Dec. 18, 2006 — The open-source movement responsible for software like Linux and Mozilla's Web browser, Firefox, is proving contagious: A German entrepreneur is applying the same approach to automobile design.
Former BMW employee Markus Merz, who now owns
an automobile consulting firm in Dingolfing, Germany, calls his project Oscar, shorthand for
Open Source Car.
The idea behind open source development is to allow anyone to copy, modify and redistribute ordinarily secret information about a technology without paying royalties to the original developers.
The project, which Merz calls his hobby, is bringing together
automobile engineers, designers and other experts on Web forums
to exchange ideas on how to improve mobility — specifically, car design.
The hope is that, unrestrained by patents and other conventional
restrictions such as profit margin, marketing and
technology, a community of experts will come up with fresh solutions.
"We are working in front of the computer to generate stuff that people
in front of a computer will use. It's boring," said Merz. "It would be
a great idea to combine the idea of open source with the idea of
hardware, and a car is hardware that is interesting."
A Web site serves as headquarters for the concept car.
Participants interact according to a few simple rules about performance specifications.
For example, the car will be about 14 feet long and 6 feet wide, and will have four doors. It will be powered by electricity and have a maximum speed of 90 mph.
Participants discuss their ideas on Web forums
organized by four main topics:
*integration, which includes design, package and distribution
*modules,
which includes discussion of the body, engine and safety
systems
*tools, which includes conversations about computer-aided
design tools and simulations
*and network, where participants discuss potential partnerships.
