Development Plan 2014-2015

Introduction

This is OSE's development plan for 2014-15. We focus on Module-Based designs where we treat distinct parts of machines as modules that can be used in other machines. This allows for more rapid development by reusing and building upon modules. There are 50 machines under development in the GVCS. However, there are ancillary tools and modules involved with these machines that favor an approach by machine groups, as below. We discuss the development plan based on our current state of development below.

Construction Set Approach

OSE intends to build not individual machines - but machine construction systems that can be used to build any machine whatsoever. The machine construction systems of the Global Village Construction Set are organized as distinct groupings of machines - each treated as a Construction Set in itself.

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We apply modular design to allow for rapid, parallel builds - where machines are broken down into modules. These modules are related or connected to one another through generalized interfaces. Thus, if an interface can be defined clearly, then modules can be developed independently as long as they comply with the interface requirements. This allows for parallel design - design by groups working on individual modules.

Because modules are relatively independent as they are designed as semi-independent units - they can likewise be built in parallel. Therefore, modular design allows for rapid design-builds. Using such techniques, we have built our 1 ton, automated compressed earth brick press in a single day on December 18, 2012. To read more about our accomplishments on rapid prototyping - what we call Extreme Manufacturing - please see the 2012 Proposal Video and the 2013 Proposal Video.

Using the Construction Set approach we can build out the built environment, research and development facilities, agricultural operations, the energy grid, manufacturing infrastructure, eco-industrial materials production - all based on solar power and local resources. We are experimenting to determine whether an entire, modern, industrial economy - up to the production of semiconductors and metals, can be achieved by using only local resources on any village-sized parcel of land.

To accomplish this, here is our plan. Our plan relies on industrial feedstocks, with continuing substitution of external feedstock with local ones, such that external energy inputs are substituted fully over time with a solar energy income.

Here are the construction sets that we are developing with the above goals in mind. These are arranged in the order of development based on the chicken and egg dilemma of building upon existing technologies, while transforming them to open, libre, decentralized options.

Energy Construction Set

Microhouse, Tractor, and Mobile Structures

Based on the space frame XYZ Construction that we have developed in 2014, such as in LifeTrac 6 and in the Ironworker Machine, we are integrating this techique further from vehicles to building and mobile buildings (trailers, mobile microhouses).

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The basic design methodology is to use a frame, to which we add our

Tractor, Microtractor, Bulldozer, Microcombine, Baler, and Implements (Universal Tool Bar, Universal Seeder, Baler, Universal Rotor )

Construction

CEB, Sawmill,

Automation

CEE Press Controller, Laser Cutter Controller, Robotic Pivot System, Automatic Wire Feed (scalable to furnace alloy feed), Gear/Ra

Transportation

Open Source Automobile, Open Source Truck

Power Electronics Machinery

Open Source Welder, Plasma Cutter, Wind Charge Controller, Induction Furnace Power Supply

Heavy Fabrication Machinery

This group includs

RFPs

Freelancer bids

• Identify key freelancer channels

RFP RFP

To develop methods of obtaining RFPs from various channels:

• University Student Projects
• Design bids from freelancers
• Search for University capstone projects: call up department administrative assistants or professors to discover theses in key departments. Identify departments.
• Identify key venues of culturally-aligned channels (ethical, open source, disruptive, disruputive) where postings can be made