New Mars Forums

tahanson43206

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Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,443

Open Source Hardware Development

Mars will need specialized hardware of many kinds.

An Open Source culture for invention, design, manufacture and distribution of such hardware would be advantageous.

Proprietary systems will inevitably occur, when competitive advantage, secrecy, and perhaps Intellectual Property rights allow it.

The post that follows this one shows what appears to be an Open Source Hardware concept on Earth.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,443

Re: Open Source Hardware Development

The Open Compute Project Envisions Better Computing Through Collaboration
May 12, 2020

https://www.opencompute.org/

Applying the open source concept to hardware development could spur the innovation we need to power a more connected future.
As people, businesses, and governments transfer more activities to online formats, the global computing infrastructure is being stretched to its limits — and the demand for high-speed connectivity is just beginning. Once fully operational, 5G networks will enable the expansion of applications that require even more computing power than today’s high-volume data connectivity demands, including Industry 4.0, smart cities, and intelligent transportation systems. The development of computing infrastructure that can support vehicles, manufacturing equipment, and complex networks will require data center hardware that is affordable, widely compatible, energy efficient, and supremely reliable. There will be no room for error and no time for lags.

The Open Compute Project (OCP) aims to strengthen global computing infrastructure by promoting collaboration across industries through open source hardware concepts. Sharing ideas will ultimately spur innovation in server, storage, and data center design. The ideas generated through OCP may become new standards or new system designs. Participants in this initiative include hardware companies, manufacturers, telecoms, data centers, research institutions, and internet companies. The connector industry is represented by Amphenol ICC, Molex, Phoenix Contact, Positronic, Samtec, and TE Connectivity. Companies and individuals can contribute ideas and specifications for review by the larger engineering community.

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SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,433

Re: Open Source Hardware Development

The open source does not need to be with high tech as we did one of those with GW for Ice-crete blocks for mars..

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,443

Re: Open Source Hardware Development

For SpaceNut re #3 and topic in general

You are certainly right, but the complexity of a technology is not what I understand Open Source to be about.

The purpose of the Open Source movement is to free the population from the constraints of Intellectual Property legal strategies.

Intellectual Property rights has been part of the English culture we Americans inherited since the first patent was issued.

I asked Mr. Google about the origin of patents, and it came up with 1331.  That is a ** long ** time.

1331
In England, grants in the form of letters patent were issued by the sovereign to inventors who petitioned and were approved: a grant of 1331 to John Kempe and his Company is the earliest authenticated instance of a royal grant made with the avowed purpose of instructing the English in a new industry.

History of patent law - Wikipedia

And I'm not questioning the importance of Intellectual Property protection today.  It certainly is an important part of the economy world wide.

What this topic is intended to be about is the (of free will) abandoning of claims of Intellectual Property to be owned by an individual or group, in favor of a free distribution of Intellectual Property for use by all, on the theory that the society as a whole will benefit.

The success of Linux is an example of the viability of the concept.  While the software underlying Linux is freely published, there are business opportunities of all kinds, from individual consultants to massive corporations such as IBM, which bought RedHat, to provide services based upon Linux.

What I have in mind for growth of ** this ** topic is Open Source computer hardware, but all the hardware needed at Mars is subject to patent by someone, and my preference would be that as much of that hardware should be covered by Open Source Declarations as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there are human beings in this Solar System who do not produce anything useful, but instead prey on the works of those who ARE creative, in order to claim income they have not earned, by denying use of ideas which are patented.

I looked into patenting various ideas at various times, and came close once.  The cost has gone up over the years, and while the investment may well be worth while for a large corporation trying to protect itself from patent trolls, I suspect it is less valuable to private individuals.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-05-12 11:51:47)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,433

Re: Open Source Hardware Development

Bump
The forum does create a means for the thinking of product and processes that are considered open source for sure.
It also not only creates business opportunities for earth but for other planets as well not just for mars.