Build your Open Source skills
Open Source electronics is not a common topic found in university syllabi. Instead, most people refer to resources on the Internet. Luke Soules, the founder of ifixit.com, feels that those without hardware knowledge can easily get started with electronics and those who have not programmed before can experiment on boards with Open Source projects.
“The best example of a successful Open Source hardware project is Arduino. It is a microcontroller platform with digital input and output, and analogue input and output that lets you build things,” Soules stated in a panel discussion titled ‘The Rise of Profitable Open Source Hardware’ available online.
Arduino is an Open Source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It is intended for artists, designers, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language based on Wiring and the Arduino development environment based on Processing. Arduino projects can be standalone or they can communicate with the software on running on a computer (Processing, MATLAB and MAX/MSP).
Vinay Chaddha, an innovator and embedded software and hardware developer, feels most colleges don’t teach Open Source electronics due to lack of awareness. In such a situation, reading electronics periodicals and blogs can help in understanding electronics.
Chaddha says, “Open Source electronics is simple, everyday electronics. The only addition is that all the information is available in public domain and there are many people working on it. So there is a large community and support is easy. Also, you do not have to start from scratch.”
He recommends that doing internships and experimenting is much more beneficial than undergoing paid training. A good way to start is exploring community projects, and working and tweaking existing device drivers that are a part of Open Source community.
“You can buy one of the boards such as Beagleboard (which costs around $100), use the supporting material that is available on the website and build your own applications. Hands-on implementation is the key to learning. We tend to look for a strong embedded systems background with good knowledge of Linux and ‘C’ as the candidates have to handle product application and development,” reveals Giri Krishna, CEO of Silvan Innovation Labs.
Krishna adds, “We work with the development boards and kits provided by vendors to develop our own applications. For example, we have used the Leopard board to develop IP surveillance cameras.”
Meanwhile, Kwang feels that Open Source does not present any barrier to entry. “One’s willingness to embrace Open Source and a keen eye for opportunities, changes and demands are the most important factors. Linux is fundamentally a great place to start. SourceForge.com is another excellent starting spot. Some of the tasks performed by an electronics engineer at Acronis are customisation, integration, and managing the interoperability of Open Source tools and codes,” he adds.
