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 lifespan 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
modular mobile
phone patents.
2012

2011

Partnership between Phonebloks and Motorola

was announced, Project ARA.
MAKEwithMOTO tour took off

Initial exploration
started by Google.
Phonebloks initiative
began on December

2013

2014

Motorola was sold to Lenovo.

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 higherquality 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 yaxis (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
Paradox of choice
Overhead
(size/weight)
Module cost
Security of data
Developer
Regulatory
certification
Module market

User
Phone makers
Value of
customization
Module ecosystem
TBD
Developer
Initial support
MDK
Feedback welcomed

Main Issues / Possible Solutions

Connectors
P2P module
communication
Device driver
requirements (new
drivers, different
kernels, security)

EPMs, Capacitive MPHY

UniPro
Generic class
drivers

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-mobilepatents/
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-aramodular-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-howgoogles-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/electropermanentmagnets-programmable-magnets-zero-static-powerconsumption-enable-s