Project ARA

Exploration of modular phones

Diana Naranjo Pomalaya
MAC0463/5743 - Computao
Mvel
Introduction

Project ARAs concept

became popular because of
Phonebloks

Source: https://phonebloks.com/en (jun 2014)

Goal
Reduce production of electronic waste and expand life-
span 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 Partnership between Phonebloks and Motorola
modular mobile was announced, Project ARA.
phone patents. MAKEwithMOTO tour took off
2012 2014

Initial exploration Motorola was sold to Lenovo.

2011
started by Google.
Phonebloks initiative
began on December
2013
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 higher-
quality 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 ARAs 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 y-
axis (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 User
Paradox of choice Phone makers
Overhead Value of
(size/weight) customization
Module cost Module ecosystem
Security of data TBD
Developer Developer
Regulatory Initial support
certification MDK
Feedback welcomed
Module market
Main Issues / Possible Solutions
Connectors EPMs, Capacitive M-
P2P module PHY
communication UniPro
Device driver Generic class
requirements (new drivers
drivers, different
kernels, security)
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 prototypes 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
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-mobile-
patents/
THUNDERCLAP.INC. Thundeclap. 2012 https://www.
thunderclap.it/en
MCCRACKEN, Harry. Project Ara: Inside Googles
Bold Gambit to Make Smartphones Modular.
26/02/2014. http://time.com/10115/google-project-ara-
modular-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
PREZ, Alex. Smartphone modular Xiaomi Magic
Cube. 10/10/2013. http://www.movileschinos.
eu/noticias/xiaomi-magic-cube/
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-how-
googles-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/electropermanent-
magnets-programmable-magnets-zero-static-power-
consumption-enable-s