Open source hardware (open hardware) is defined as physical artifacts of technology designed and offered by the open design movement. Open design is a philosophy of manufacturing that embraces the principles of open collaboration, decentralized production, and distributed innovation.
The term open source hardware was first coined by Bruce Perens in 1998. He suggested that the concept could be applied to hardware, and that it could be a way to bring the benefits of open source software to the world of hardware.
In the years since, the open source hardware movement has grown, and there are now many companies and organizations that offer open source hardware products.
The open source hardware movement is about more than just sharing designs. It is also about collaborating on the design and development of products, and about using open source hardware in new and innovative ways.
There are many benefits to using open source hardware. These include:
1. Increased collaboration: By sharing designs and collaborating on development, open source hardware developers can learn from each other and create better products.
2. Increased innovation: Open source hardware provides a platform for experimentation and innovation.
3. Lower costs: Open source hardware can be produced more cheaply than traditional hardware, due to the sharing of designs and the use of open source manufacturing methods.
4. Greater flexibility: Open source hardware can be customized and adapted to meet the specific needs of a project or application.
5.Improved quality: Open source hardware is often
Is open source hardware possible?
Open source hardware is possible, but it is not as common as open source software. There are a few reasons for this. First, hardware is more expensive to develop than software. This means that there are fewer people working on open source hardware projects. Second, hardware is more difficult to change than software. This means that once a piece of hardware is developed, it is more difficult to make changes to it. Finally, hardware is more difficult to distribute than software. This means that it is more difficult to get open source hardware into the hands of users.
How is open source hardware different from open source software?
Open source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware based on that design. The hardware's source, the design from which it is made, is available in the preferred format for making modifications to it. Ideally, open source hardware uses readily-available components and materials, standard processes, open infrastructure, unrestricted content, and open-source design tools to maximize the ability of individuals to make and use hardware.
Open source software is software whose source code is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the software based on that code. The source code's availability makes it possible for anyone to improve upon, customize, or repair the software. Ideally, open source software is developed in a collaborative way that allows anyone to contribute to the code base.
Can I sell open source hardware?
Yes, you can sell open source hardware. There are many companies that sell open source hardware, and you can find a list of them here: https://opensource.com/resources/open-source-hardware-companies.
However, before selling open source hardware, you should make sure that you understand the licenses under which the hardware is released. For example, some licenses may require that you provide the source code for the hardware, or that you only sell the hardware under certain conditions. Is Arduino open source hardware? Yes, the Arduino is open source hardware. The hardware design files are available under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license, and the source code is available under a GNU Lesser General Public License.