable computing device with a processor, memory is the base of the hardware stack around which other components can be fitted to as per the expected requirement. For example, you could add sensors, camera, GPS modules etc. to enhance the base stack to transform as a test device for the required functionality. This provides a facility to quickly develop prototypes for target products.

For example , a company could use these components to build a test device to be used by car insurance companies to monitor a driver's driving style to judge whether an incentive should be pronounced during the next renewal. 

Today, the hardware market is dominated by a few major companies which produce mass-market products at large scales. With open source hardware, the expectation is that in the next few years, there will be a number of niche products available from many other companies, who can innovate on shared hardware design.