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

Predrag Pejovi´c Before the Introduction

I and you may ask myself, how did I get here? I just 29.5 years ago I met Professor Branko Dokić at ETAN conference, in Ohrid I we were young at that time . . . though I was younger! I he supported me in my very first presentation I 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 better I and even less talked about! I I hope that Professor Dokić won’t get into trouble for supporting me some 29.5 years ago; life is governed by nonlinear dynamics, it was not possible to predict the outcome Aims of This Paper . . .

1. to introduce the concept of free software and open hardware 2. amazingly, lots of people just heard about it, not having real perception of what it is 3. to share my initial experiences with free software 4. to share my teaching experiences with free software in teaching Software Tools in Electronics and Electrical Measurements 5. to share my experiences in free software and open hardware in research and engineering practice 6. to address some hot issues of online teaching

so, let’s start this metapresentation! Introduction 1

I one bit doubles combinatorial space . . . I and 1 TB = 8, 796, 095, 940, 542 b I 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 information I increased ability to communicate, directly I reduced prices of hardware and bandwidth I 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 4.0 I and by the book “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum I 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 presence I software became important . . . I because it provides functionality to universal machines I and software is a very speciﬁc product: I it is not material I it has zero marginal cost I it does not wear out I it controls the machine I two approaches: 1. treat software as material product 2. treat software in a diﬀerent fashion, like science and math Proprietary Software

I software as a material product? restrictions apply: 1. copying prohibited 2. understanding how it works and what it does is not possible 3. copyright control features built in, privacy restrictions 4. just copyright control features? 5. could you trust it and why would you? 6. cannot build upon! 7. restricted interoperability and vendor lock-in 8. closed data formats 9.... 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 any purpose. freedom 1 The freedom to study how the program works, and change 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 help others. freedom 3 The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others. Access to the source code is a precondition 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 Generalizations

I many things became digital, like books I could be easily copied, distributed, modified, . . . I a generalization to “creative works”: Creative Commons I total success, well known, complete structure . . . I open hardware? won’t be for free, sure, material objects I design files are open I 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 Arduino I success story of Raspberry Pi I keep an eye on RISC-V I even house deigns are open now, WikiHouse What Have I Done?

I hidden background: programmer! I addicted computer user . . . before 1995 I 2006 and my ﬁrst visit to Zurich¨ . . . I I used to install “Linux” on my old computers whenever I buy a new one I 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 used I then, I found myself sitting only behind the Ubuntu machine I 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 anything I which made them perfectly ﬁt into environment I 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 link I and a paper on INDEL 2016, presentation is here I topics: 1. Ubuntu, orientation, command line, shell scripts 2. C, Python, IDEs, just to illustrate 3. LATEX 4. XCircuit 5. GNU Octave 6. gnuplot 7. Maxima, wxMaxima 8. Python, PyLab (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, IPython), SymPy I 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 important topics emerged I this is premiere! I new topics: 1. Ubuntu, orientation, command line, shell scripts 2. C, Python, IDEs, just to illustrate 3. LATEX 4. XCircuit 5. Python, PyLab (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, IPython), SymPy, but version 3! 6. GNU Octave 7. Julia 8. 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 students I undermining after the ﬁrst year, 14 students I rapid increase to about 70 students I in practice, all eligible students take the course I 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 instruments I several papers published on specific instruments, links to presentations: power electronics, calibrator, frequency response, nonlinear dynamics,... I and a paper → link I 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 → link I to make some fun: Linux Mint! I inspired by Letters from a Father to His Daughter I 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 concept I 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 Teaching

I 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 Arduino I and AliExpress supplied my lab! I Arduino: open hardware I Raspberry Pi: open hardware I 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 students I a perfect example of open hardware success I Raspberry Pi is to be covered soon, but now . . . A Word About RISC-V I Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), a boundary between software and hardware I could be proprietary! I RISC-V is free! I some of my former students (I am proud of) are highly ranked there: Borivoje Nikolić and Zvonimir Bandić I actually, Bora told me about RISC-V I really great and really healthy concept! I unless we have open computer hardware, I am not sure that we could trust the hardware we have I malware is getting down, closer to silicon I having open processor designs as an alternative would motivate closed hardware designers to avoid malware I rapid progress, keep an eye on RISC-V! I software design development model (by Vlada Milovanović) . . . 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 Zenodo I all the information posted at our site . . . I http://tnt.etf.rs/~peja I 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.rocks I 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 teaching platform! 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 teachers should use the same platform” reply 1: “teaching the same content in all courses would simplify it to our students further” objection 2: “it is hard for our students to handle so many installed software packages“ reply 2: “the software I use does not require students to have any software other than a browser; not even plugins” present situation . . .

I OBS to record lectures . . . I . . . in an improvised self-funded studio . . . I Zenodo to post lectures and get DOI I students immediately asked for a streaming service, at this moment posted at YouTube I 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.rocks I 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 software examples: Jitsi, https://jitsi.org/, BigBlueButton, https://bigbluebutton.org/, eduMEET, https://edumeet.org/, and Apache OpenMeetings, 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 open hardware . . . and open culture in general . . . I I publish my teaching materials under license I there won’t be any signiﬁcant money anyhow I and there is some responsibility . . . I the experience turned out to be a complete success and joy! I included in teaching and in research I students accepted it well I empowered me to do things otherwise I could not I made me like computers again I so, will Industrial Electronics 4.0 be open and free? I it already is! I take it, use it, enjoy it, it’s free!