Doktorski studij na FSB: Uvod u znanstveno istraživački rad
2015/2016
Franjo Bijelić
CREATIVITY IN OPEN SOURCE ECOLOGY
UDC
Essay
Summary
The idea of open source share of knowlegde can be implemented in areas other than computing
science. One example is the one of Open Source Ecology which revolves around open
collaboration and share of knoweledge in everyday society life. Converting environmental raw
resources into modern civilization necessities is our daily task. Open Source Ecology represents
one solution to maximize our spare time by creating the tools necessary to shorten grunt work
time and thus increase creativity potential in every individual.
Key words:
Open Source Ecology, Open Source Economy, Open Source Farm Machines,
Creativity
1. Introduction
The term "open source" initially refered to software whose source code is available for
modification or enchancement by anyone. Some software has source code that cannot be
modified by anyone but the person, team, or organization who created it and maintains
exclusive control over it. Open source software is different. Authors make its source code
available to others who would like to view that code, copy it, learn from it, alter it, or share it.
Open Source Initiative states that open source doesn't just mean access to the source code but
that it means that anyone should be able to modify the source code to suit their needs and then
later on pass it further and making their modifications available [1].
Patent system trade secrets and other forms of competitive waste are slowing down
improvements, innovations and are a threat to a sustainable future. The idea of open source
share of knowlegde can be implemented in areas other than computing science. One example
is the one of Open Source Ecology (later in text: OSE). Core values of the project revolve
around open collaboration which implies the vulnerability to share work in progress, without
ego, power struggle and insecurity. Those core values are efficiency and the ethics and wisdom
to understand what we should be efficient about, in practice those things are translatred into
finding effective ways to document work so an open collaboration platform can be established.
OSE is based on a libre economy that is an efficient economy which increases innovation by
open collaboration [2].
2. OSE overview
When resources are scarce people fight over the opportunity to acquire them. One
form of freedom can be presented as an individual ability to freely use natural resources in his
vicinity. Vast populations, surrounded by the absolute abundance of natural resources mainly
sunlight, rocks, plants and soils from which all of wealth for the economy comes are living in
poverty. Converting environmental raw resources into modern civilization necessities is our
daily task. Each individual has a chance to get involved and provide improvements,
innovations and contribute back to a common pool of human knowled
Franjo Bijelić
Creativity in open source ecology
If we identify 50 machines that we think takes for modern life to exist, those things
would range from tractors, trenchers to circuit makers. To make these things aaccessible to a
wider range of people their cost must be reduced. Open source or DIY ("Do it yourself")
versions of those machines, that anyone could build and maintain at a fraction of their usual
price would provide that asked accessibility. Those new tools must be robust, modular, highly
efficient and low-cost, made from local and recycled materials that would last a lifetime and
not for obsolescence.
The Open Source Ecology experiment was formulated in 2003. The practical
experiment began on a 5 acre parcel on the outskirts of Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Networking
with early collaborators, the project found its new home on a 20 acre parcel in Osborn, Missouri.
In 2006, the project moved to its permanent location in Maysville, Missouri to Factor e Farm
(later in text FeF).
The e in FeF is Euler’s number, a transcendental number, implying the disruptive nature
of Open Source Ecology’s work. It is not a factory farm, FeF is a farm which grows ideas and
creates technology for ecology. FeF combines a lifestyle immersion in the world of open source
hardware, and a goal of creating the open source economy. Experiments done at FeF can be
observed from many perspectives. One perspective is that of material security, feasible on firstprinciple calculations of solar energy energy income, that transcends the artificial material
scarcity of the mainstream economy.FeF is testing whether it is possible to attain individual
mastery of a few tens of kilowatts of multipurpose industrial power to allow prosperity with
modern comforts and cultural advancements without the necessity of warfare. The key to this
is open source technology and open knowhow, a construction set of modular, multipurpose
tools, a "civilization in a box" that can be a model of regenerative, information-age, industrial
power. The intended outcome is mastery of individual productive power towards evolving as
humans where absolute material security allows for uncompromised pursuit of personal
autonomy, mastery, and purpose [3].
3. Global Village Construction Set
Global Village Construction Set (later in text GVCS) is a modular, DIY, low-cost, highperformance platform that allows for the easy fabrication of the 50 different Industrial
Machines, shown in figure 1, that it takes to build a small, sustainable civilization with modern
comforts. The platform is being developed as open source industrial machines that can be made
at a fraction of commercial costs, and shares its designs online for free.
Figure 1. Global Village Construction Set [2]
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Franjo Bijelić
Creativity in open source ecology
The GVCS in itself consists of many other Construction Sets, built not as individual
machines, but construction sets of machines. The Fabrication Construction Set component can
be used to build any of the other machines. The goal is a lifetime design and low maintenance
so only a few hours of maintenance per year are required to keep any machine alive.
First machine was built in 2007, the Compressed Earth Brick Press. Since then, the
project has been moving forward steadily, improving the performance and production
efficiencies of the machines. A landmark was achieved when a one day production time of the
Compressed Earth Brick Press was done in 2012. The intension is to bring down the production
time down to 1 day for each of the other machines. In 2013, GCVS tractor, brick press, and soil
pulverizer were used to build a comfortable home, the Microhouse. A facility was established
as a world-class research center for open source, libre technology and decentralized production.
The goal is to demonstrate how these machines contribute to creating a world beyond artificial
material scarcity, by creating an open documentation, development, and production platform
towards the open source economy. Figure 2 shows the current completion status of the GCVS
pallet.
Figure 2. Completion status [2]
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Franjo Bijelić
Creativity in open source ecology
4. LifeTrac - machine index
The flexible nature of LifeTrac, shown in figure 3., revolves around the Lifesize Lego Set nature
of the LifeTrac platform. It presents a perfect example of GCVS tool and is consistent with the
rest of the GVCS , which are designed not as individual machines but as construction sets of
machines.
Figure 3. LifeTrac 6 [2]
In the LifeTrac case, modular beams of 4″ x 4″ rectangular tubing serve as the backbone of
the construction set. XYZ space frame, bolt-together construction is used. Stock bonding plates
and pivot plates allow for scalable joints and pivoting joints. Because of the flexible, scalable
nature of the LifeTrac Construction Set, the basic design may be modified readily to build
machines of different scales, from a Microtractor that may weigh a few hundred pounds to a
Bulldozer that may weigh one or two orders of magnitude more. Flexible design also allows for
interchange of loader arms, such that a tractor bucket may be replaced by a bulldozer blade, or
a heavy loader-mounted implement such as a tub grinder, baler, or sawmill. Track, turning
wheel, skid, or articulated steering may be used depending on need. Tracks, pneumatic tires,
solid tires, or steel wheels of various sizes may be used. Since the Universal Rotor wheel units
and Geardowns are themselves extensively and intensively scalable, traction force may be
configured according to need. Scaling of the basic tractor may allow for articulated two-body
machines such as large tractors, graders, or scrapers. Multiple bodies may also be used in a train
configuration. Use of the Universal Rotor allows for different size and speed motors and shafts,
such that a tractor may readily be converted to a truck or Trucktor, with the addition of
suspension or shocks. With lighter duty universal rotors, the machine can turn into a car.
Universal power units, the Power Cubes, allow for any propulsion system from piston engines
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Franjo Bijelić
Creativity in open source ecology
to electric motors. Our particular interest is demonstrating that Pelletized biomass may be used
as a flowable fuel to power modern steam engines. The Gasifier Burner may also be used for
propulsion in a piston engine, and biodiesel from oil crops or destructive distillation of wood
(Fischer-Tropf fluid) can provide diesel substitute, or plastics can be distilled back to lighter
chain hydrocarbon fuels for piston engines. Because our infrastructure uses hydraulic power,
extreme plug-and-play flexibility can be achieved for traction drive and implements. Quick
hose couplers and quick mounting connects are used throughout for flexibility both on valves
and on linear and rotary motors. Power Cubes can be stacked extensively, and enlarged
intensively. We are interested in a Piston Engine Construction Set – modular, in-line scalable
engine that can be adapted to spark ignition, compression ignition, or steam power. This takes
us to precision machining of our own engine units. In addition to the scalable traction machines,
we are working on a full line of active and passive, loader-mounted and passive drawn
implements. High on our list is a universal drawn tool bar that can be fitted with Universal
Seeder, plow, subsoiler, harrows, cultivator, Lister plow, disk, box, blade, and other active
elements such as a tiller, cutter, flail mower, grinder, or other rotary and linear motion elements.
Use of box beam tubing and plates allows for bolted or latched quick-finger attachment – short
of the Bobcat standard but allowing for larger and more diverse implements to be used –
minimizing the weight and geometry restrictions of the Bobcat standard. This universal drawn
tool bar may also be modified to be loader-mounted to create a multitude of other active
elements such as Backhoe, cherry picker, crane, Well-Drilling Rig, Dimensional Sawmill, tub
grinder, automatic log splitter, Cement Mixer, Trencher and other implements [2].
5. Conclusion
We work long hours to secure the comforts of life while unknowingly sacrificing our
creative potential. A famous philosopher said that intrinsic motivation is a type of autonomy
that allows us to pursue mastery that is consistent with higher purpose. What it says is that
ethics and wisdom must be the next force of driving motivation instead of power and money
for humans to reach true potential. Cognitive surplus, greatly enhanced with more spare time
allows us to look further than our mere survival. Creative ways of solving everyday tasks
increase the overall human potential.
Open source ecology and economy demands a new take on society, what we are missing
is a bridge from our current way of life. Great ideas can easily be recognized by the majority of
people but it takes enormous effort and problem solving to put them into motion. Intellectual
property in its current form is the greatest obstacle for open source as it directly opposes its
advancement. Open source philosophy currently coexists with profit driven economy in form
of small business tools and as a tool for amateur work all over the globe. That existences could
be a natural way of implementation in our society as it gradually becomes more widespread,
even resulting in a hybrid way of life combining positive traits of both economies.
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Franjo Bijelić
Creativity in open source ecology
REFERENCES
[1] https://opensource.com/resources/what-open-source
4.2.2016.
[2] http://opensourceecology.org/
4.2.2016.
[3] Marcin Jakubowski - Civilization Starter Kit, presentation on TEDx KC,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S63Cy64p2lQ
11.2.2016.
[4] lectures of dr. sc. Kalman Žiha, subject: Creativity
2015./2016.
Zadao: Kalman Žiha
08.1.2016.
Franjo Bijelić, [email protected]
Primio Kalman Žiha
22.2.2016.
Centar za vozila Hrvatske d.d., Capraška 6, 10000 Zagreb
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