Project ARA

Project ARA
Exploration of modular phones
Diana Naranjo Pomalaya
MAC0463/5743 - Computação
Móvel
Introduction
Project ARA’s concept
became popular because of
Phonebloks
Source: https://phonebloks.com/en (jun 2014)
Goal
Reduce production of electronic waste and expand lifespan of components
Source: http://tinyurl.com/k86pkmd (jun 2014)
Phonebloks
Problem: If a component of a mobile phone brakes, in
order to replace it, the user has to replace the whole
phone. Same thing if the user wants to upgrade it.
Electronic waste is composed mainly by elements that are
still functional
Solution?
MODULARITY
Evolution of the idea
Google acquired
modular mobile
phone patents.
2012
2011
Partnership between Phonebloks and Motorola
was announced, Project ARA.
“MAKEwithMOTO” tour took off
Initial exploration
started by Google.
Phonebloks initiative
began on December
2013
2014
Motorola was sold to Lenovo.
ATAP team conducting Project ARA
was integrated into Google.
First Project ARA Developers
Conference took place.
Advanced Technology And Projects
“Generally, time is not your friend,” says Eremenko.
“Innovation under time pressure is generally higherquality innovation”
Other Modular Phones
● ECO-MOBIUS: ZTE
● Magic Cube: Xiaomi
● Blocks
ECO-MOBIUS
● Four big modules: LCD,
core, camera and battery
● A platform was created
to maintain a high
control over the phones
and its modules
Source: http://tinyurl.com/lr7ydxv (jun 2014)
Magic Cube
● Will be a sum of 4 to 5
exchangeable modules
● The screen may be
completely attached to
the base, making it
unchangeable
Source: http://www.movileschinos.eu/noticias/xiaomi-magic-cube/ (jun 2014)
Blocks
● Modules would be small
blocks that connected
create the band for the
smartwatch
● Open Platform
Source: http://www.chooseblocks.com/ (jun 2014)
Project ARA’s Platform
● Endoskeleton (Endo)
● Modules
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Endoskeleton (Endo)
● Backbone of the
platform
● Front: Latches
● Back: EPMs
● Life-span: 5 to 6
years
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Endoskeleton Issues
● Universal
Electrical Bus
● Modules cannot
jump ribs or
spine of endo
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Modules
● Building blocks
● Hot swappable
● Module ecosystem
Fonte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Modules Issues
● 40% of PCB for component
developers’ own HW
● Cost of production
● Can only expand on the yaxis (top/bottom) or z-axis
Fonte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Aplication Processor Module
● Will hold the CPU,
memory, SD card slot,
and other core
operational hardware
● Problem? Cannot be
separated
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Main Issues / Possible Solutions
● User
○ Paradox of choice
○ Overhead
(size/weight)
○ Module cost
○ Security of data
● Developer
○ Regulatory
certification
○ Module market
● User
○ Phone makers
○ Value of
customization
○ Module ecosystem
○ TBD
● Developer
○ Initial support
○ MDK
○ Feedback welcomed
Main Issues / Possible Solutions
Connectors
● P2P module
communication
● Device driver
requirements (new
drivers, different
kernels, security)
●
● EPMs, Capacitive MPHY
● UniPro
● Generic class
drivers
New Technologies in ARA
● UniPro
● Capacitive M-PHY
● Electro permanent
magnets
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
UniPro 1.6
● High speed interface
protocol
● Aims:
○
○
○
High-speed data
communication
(gigabits/second)
Data reliability
Robustness
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Capacitive M-PHY
● High-speed physical layer spec
● Aims:
○
○
○
Connection points with longer life-spans
High bandwidth capabilities
Good power efficiency
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
ElectroPermanent magnet
● The magnetic effect can be maintained without
requiring a continuous supply of energy
● Only needed to turn the magnetization on and off
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
1st Functional Prototype
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/15/project-ara-modular-smartphone/ (jun 2014)
1st Functional Prototype
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
3D Printing (3D Systems)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
ARA Configurator App (SoSo Limited)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4 (jun 2014)
Conclusions: Development
● One field that is benefitting from this project is 3D
printing
● Specialized technology (UniPro and M-PHY) has made
the development of this device efficient
● Technology used in Project ARA can be re-used in
other items
Conclusions: Modular market
● Modular market might not settle so quickly
● With the prototype’s receive in the market, new
companies or individuals might get interested in the
development of modules
● The success is tightly connected to the variety of
modules and brands that the user might be able to
acquire
Conclusions: Configuration App
● The platform that allows the user to manage all its
modules should be intuitive enough for new
smartphone users
Questions?
References
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PHONEBLOKS. Phonebloks, a phone worth keeping.
2014. https://phonebloks.com/en
REISINGER, Don. Report: Google acquires Modu's
mobile patents. 20/05/2011. http://www.cnet.
com/news/report-google-acquires-modus-mobilepatents/
THUNDERCLAP.INC. Thundeclap. 2012 https://www.
thunderclap.it/en
MCCRACKEN, Harry. Project Ara: Inside Google’s
Bold Gambit to Make Smartphones Modular.
26/02/2014. http://time.com/10115/google-project-aramodular-smartphone/
YUE, Yu. Two Futuristic ZTE Phones. 29/10/2013
http://wwwen.zte.com.
cn/endata/magazine/mobileworld/2013/5/articles/2013
10/t20131029_411072.html
PÉREZ, Alex. Smartphone modular Xiaomi Magic
Cube. 10/10/2013. http://www.movileschinos.
eu/noticias/xiaomi-magic-cube/
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BLOCKS. Choosebloks. 2014. http://www.chooseblocks.
com/
CHAN, Norman. Tested Explains: How Google's Project
Ara Smartphone Works. 15/04/2014 http://www.tested.
com/tech/smartphones/460765-tested-explains-howgoogles-project-ara-smartphone-works/
GOOGLE ATAP. Project Ara Developers Conference Day
1. 15/04/2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=v2OEKL1w__4
GOOGLE ATAP. Project Ara Developers Conference Day
2. 15/04/2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=cP8yzJhe-BA
MIPI ALLIANCE. UniPro(SM) Specifications. 2014. http:
//mipi.org/specifications/unipro-specifications
MIPI ALLIANCE. Physical Layer Specifications. 2014. http:
//mipi.org/specifications/physical-layer
DEYLE, Travis. Electropermanent Magnets. 7/12/2010
http://www.hizook.com/blog/2010/12/07/electropermanentmagnets-programmable-magnets-zero-static-powerconsumption-enable-s