ThoughtsOnOpenSourceHardware

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Most open source hardware projects today are reworks of solutions to old problems

auto-pilot systems have been around for decades
patents governing the system-level have long-since expired
commercial MCUs used encapsulate any new processor-related IP.
commercial sensors (MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes) encapsulate any new position and orientation related IP.
board designs are protectable IP, but they're so easily reverse engineered and copied that protection is a waste of time and money.
The firmware is simple software IP.

The first additive rapid prototyping machines started appearing in the late 1980s
- patents governing these implementations will have expired by now.
Subtractive CNC machines have been around much longer.
Printer technology has been around longer than RP
- Reverse-engineering of ink cartridges to provide 2nd-source established.
Strength is in breadth of coverage
- different feed-stock
- different implementations
- design enhancements
distributed workshop

Industrial technologies of the past century have succeeded on the basis of their ability to scale.
For every one advance that survived, several likely did not due to their inability to scale to the same degree.
With personal fabrication technologies entering the home, now is the time to mine the past for those missed opportunities of lesser scale.

 ** design enhancements
 * distributed workshop
+= Opportunities of Scale =
+* Industrial technologies of the past century have succeeded on the basis of their ability to scale.
+* For every one advance that survived, several likely did not due to their inability to scale to the same degree.
+* With personal fabrication technologies entering the home, now is the time to mine the past for those missed opportunities of lesser scale.