PocKit Modular PC: A Universal System Builder for DIY Projects and More

[zakiyatasnim]

Modular technology has advantages, provided it is assembled with high quality. The main advantage is that you don't have to change the device every 2-3 years. If you don't like a certain unit, upgrade it and that's it. We're talking about the new modular PC RosKit. The miniature device is called a "Lego computer" based on Raspberry Pi.



Unfortunately, developing modular devices is not the easiest and, most likely, not the most profitable business. This can be judged by the large number of modular smartphone and laptop projects that were rumored and then suddenly closed. The most striking example is Project Ara from Google. But the idea of ​​creating a modular device is alive. And the new RosKit PC confirms this.

What kind of device is this?
The modular computer has been in development since 2019. It's been a long time, but the team is small, plus it's still a non-commercial project. But the prototype is already ready.



Not only the base was presented, but also a lot of modules, more than a dozen in total. The team did not come to the current design right away - they had to sort through a lot of options. But what is there now looks very good. And yes, the device has a prototype with its own "brains", but there is also a version where the role of the computing center is performed by a miniature Raspberry Pi PC.

What about modules?
The advantage of the system is that it can be used as a desktop PC, and as a handheld device — you can configure the device quite boldly. The case is printed on a 3D printer, so it is easy to replace. The top panel lithuania number data displays contacts to which the modules are attached using a magnetic lock — they simply “snap on”. And the modules are ready, these are not just fantasies of the project authors. At the moment, the following modular elements are ready:

Fan.
HDMI.
USB ports.
Cell.
SD card reader.
Audio ports.
Temperature sensor.
LCD display.


Another advantage is that you can conduct experiments with the device, which the project authors called “rapid hardware prototyping.” If you have the experience and knowledge, you can try adapting third-party components for the modules — for example, a camera or a smartphone screen.



Each module is a separate board, placed in a 3D-printed case. A system of magnets holds it all securely: if the modules fall, they should not fly apart. But, of course, the work is not finished yet - the authors of the project plan to create more modules.