From andyjpb at ashurst.eu.org Tue Aug 25 15:24:46 2026 From: andyjpb at ashurst.eu.org (Andy Bennett) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:24:46 +0100 Subject: [Swansea Hackspace] =?utf-8?q?Open_Source_Hardware_Camp_2026_?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=94_Sat_29/08_=26_Sun_30/08=2C_Hebden_Bridge?= In-Reply-To: <01055a4598d4322d3be1ac04c99e2def@ashurst.eu.org> References: <6ae5f89b0bffa077b406a601828919de@ashurst.eu.org> <01055a4598d4322d3be1ac04c99e2def@ashurst.eu.org> Message-ID: Hello, Just a final call in case there is anyone who plans to attend and has not registered yet. Registration is set to close at 09:00 tomorrow morning so that we can confirm numbers with the caterers. https://oshug.org/event/oshcamp2026 On 2026-07-21 11:04, Andy Bennett wrote: > Hello again, > > There's still a few tickets left for this and it's usually a great > weekend in Hebden Bridge. > > I hope we'll see a few of you there! > > https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-source-hardware-camp-2026-tickets-1992209880381 > > > On 2026-06-30 22:50, Andy Bennett wrote: >> Hello, >> >> I'm pleased to announce that we have a total of 11 talks and 3 >> workshops confirmed for Open Source Hardware Camp 2026! >> >> As in previous years, there will be a social event on the Saturday >> evening. >> >> Cheers, >> Andy >> >> // >> >> >> Open Source Hardware Camp 2026 ? Sat 29/08 & Sun 30/08, Hebden Bridge >> >> 29th & 30th August at The Birchcliffe Centre, Birchcliffe Road, Hebden >> Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8DG, UK. >> >> Registration: >> >> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-source-hardware-camp-2026-tickets-1992209880381 >> >> Open Source Hardware Camp 2026 will take place in the Pennine town of >> Hebden Bridge, which is approximately 1 hour by rail from Leeds and >> Manchester. Budget accommodation is available at the Hebden Bridge IOU >> Hostel. Details of other local accommodation can be found at >> www.hebdenbridge.co.uk and via Airbnb and Booking.com etc. >> >> There will be a social event on Saturday evening from 7PM. >> >> Any questions should be directed to the Discussion List. >> >> Open Source Hardware Camp 2026 is dedicated to the memory of Ken >> Boak (1966-2026), a founding member of the group, a prolific >> contributor and a good friend to many. >> >> *** Saturday :: Talks *** >> >> ? Technical Cartoons for Fun (and Profit?) >> >> What happens if you combine a traditional text book, a bunch of hand >> drawn diagrams, and a cartoon robot? >> >> Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) has a reputation as one of the >> more mysterious electronics subjects. This project is an attempt to >> make learning about this subject more intuitive and fun through the >> power of cartoons. >> >> In this talk, James will touch on the subject of Electro-Static >> Discharges (ESD), inspirations behind this project, different learning >> styles, the self-publishing process, and lessons learned along the >> way. >> >> * James Pawson is an electronics engineer, trainer, practitioner of >> the dark arts (EMC), and now author. >> >> ? Clean-room reverse engineering the ATTiny 1-series On Chip Debugging >> peripheral >> >> The 1-series is a range of ATtiny microcontrollers released by >> Microchip in 2016. They contain an avrxmega3 CPU and a UPDI interface >> for programming and debugging. The vendor datasheet for the part >> documents the UPDI protocol and provides information to use the Chip >> Erase, NVM programming and User Row Programming functionality. The >> information provided also allows the interactive reading and writing >> of the entire CPU Data Space, which allows host-side interaction with >> main memory and the on chip peripherals. As a result, these features >> are all well supported in open source tools. >> >> Finally, the UPDI chapter of the datasheet promises a range of >> debugging features including hardware breakpoints, run-time readout of >> program counter, stack pointer and CPI status registers for >> code-profiling and program flow control (go, stop, reset, step into). >> However it is silent on the details required to make use of them. >> >> In this talk Andy will explain how he reverse engineered the On Chip >> Debugger to write a datasheet that has been used to implement a GDB >> Server for these devices. >> >> * Andy Bennett is a highly skilled technologist, business leader, >> entrepreneur and problem solver with almost 20 years experience >> working in technology. He has worked in a wide variety of industries >> including government, finance, higher education and consumer >> electronics. >> >> He has a passion for new technologies and has often been at the >> forefront of pioneering research, development and new product >> launches, offering both strategic oversight and hands-on development. >> >> ? A tale of two tiles: custom chips at home >> >> Open source silicon provides ordinary people with an opportunity to >> manufacture real chips! Hundreds of people have made their own >> designs, but what does the journey look like? This talk will cover the >> who, what, how and why of the process, with a look at two of Kristaps? >> own submissions and a light dive into tools that make it possible. >> >> * Kristaps Jurkans is a recent graduate of the University of Lincoln, >> an open source hardware and software enthusiast, and a big fan of >> disassembling anything just to learn more about it. >> >> ? What does the future hold for an electronics engineer in the age of >> AI? >> >> Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you >> will have noticed that the world is changing at an unprecedented pace. >> The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) is impacting all areas of >> knowledge work, doubly so for technology related roles. >> >> So, what does the future hold for an engineer as we move into this new >> era? In this talk we will take a look at some exploratory work Alan >> has been performing over the last year or so to see what's possible >> with LLMs in the open source hardware space, and what this might mean >> for the future of open engineering in general. We will look at some of >> the tools that are already available, and some of the exciting >> possibilities that are on the horizon. We will also discuss some of >> the challenges that we will need to overcome in order to fully realize >> the quality, educational and productivity benefits emerging in OSHW. >> So, if you are an electronics engineer, a hobbyist or just interested >> in the future of open source hardware, this talk is for you! >> >> * Alan Wood has been working with embedded electronics and FPGAs for >> many years. His recent work includes smart grids, 3D printers, >> robotics, automation biotec diagnostics, flow computation, measurement >> and multi protocol integration. His current research is focused on >> multilayer concurrency, mixed language models for complex systems, >> linux and Rust based embedded development, realtime testing, capture >> and analysis. He is a long term advocate of open source communities, >> previously a moderator (aka Folknology) for xCORE, the co-founder of >> myStorm open hardware FPGA community, as well as a co-founder of >> Surrey and Hampshire Makerspace. >> >> ? RISC-V ? the road to ubiquity >> >> Systems based on the open source RISC-V instruction set architecture >> are becoming more available and popular in both MCUs and SOCs. The MCU >> ecosystem is already well developed, but SOCs have greater >> dependencies, and software stacks that have only recently been marked >> as production ready. As always happens with new stuff, the hardware >> people are waiting for broader software support, and the software >> people are waiting for a larger hardware installed base. This talk >> will examine the forces that are driving RISC-V forward, and what >> still needs to happen for RISC-V SOCs to go mainstream. >> >> * Chris Swan is a long term member of the OSHUG community, and past >> speaker on security, homebrew projects and the Open Compute Project. >> In his Engineer role at Atsign he?s been involved in bringing RISC-V >> support for the Dart programming language into Docker official images. >> That?s given him a front row seat to how hardware and software have >> been developing over the past few years. Chris contributes to the >> broader community as a Google Developer Expert (GDE), InfoQ editor and >> co-host for the Tech Debt Burndown Podcast. >> >> ? Emulating the great machines of the past! >> >> There are now many excellent software emulations of early systems such >> as the PDP-8 and PDP-11 and as such they work well and support the >> various operating systems and applications. >> >> However, the excitement of operating the functioning front panel >> cannot be beaten! The range of DEC machines now available as >> functioning replicas will be shown and the techniques used to emulate >> both the software and hardware will be discussed. >> >> * Kevin Murrell is a retired software industry entrepreneur. He >> co-founded The National Museum of Computing with Tony Sale in 2005. He >> is the author of several books on the history of British computing and >> is an authority on early home computing. He is a committee member of >> the Computer Conservation Society and serves as editor of its journal, >> Resurrection. >> >> ? This is Not a Chip Butty, but bare silicon needs COB and a PCB, Dave >> >> Getting custom, open-source silicon back from the foundry is amazing, >> but a piece of silicon won't do much without connectivity. This talk >> offers a look into the practicalities of getting bare, open-source die >> connected to the PCB using Chip-on-Board (COB) wire bonding. >> >> While COB is a standard industry process, most factories expect >> automated, high-volume runs. When you turn up with an artisanal batch >> of assorted chips, things can get somewhat experimental. >> >> We will dive into how multiple Open Source ASIC project die were >> bonded to boards, the physical realities of the assembly process, and >> the fun to be had along the way. >> >> * Stuart Childs has spent the last decade working directly with >> factories in China, acting as the glue between the clever people and >> the manufacturing hubs that can make the things. Before diving into >> industrial production, Stuart was a member of the UK Maker Belt and >> wider UK Maker scene, increasingly bringing colour, silliness, and fun >> to the workplace. As a member of Tiny Tapeout and a long-term >> Wuthering Bytes attendee, he combines a passion for open-source >> hardware with the joy of working with others on unusual projects. >> >> ? A Multi-Function Instrument for School Physics Experiments >> >> An overview of school physics apparatus shows that much can be traced >> back to the work of the Nuffield Science Teaching Project in the >> 1960?s. Modern equivalents, having no other commercial use, are >> expensive. Off-the-Shelf commercial instruments are a poor match to >> educational requirements. Solutions using general purpose computers >> raise many IT support problems in a school environment. >> >> The multi-function instrument can replace several separate >> instruments. The emphasis is on suitability for the school >> environment: robust, simple to use, and lacking extra features that >> serve little pedagogical purpose. >> >> The objective is to produce an open hardware and software design that >> can be easily reproduced by others or form the basis for alternative >> variations. >> >> * Alan Bernard. After an apprenticeship with Thorn Electrical >> Industries leading to a degree in Electrical and Electronic >> Engineering at Bradford University Alan joined a small company where >> he designed nucleonic equipment, electronic organs, and apparatus for >> the Nuffield Physics Project. After running his own business >> manufacturing instrumentation for the wire-drawing industry he joined >> ITT developing liquid crystal displays. This led to him designing >> Public Information Displays for airports, bus and train stations, and >> on-board trains. Finally, he worked as a physics technician at >> Bradford Grammar School; a position he held for 12 years before >> retiring at age 72. >> >> ? Powering Your Home With Your Car >> >> How to utilise your very own Big Battery for '1/10th' the price of a >> "Home Power Wall". (The car comes for free!) >> >> This adventure takes low cost overnight ?off-peak? electricity, and >> the occasionally available zero cost excess grid electricity. By >> utilising the woefully underutilised battery in my EV, it is possible >> to then power a home each day with those low cost electrons to avoid >> the much more expensive non-off-peak electrons. Except? There are no >> UK agreed standards for doing that yet. Here is a personal >> all-Open-Source story for economically connecting a home to a Big >> Battery on wheels. >> >> * Martin Lomas has followed the world of computers since the >> beginnings of the home computer revolution in the UK. He gained >> degrees in Computer Engineering and subsequently Computer Systems >> Design. At Fujitsu he worked on, at the time, the world?s largest >> Application Specific Integrated Circuit ICs. He moved back to academia >> to develop cutting edge Scanning Probe Microscopes for biophysical >> investigations at the dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University >> of Nottingham, gaining his PhD. >> >> Martin then supported a multinational pharma research company for all >> their open source server and computing needs, becoming their IT >> Director. Since then, he works for himself. More recently, he is >> considering his next career adventure! Especially, he enjoys making >> new things and making them work well! He also enjoys hiking, beer, >> wine, cheese, and the world of Linux. His interests span across >> technology and science, and computing and the ongoing old/new >> phenomenon now marketed as ?AI?. >> >> ? FreeCAD Improvements and Exciting Uses >> >> FreeCAD, the open source CAD package for mechanical engineering and >> more, has had heaps of development in the last few years. Whilst we >> aren't quite at the "replace Catia or Solidworks in all sectors" >> tipping point yet we have lots more users, a better (but by no means >> perfect) user experience and we are beginning to see FreeCAD getting >> used in all manner of cutting edge use cases. >> >> In this talk Jo will quickly run through some of the developments and >> explore why it might be worth people who previously didn't enjoy >> FreeCAD to take another look. We'll blast by some high end >> applications of FreeCAD such as computational fluid dynamics, multi >> body dynamics and FEA and also squint at some interesting projects >> undertaken by organisations you might not at first glance think would >> use FreeCAD! I'll throw in some fun aspects of the community >> development and talk about FreeCAD's upcoming (but hopefully delivered >> by the time this talk takes place) first round of their global open >> source hardware design competition! >> >> * Jo Hinchliffe is a freelance technical writer and community >> developer working across a variety of technical sectors with a passion >> for open source. >> >> Jo is the author of FreeCAD for Makers, a well received book from the >> Raspberry Pi Press covering beginner and intermediate level usage of >> FreeCAD. Also on the Raspberry Pi Press Jo has authored ?Design an >> RP2040 Board with KiCad? which not only covers the basics of designing >> a PCB for fabrication, it goes on to cover automated assembly >> services, virtual warehousing and more. >> >> In article form Jo has written for many platforms, these include >> multiple STEM/STEAM articles for the American magazine Kids Code and >> Computer Science, these articles range from tutorials on micro >> controller projects, to fun maths activities and articles highlighting >> historic STEM figures. For the Raspberry Pi Press magazines Jo has >> written dozens of articles and features. Often his own projects, these >> have included a wide variety of subjects, wooden boat building, an >> open source carbon fibre filament winding machine, watch making, cable >> lacing in space, and much more. A somewhat complete list of articles >> can be found here. Toms Hardware, Jo has written numerous articles for >> Toms Hardware including a series on basic use of the Linux terminal. >> >> Finally when Jo isn?t writing for his paid clients he can currently be >> found writing, designing and publishing a free and open source >> magazine of his own called SOURCE. >> >> ? Open Wetware: How a bioart project inspired a biopunk future >> >> This talk will summarise the current trend in biodesign/art to open >> source 'recipes', through the lens of a recent art project >> Phycologica, which attempted rather foolishly to reimagine a LCD >> screen made out of algae. >> >> While I wouldn't recommend anyone else reproducing our design- it >> would just lead to more ewaste- I believe there was still great value >> in the process of doing this project and in sparking imagination. This >> was never intended to be rebuilt in its current form. >> >> Through preparing this talk I would like to explore, while documenting >> the important bits of the project - the recipes, the care guide, the >> ethics, what is the value of documenting a project like this? I am >> also interested in exploring the documentation itself as an artwork- >> beyond the original piece. >> >> We won't reach a more technologically sustainable (solarpunk) future >> without community collaboration and sharing- the exact ethos of open >> source hardware. Therefore I propose that the goal of documenting this >> project will be to collate a library of alternative, bio appropriate >> technologies that are more aligned to a sustainable society that we >> want to see in the future. >> >> Jon Somerscales is an Experience Designer & Interaction Prototyper >> researching novel interactions and regenerative design that could >> highlight better outcomes for us and the planet through a critical >> making practice. His interactive design work spans digital software, >> services and installations. >> >> Studio Blue Green's Phycologica artwork is a collaboration between Jon >> Somerscales and Andrew Stone. Studio Blue Green aims to Amplify and >> recenter living systems through experience design and creative >> technology, creating impactful, planet-first interventions, >> encouraging environmental stewardship and ecological consciousness. >> >> // Compered by: Kevin Murrell // >> >> Swap Table >> >> Due to popular demand there will once again be a swap table at Open >> Source Hardware Camp, where delegates can bring along surplus >> components, dev kits and (smaller!) unfinished projects to give away >> and swap with others. >> >> Please note that larger items such as VDUs and printers must not be >> brought along and any unwanted items must be removed at the end of the >> day! >> >> ITEMS ARE PROVIDED ?AS IS? AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, >> INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF >> MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. >> IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ORGANISERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, >> INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, >> BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS >> OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND >> ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR >> TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE >> USE OF ITEMS RECEIVED, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH >> DAMAGE. >> >> *** Sunday :: Workshops *** >> >> ? Practising the use of LLMs with open source electronics projects >> >> This workshop will explore some hands-on use of some of the emerging >> tools, LLMs and strategies for using them in the engineering space. We >> will play with some of what is already available, and explore exciting >> possibilities on the horizon. We will also discuss common challenges >> that we need to overcome including pitfalls, risks and limitations. >> So, if you are a practicing hardware/firmware engineer, or hobbyist, >> this workshop gives you an opportunity to tinker with the OSHW future. >> >> Participants should bring: >> >> - A laptop. >> >> Hosted by: Alan Wood. >> >> ? Retro Computing Simulation >> >> Some of us hanker after an original minicomputer with all the switches >> and lights but no longer have access to the hardware. Indeed, few of >> us have the space required to recreate installations from those early >> days when disk drives were the size of washing machines! >> >> There are excellent software emulations of many of these early >> systems, but the excitement of operating a functioning front panel >> cannot be beaten! >> >> We expect to be demonstrating the following running replicas: >> >> - Wireless World Computer >> - Raspberry Pi based PDP-1, PDP-8, PDP-11 and the PDP-10 >> - FPGA-based LGP-30 >> - FPGA-based PDP-8 >> - IMSAI 8080 >> >> We will show the systems running and welcome user interaction. So, get >> out the old CP/M handbook and the DEC Introduction to Programming and >> off we go! >> >> Participants should bring: >> >> - A laptop. >> >> Hosted by: Kevin Murrell. >> >> ? The Project Salon >> >> The project salon is part show and tell and part project clinic, which >> will provide an opportunity to discuss projects and share skills and >> experience with fellow OSHCamp delegates. For example, this might be >> showing off your latest creation, sharing details of a neat hack, or >> seeking advice on a particularly tricky problem which has brought your >> project to a standstill. >> >> Rod Moody will be bringing along Raftabar ? the autonomous robot which >> made its debut at OSHCamp 2024 ? and sharing details of numerous >> upgrades made over the past few years. >> >> Short presentations are welcome and if using slides these should be in >> PDF or OpenDocument Presentation format. >> >> Participants should optionally bring: >> >> - A project. Exercise common sense! E.g. nothing large or dangerous >> etc. >> - Slides (PDF or OpenDocument Presentation format). >> >> Hosted by: >> >> * Andy Bennett. >> >> * Rod Moody was born in 1940 and at 15 years of age started an >> electrical engineering apprenticeship with Dale Electric, a >> manufacturer of diesel-engine driven electrical generators ranging >> from a few kW to a few MW, for both base load and standby >> applications. Through day release and night class he gained an HNC in >> electrical engineering, and at the age of 19 was appointed to the post >> of Test Department Manager. He went on to become Electrical >> Engineering Manager responsible for running the design office and >> designing control systems using relay logic, and following which >> Engineering Director. >> >> In 1992, at 52 years of age Rod joined Deep Sea Electronics as their >> Engineering Manager. DSE were quite small at that time and using >> through-hole technology, but with improved product design and the >> introduction of SMT production they grew very rapidly over the eight >> years before Rod retired in 2000 at 60 years of age. DSE is now the >> leading supplier of microprocessor based controllers to generating set >> manufacturing companies worldwide. >> >> In retirement Rod spends most of his spare time with projects >> involving mechanics, electronics, and software using the Raspberry Pi >> and Arduino microcontrollers. He continues to be a keen gardener as he >> has been from an early age, has a keen interest in all aspects of >> science and engineering, and is currently leader of the York U3A >> Science & Engineering World group. >> >> >> NOTE: >> >> There are separate tickets for Saturday and Sunday. >> A light lunch will be provided each day. >> Please aim to arrive between 09:00 and 09:15 on the Saturday as the >> event will start at 09:20 prompt. -- andyjpb at ashurst.eu.org http://www.ashurst.eu.org/ http://www.gonumber.com/andyjpb 0x7EBA75FF