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Upverter – A new tool for open-source hardware… [via]
Open-source software communities have myriad tools for writing code together and sharing it all over the place…
Enter Upverter, which handily makes hardware design free, open, web-based and collaborative.
Upverter – A new tool for open-source hardware… – [Link]
Dave from the EEVBlog rounds up what open source hardware is with a handy video and links.
What is open source hardware - [Link]
NAO humanoid robot will go open source [via]
ALDEBARAN Robotics, the world-leading European humanoid robotics company announced at the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation its decision to share a significant part of its source code with the research and developer community by the end of 2011.
“We will release our software as OPEN SOURCE to allow researchers, teachers, and developers to adapt and extend our software according to their needs and knowledge, said Bruno Maisonnier, the founder and CEO of ALDEBARAN Robotics. “Building robotics applications is challenging: applications are built upon many state-of-the-art complex technologies like speech recognition, object recognition, grasping, navigation and mapping. Applications need to be secure and be able to run in a constrained environment with limited resources. With over five years of experience in developing embedded systems for robotics platforms, we want to share our middleware, our core communication library, our cross-platform build tools and other essential modules with researchers, developers and emerging projects in humanoid robotics”, he added.
NAOqi, the embedded software on NAO, includes a highly cross-platform, fast, secure, reliable and distributed robotics framework which provides a comprehensive foundation for developers to leverage and improve NAO’s functionality.
NAO humanoid robot will go open source – [Link]
InMojo – Make. Share. Live. Open Source Hardware.… [via]
InMojo is a community market, collaboration, and project support site for Open Source Hardware (OSHW) and DIY makers. We built the site to help individual makers with the less-than-fun side of sharing their ideas (manufacturing, licensing, selling, etc.) and leave them to the part they like: designing hardware.
InMojo was launched in the Fall of 2010 by 3 very geeky graduate students who felt that there wasn’t anywhere they and their Open Source Hardware making friends could easily share their products, projects, and hardware ideas.
Open Source Hardware (OSHW) is about being a part of the creation process and having the ability to personalize everything in your world to meet your individual needs. It’s an alternative to mass production, top-down design, and to proprietary products and technology.
By opening the design process we can pool our resources to build more complex projects than we could ever build alone, and it gives makers the information they need to hack and customize at will.
InMojo is here to help everyone who wants to make, share, design, or customize their own products. It for hackers and makers. Innovators and hobbyists. Problem solvers and visionaries. Artists and engineers. Renovators and revolutionaries. (And of course geeky grad students.)
Open Source Hardware is a lifestyle where products are manufactured according to our personal situation and immediate context, reacting to the dynamic situations of our lives and environment.
With Open Source Hardware, you get exactly what you need, because you are part of the design process. You’re no longer just a consumer, you are part of the creation process. No matter whether you assemble a kit, or whether you redesign existing product to match your own needs, you’re supporting the growing community of open source makers.InMojo’s mission is to promote the user-led innovation and design-on-demand process that is at the core of Open Source Hardware.
Make. Share. Live. Open Source Hardware.
InMojo – Make. Share. Live. Open Source Hardware – [Link]
If You’re Going To Kill It, Open Source It! @ MAKE… [via]
Another week, another company killing off a giant product after spending millions of dollars and years developing. Back in 2009 Cisco bought Pure Digital Technology’s Flip. Gadget fans and makers were puzzled by this; phones were just about good enough to start beating the Flip. Now, it’s heading for the landfill.
Some companies fail, some kill off product lines that are not profitable, but in the end, where does all the knowledge go? Nowhere, usually. In a world of disposable everything, is it time that we demand companies do what’s good for humankind in addition to the bottom line?
If companies are going to just kill something off, why not open source it? Some companies do just that, and others, like Nokia, will promise open source (Symbian, dead product) and then quickly reverse itself, locking it up. Pictured above, a Nokia coffin.
In this article I’m going to share my collection of products that no longer exist but should (or could) have been released as open source projects. Part of the goal is for you to post the ones you’d like to see “open sourced” as well. My list includes some familiar favorites, like the Sony humanoid robots, to some old timers like Ricochet wireless cards.
If You’re Going To Kill It, Open Source It! – [Link]
The Netduino is an open source electronics platform using the .NET Micro Framework. The board features a 32-bit microcontroller and a rich development environment, making it a perfect solution for engineers and hobbyists alike. Here’s everything you need to know to get up and running with this amazing little micro controller. Follow the link to learn more. [via]
Netduino, a .NET-powered open source electronics platform - [Link]
Matt is working on an open source Game Boy…
Ok, so ever since middle school I’ve wanted to make one of these… but I only now have enough know-how and support to make it, … an Open Source game boy 
Actually, it’s a little smaller than a game boy, but it’s 1000% cooler (in my opinion) because it uses an Arduino as the “core”, and a few modules and shields that already exist. [via]
“Open source” Game Boy – [Link]
For around $30 in parts and a good amount of patience, you can have a completely open source and hackable mp3 player ready to go. It can be modified to accept serial commands, be embedded in an art project, used as the voice of your next smart talking robo-sidekick, or filled with music and used as is. Put in whatever size card you want, up to the theoretical limit of the MMC format! All the source and schematics are here for free as part of the Creative Commons. I have kits available if you don’t feel like scavenging for the parts yourself.
This player features a shuffle mode, basic track navigation, volume control, FAT32 support, fragmented file support, an unlimited number of files on the root directory, and high quality playback. Files at 256Kbps can be played without a hitch. Variable bitrate files are supported with peaks up to 320Kbps.
The World’s Simplest Open Source DIY MP3 player - [Link]
In the same style as Processing and Arduino, “Fritzing” is an open source PCB layout tool that attempts to help designers move from physical prototypes to building actual products. In particular in the area of PCB prototyping, the freely downloadable cross-platform software allows for basic layout and design of projects like Arduino shields and other projects and can also be used to document PCB designs for later publishing on the web, etc… Lots of very good introductory information at the link below. [via]
Fritzing open source PCB layout tool - [Link]
Arduino boards are based on ATMEL Atmega8 and ATmega168 microcontrollers and enable everyone to build your own embedded electronics without knowing much about MCUs.
What makes this platform so easy? Programming of Arduino board is made by using Arduino programming language (based on Wiring). Language is very easy to use, because you don’t have to care about microcontroller ports and various includes. You just need to select board pin for specific flashing the LED and then control with simple instructions. Hardware and software needed is available for download freely. All you have to build the board or buy assembled one. Boards come in different modifications with specific periphery functions included like Bluetooth, USB, Xbee or even as Stamp module. Arduino has gathered guit big community, where you can discuss, share experience or learn form others about this wonderful platform.
Open source prototyping platform - [Link]
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