The advanced and customizable sensor-based solution meets well-defined standard for open-source compliance.
LONDON, UK, April 13, 2023 – RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, today announced that its DesignSpark Environmental Sensor Development Kit (ESDK) has been certified by the Open-Source Hardware Association (OSHWA). Open-source hardware is a term for physical objects whose design has been released to allow anyone to make, modify, distribute, and use.
The aims of the OSHWA are to foster technological knowledge and encourage research that is accessible, collaborative, and respects user freedom. The OSHWA certification awarded to RS DesignSpark’s ESDK recognizes that the kit meets a uniform and well-defined standard for open-source compliance. The certification provides users with the knowledge that the definition of open-source hardware used by a specific project matches the community definition of open-source hardware. It also creates a legally binding and unique logo that can only be used by projects that comply with the community definition.
Developed as part of RS DesignSpark’s #ActivistEngineering campaign, the ESDK is an advanced open-source and cloud-connected platform that makes it easy to prototype custom sensor-based solutions. RS DesignSpark is a fast-growing online community for engineers that offers a suite of design tools, development kits, such as the ESDK, comprehensive 2D/3D and electronics part libraries, and a host of design resources including technical articles, projects, and community forums.
Use of the DesignSpark ESDK has supported DesignSpark members in designing projects such as the Breathe Better Bear and The Good Air Canary, two typical projects that have been developed based on the capabilities of the ESDK for air quality measurement. The ESDK can also be deployed in many other scenarios, including a host of IoT applications that have a need for a small Linux computer with an integrated touchscreen and GPS capability.
“RS and the DesignSpark team are delighted to have gained this certification from the OSHWA,” said Mike Bray, vice president of DesignSpark at RS. “Our newly certified open-source ESDK has energized the DesignSpark community to develop many innovative projects based on measurement of air quality around the globe. These projects are free to everyone and are designed to help deliver affordable solutions and make the planet more sustainable.”
Further information about the OSHWA is available at www.oshwa.org. Further details on the OSHWA certification process are available at certification.oshwa.org.
DesignSpark has made all the design project files for the ESDK available free of charge at https://github.com/DesignSparkRS/ESDK
RS Group
RS Group plc is a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building, and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 60,000 parcels a day.
We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2022 reported revenue of £2,554 million.
For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/.
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