EW: OPEN SOURCE
Instead of relying on proprietary, hard-to-source components, companies can build electronics that are adaptable, repairable, and supported by a global community of engineers. The shift is already happening. Open-source electronics platforms are proving that innovation doesn’t have to be locked behind closed doors. Raspberry Pi’s recent IPO highlights that open-source business models are not just commercially viable but also attractive to investors in public markets. Raspberry Pi has reshaped computing, giving engineers, students, and businesses access to powerful, low-cost development tools. Red Pitaya has built an accessible, software-defined alternative to expensive, closed instrumentation – embracing open approaches where it makes sense. Both companies, together with Arduino, are making a strong shift from DIY and academic-focused products into industrial applications, where demand for flexible, open approaches to hardware is rapidly expanding. Fairphone is taking a different approach to consumer electronics by designing modular smartphones with replaceable components. Unlike Apple and other major brands that limit independent repairs and software updates, Fairphone enables users to swap out batteries, cameras, and other parts, extending the device's lifespan. A similar shift is emerging in the automotive sector, where Rivian and Lucid Motors are prioritising repairability and customisation in contrast to Tesla’s closed ecosystem. Meanwhile, new right-to-repair laws in the US and EU are adding further pressure, forcing manufacturers to reconsider their approach. In theory, this challenges the industry’s reliance on planned obsolescence. But do these companies have the scale, production efficiency, and brand dominance to truly challenge industry giants? While their models align with growing consumer demand for repairable and upgradeable products, their ability to disrupt Tesla or
Apple is low - for now. Will they remain niche alternatives, or could regulatory changes and shifting market expectations eventually push the entire industry toward more open, serviceable designs? The beauty of open-source lies in its collaborative nature. By sharing schematics, software, and application notes, open source platforms foster a community of innovators who continuously improve and adapt the technology. This collective approach accelerates development cycles and drives industry-wide improvements, allowing even small teams to achieve breakthroughs that were once the exclusive domain of large, well-funded research institutions. One common argument against open-source hardware is security. Critics claim that making designs publicly available exposes products to vulnerabilities. But in reality, open source security works differently. When code and hardware designs are openly shared, they are continuously inspected, tested, and improved by a global community of developers, engineers, and researchers. This ‘many eyes’ approach allows flaws to be identified and fixed faster than in proprietary systems, where vulnerabilities can remain hidden for years. As Bruce Schneier, a leading security expert, puts it, security is not about secrecy, it’s about transparency. Open-source hardware follows this principle – its openness is not a weakness but a strength that fosters resilience, reliability, and trust. This transparency is why even the world’s most advanced institutions and companies rely on open-access, adaptable hardware. Red Pitaya’s STEMlab has been used worldwide – by NASA, CERN, MIT, Bosch, Siemens, and many others. Engineers have customised it for RF testing, industrial automation, LiDAR sensing, and beyond. Now, with Gen2 to be announced at the Embedded Conference in March, Red Pitaya is expanding its reach even further into industrial applications.
37 ELECTRONICSPECIFIER.COM
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