Industrial Electronics 4.0:Is It Going to Be Free and Open?

Predrag Pejovic

Before the Introduction

I and you may ask myself, how did I get here?I just 29.5 years ago I met Professor Branko Dokic at ETAN

conference, in OhridI we were young at that time . . . though I was younger!I he supported me in my very first presentationI and then my friendship with Banja Luka started . . .I invited paper?I to play smart and talk about high math nobody cares about?I or to talk about things I do on everyday basis?I the latter seems to be betterI and even less talked about!I I hope that Professor Dokic won’t get into trouble for

supporting me some 29.5 years ago; life is governed bynonlinear dynamics, it was not possible to predict the outcome

Aims of This Paper . . .

1. to introduce the concept of free software and open hardware2. amazingly, lots of people just heard about it, not having real

perception of what it is3. to share my initial experiences with free software4. to share my teaching experiences with free software in teaching

Software Tools in Electronics and Electrical Measurements5. to share my experiences in free software and open hardware in

research and engineering practice6. to address some hot issues of online teaching

so, let’s start this metapresentation!

Introduction 1I one bit doubles combinatorial space . . .I and 1TB = 8, 796, 095, 940, 542 bI remember wheat and chessboard problem, Ibn Khallikan, 1256?I at that time, there were just 64 fields . . .I it seems that our combinatorial space has grown a bit?I bit by bit, we became digital . . .I and a bit lost in the digital space . . .I increased ability to process informationI increased ability to communicate, directlyI reduced prices of hardware and bandwidthI sounds like an industrial revolution?I yes, but revolution in a nonmaterial world, the world of ideas!I “ум царуjе, а снага кладе ваља” (mind rules, strength slaves)I and keyword “revolution” turns all red lights on

Introduction 2

I the title inspired by Industry 4.0I and by the book “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus

Schwab, chairman of the World Economic ForumI everything will change . . .I but some things will stay the same . . .I regardless the fact that they have already changed!

Introduction 3

I it all started by software . . .I and even earlier, with mathematics, but it was not that

noticeable, regardless ubiquitous presenceI software became important . . .I because it provides functionality to universal machinesI and software is a very specific product:

I it is not materialI it has zero marginal costI it does not wear outI it controls the machine

I two approaches:1. treat software as material product2. treat software in a different fashion, like science and math

Proprietary Software

I software as a material product? restrictions apply:1. copying prohibited2. understanding how it works and what it does is not possible3. copyright control features built in, privacy restrictions4. just copyright control features?5. could you trust it and why would you?6. cannot build upon!7. restricted interoperability and vendor lock-in8. closed data formats9. . . .

I however, really clear business models!I which made some people really rich . . .I but is it sustainable on the long run?I just one development grant closes the business niche!

Free Software

I software as information, as science, as knowledge, . . .I definition:

freedom 0 The freedom to run the program as you wish, for anypurpose.

freedom 1 The freedom to study how the program works, andchange it so it does your computing as you wish.Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

freedom 2 The freedom to redistribute copies so you can helpothers.

freedom 3 The freedom to distribute copies of your modifiedversions to others. Access to the source code is aprecondition for this.

I free software is NOT freeware!I indirect business models . . . (public money public code?)I progressed slowly, but progressed!I significant progress with internet, total success with Android

GeneralizationsI many things became digital, like booksI could be easily copied, distributed, modified, . . .I a generalization to “creative works”: Creative CommonsI total success, well known, complete structure . . .I open hardware? won’t be for free, sure, material objectsI design files are openI old TV sets, circuit diagrams to fix them, books with

collections of them . . .I becoming important in digital hardware . . .I as malware migrates closer to silicon . . .I success story of ArduinoI success story of Raspberry PiI keep an eye on RISC-VI even house deigns are open now, WikiHouse

What Have I Done?

I hidden background: programmer!I addicted computer user . . . before 1995I 2006 and my first visit to Zurich . . .I I used to install “Linux” on my old computers whenever I buy a

new oneI in 2008 I bought a computer . . .I and then I noticed that there is Ubuntu!I . . . actually, Hardy Heron is the one to blame!

Ubuntu 08.04, Hardy Heron

Transition

I at that time, I gave up fixing the school . . .I and had some time to switch to Ununtu GNU/Linux!I it was not easy!I not just an operating system, change of the tools was an even

greater problem!I at first, two machines, to get usedI then, I found myself sitting only behind the Ubuntu machineI in a couple of months it was done!I and nothing is as successful as success!I highly enjoyable!I I found myself younger, felt that I control my computer again!I like it was at the time I was at high school

“Start Spreading the News”

I reform of the University . . .I not that I appreciated the way it went . . .I under pressure to create small courses, labeled as “practicum”I some people read about 1/3 of a book and retell that . . .I I decided to be subversive: to teach something I really do!I “Software Tools in Electronics”I under the radar, all descriptions too general to mean anythingI which made them perfectly fit into environmentI so, we started!I I expected lots of resistance . . .I students supported at the very first step!I professors noticed when it was too late . . .I business people fortunately ignored . . .

Software Tools in Electronics

I complete presentation at this linkI and a paper on INDEL 2016, presentation is hereI topics:

1. Ubuntu, orientation, command line, shell scripts2. C, Python, IDEs, just to illustrate3. LATEX4. XCircuit5. GNU Octave6. gnuplot7. Maxima, wxMaxima8. Python, PyLab (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, IPython),

SymPyI however, time flies!I ten years later, it is time for a new version!

Software Tools in Electronics 2.0

I not that previous topics were obsolete, but more importanttopics emerged

I this is premiere!I new topics:

1. Ubuntu, orientation, command line, shell scripts2. C, Python, IDEs, just to illustrate3. LATEX4. XCircuit5. Python, PyLab (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, IPython),

SymPy, but version 3!6. GNU Octave7. Julia8. SageMath

I all the links at http://tnt.etf.bg.ac.rs/~oe4sae/

Response?

I intentionally, the course is not mandatory!I students insisted the course to start, a small group, about 20

studentsI undermining after the first year, 14 studentsI rapid increase to about 70 studentsI in practice, all eligible students take the courseI colleagues not that enthusiastic!I however, some 700 students already completed the course!

Electrical Measurements

I Python supports communication with instruments!I modules: serial, usbtmc, vxi-11 . . .I SCPI commands . . .I do I need an expensive software that locks me in?I I have never used proprietary software to control instrumentsI several papers published on specific instruments, links to

presentations: power electronics, calibrator, frequencyresponse, nonlinear dynamics, . . .

I and a paper → linkI shared course in Electrical Measurements for several “modules”I . . . but a specific course for Electric Power “module”I how about having another specific course?I well justified, though!

Electrical Measurements for Electronics

I so, I became a separatist . . .I finally got rid of negotiating and compromising . . .I finally went out of the lab I had never fit in . . .I free software based course!I nine new lab exercises → linkI to make some fun: Linux Mint!I inspired by Letters from a Father to His DaughterI enthusiastic students!I student enthusiasm initiates teacher enthusiasm, . . .

and vice versa!I a new quality, methods that could not be taught before!I powerful feeling of having power!I no hard work any more, actually got rid of “stupid tasks”

Overall Impressions About Teaching Experiences

I nothing that could be documented, just impressions . . .I a bit rebellious conceptI regardless the fact that free software took over the internet,

embedded design, networking, cloud, mobile devices . . .I and students like something rebellious whatever it is!I it became possible to wrap serious topics in, to make them

easily swallowed!I less enthusiastic colleagues . . .I but they ignored me even before . . .I which is an excellent approach, I hope that it won’t change!I less trouble this way!

Something Out of TeachingI besides teaching, some professors do some research . . .I while in Skopje in 2016, I learned about AliExpress supported

laboratories, Josif Kosev told me about his experiences . . .I meeting people works!I I already had a Raspberry Pi and an ArduinoI and AliExpress supplied my lab!I Arduino: open hardwareI Raspberry Pi: open hardwareI really affordable, rapid prototyping!I too bad that AliExpress shipment became to expensive . . .I several papers, like → Arduino paper . . .I used in many projects by many studentsI a perfect example of open hardware successI Raspberry Pi is to be covered soon, but now . . .

A Word About RISC-VI Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), a boundary between

software and hardwareI could be proprietary!I RISC-V is free!I some of my former students (I am proud of) are highly ranked

there: Borivoje Nikolic and Zvonimir BandicI actually, Bora told me about RISC-VI really great and really healthy concept!I unless we have open computer hardware, I am not sure that

we could trust the hardware we haveI malware is getting down, closer to siliconI having open processor designs as an alternative would

motivate closed hardware designers to avoid malwareI rapid progress, keep an eye on RISC-V!I software design development model (by Vlada Milovanovic) . . .

A Word about Online Teaching

I around March 15, 2020, my school went online . . .I not fully prepared, neither fully unprepared . . .I unprepared only for video lectures and conferences . . .I missing cameras and experience; not a big deal to fix.I perfect opportunity to fix my teaching materials!I lots of written materials already online, Zenodo!I server, bandwidth, DOI . . .I not that every cloud brings bad weather!I not much recording in my case, it was hard to record at that

time (camera? setup? studio? access?)

starting point . . .

I teaching materials mostly at ZenodoI all the information posted at our site . . .I http://tnt.etf.rs/~pejaI a machine kicked out of my office around 2005 as obsolete . . .I but still used as a server!I Ubuntu 06.04?I some problems with ssh, a bit unreliable . . .I at the same time Raspberry Pi 3 B became obsolete . . .I so I had to kick it out of my apartment . . .I where it was used as my personal server; how about my server?I Ubuntu 20.04, just appeared . . .I and good old apache2 could be installed . . .

http://peja.freedombox.rocks

results . . .

I http://peja.freedombox.rocksI home page for all six of my courses . . .I served about 370 of my students . . .I and hosted my home page . . .I it was fun to setup and maintain!I I really like to work with it!I I do not have to ask anyone for anything!I I am independent and free . . .I and I really enjoy that!

October 2020 . . .

I things are getting serious!I not just a temporary turbulence . . .I we have to record our lectures . . .I and organize video conferences . . .I we have support for a proprietary platform . . .I and we are informed that it is for free . . .I sounds like a really sustainable business model . . .I what is vendor lock-in?I so I decided to use online teaching freedom #1

online teaching freedom #1

I teachers are free to choose their online teachingplatform!

I we HAVE that freedom at our school!I I appreciate that, and I believe that this right should be

universal!I . . . though, there were different voices:

objection 1: “to simplify it for our students, all teachersshould use the same platform”

reply 1: “teaching the same content in all courses wouldsimplify it to our students further”

objection 2: “it is hard for our students to handle so manyinstalled software packages“

reply 2: “the software I use does not require students tohave any software other than a browser; not evenplugins”

present situation . . .

I OBS to record lectures . . .I . . . in an improvised self-funded studio . . .I Zenodo to post lectures and get DOII students immediately asked for a streaming service, at this

moment posted at YouTubeI public access: public lectures for public money

(Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act)I office hours using Jitsi, over https://meet.jit.si/I information root still at http://peja.freedombox.rocksI seems it works . . .I lots of feedback . . .I enjoyable . . .I however, what can we do better?

the “studio”

the “studio”

a platform proposal

three components:

1. learning management system (LMS); Moodle is a mature tool,https://moodle.org/

2. web audio/video conferencing software; free softwareexamples: Jitsi, https://jitsi.org/,BigBlueButton, https://bigbluebutton.org/,eduMEET, https://edumeet.org/, and ApacheOpenMeetings, https://openmeetings.apache.org/

3. media server, “player”; GNU MediaGoblin,https://mediagoblin.org/

to be run at our servers, locally, at home

Conclusions

I a story about my experience in free software and openhardware . . . and open culture in general . . .

I I publish my teaching materials under licenseI there won’t be any significant money anyhowI and there is some responsibility . . .I the experience turned out to be a complete success and joy!I included in teaching and in researchI students accepted it wellI empowered me to do things otherwise I could notI made me like computers againI so, will Industrial Electronics 4.0 be open and free?I it already is!I take it, use it, enjoy it, it’s free!