# open hardware

> hardware whose design documents are openly accessible to and modifiable by others

**Wikidata**: [Q159172](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159172)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_hardware)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/open-hardware

## Summary  
Open hardware is hardware whose design documents—schematics, source code, and other specifications—are publicly available and can be freely modified, shared, and redistributed by anyone. It is typically released under a free license, enabling collaborative development and transparent innovation.

## Key Facts  
- **Definition**: Hardware whose design documents are openly accessible and modifiable (Wikidata description).  
- **Aliases**: Also known as open‑source hardware, free hardware, matériel open source, matériel ouvert, 自由硬件, عتاد حر.  
- **Classification**: Subclass of physical tool, computer hardware, and work.  
- **License Characteristic**: Distributed under a free license (has_characteristic).  
- **Logo**: ![Open‑source‑hardware logo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Open-source-hardware-logo.svg).  
- **Wikipedia Title**: *Open-source hardware* (wikipedia_title).  
- **Commons Category**: Open hardware.  
- **Sitelink Count**: 31 language editions on Wikipedia.  
- **Related Communities**: Lemmy community — oshw@scribe.disroot.org; Curlie category — Computers/Hardware/Open_Source/.  
- **Identifiers**: freebase_id / m/053l37; framalibre_id open-source-hardware; ne.se_id öppen‑hårdvara.

## FAQs  
### Q: What does “open hardware” mean?  
A: It refers to physical devices whose complete design files are publicly released, allowing anyone to study, modify, produce, and share the hardware under a free license.  

### Q: How is open hardware different from open‑source software?  
A: Open hardware covers tangible components (circuits, mechanical parts, firmware) while open‑source software deals only with code; both share the principle of freely available design files, but hardware also requires manufacturing specifications.  

### Q: Can I sell products made from open‑hardware designs?  
A: Yes—free licenses typically permit commercial use, provided you comply with any attribution or share‑alike terms specified by the license.  

### Q: Where can I find open‑hardware projects?  
A: Projects are listed on Wikipedia’s *Open-source hardware* page, the Lemmy community oshw@scribe.disroot.org, and directories such as Curlie’s Computers → Hardware → Open_Source/.  

### Q: Is open hardware only for computers?  
A: No—while it includes computer hardware, it also spans microcontrollers, GPUs, drones, scientific instruments, and educational robotics (e.g., OpenRISC, Open Graphics Project, LANDRS Science Drone, Escornabot).

## Why It Matters  
Open hardware democratizes access to technology by removing proprietary barriers that traditionally restrict who can study or improve a device. By publishing schematics, firmware, and bill‑of‑materials, creators enable a global community to iterate, customize, and repurpose designs, accelerating innovation and reducing costs. This openness fuels educational initiatives, supports scientific research through open‑science hardware, and empowers small manufacturers and hobbyists to compete with large firms. Moreover, free‑license terms ensure that improvements remain publicly available, fostering a virtuous cycle of shared knowledge that can address local needs—such as low‑cost environmental sensors or affordable medical devices—more rapidly than closed‑source alternatives.

## Notable For  
- **First‑class free‑license model** for physical products, mirroring the open‑source software movement.  
- **Broad multilingual presence**: 31 Wikipedia language editions, reflecting worldwide community adoption.  
- **Cross‑domain influence**: Foundations for open‑science hardware, open environmental hardware, and open‑source microcontrollers.  
- **Community infrastructure**: Dedicated Lemmy forum (oshw@scribe.disroot.org) and curated directories (Curlie, Framabook).  
- **Extensive ecosystem**: Hosts a variety of projects—from CPUs (OpenRISC, LEON) to GPUs (Open Graphics Project) and drones (LANDRS Science Drone).

## Body  

### Definition and Scope  
- Open hardware makes all design documentation—schematics, PCB layouts, firmware source code, mechanical drawings—publicly accessible.  
- The intent is to allow anyone to **study**, **modify**, **manufacture**, **share**, and **sell** the hardware under a free license.  

### Licensing  
- The “free license” characteristic ensures that downstream users retain the same freedoms.  
- Licenses may be copyleft (share‑alike) or permissive, but must not restrict commercial use or impose closed‑source requirements.  

### Relationship to Other Domains  
- **Computer hardware**: Open hardware is a subset of computer hardware, sharing the same physical components but with open design files.  
- **Physical tool & work**: Classified as a physical tool and a form of work, emphasizing its tangible nature and labor aspect.  
- **Open‑science hardware**: A specialized branch where hardware is used for scientific investigations and follows the same openness principles.  

### Representative Projects  
| Project | Category | Notable Feature |
|--------|----------|-----------------|
| **OpenRISC** | Open‑source CPU | Series of open‑source processors (inception 2000). |
| **Open Graphics Project** | GPU | Open‑source graphics processing unit. |
| **LEON** | Space‑grade CPU | 32‑bit core originally designed by ESA. |
| **Escornabot** | Educational robotics | Open‑source robot for teaching programming (inception 2014, Spain). |
| **LANDRS Science Drone** | Drone | Open‑source multirotor for scientific observation. |

### Community and Resources  
- **Lemmy**: oshw@scribe.disroot.org serves as a discussion hub for developers and users.  
- **Curlie**: Lists open‑source hardware under Computers → Hardware → Open_Source/.  
- **Framalibre**: Catalogs open‑source hardware projects (framalibre_id).  

### Standards and Identifiers  
- **Logo**: Hosted on Wikimedia Commons (Open‑source‑hardware‑logo.svg).  
- **Identifiers**: freebase_id / m/053l37; ne.se_id öppen‑hårdvara; framalibre_id open-source-hardware.  
- **Wikipedia**: Article titled *Open-source hardware* with 31 language editions, categorized under Category:Open‑source hardware.  

### Impact on Innovation  
- Enables rapid prototyping and customization without licensing fees.  
- Encourages collaborative problem‑solving across borders, leading to diversified solutions (e.g., low‑cost medical devices, environmental sensors).  
- Reduces vendor lock‑in, giving users control over the lifecycle of their devices.  

## Schema Markup  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Open hardware",
  "description": "Hardware whose design documents are openly accessible and modifiable by others.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_hardware"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ComputerHardware"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)