Below is a statement from Carl that was posted a few hours ago regarding open sourcing some of the HDZero software and hardware designs...

Source (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hdzero/p...4470823187

Carl Zhou Wrote:HDZero ♥ Open Source

It is my intention to open source the software and hardware designs needed to create and support the HDZero digital FPV system - the only exception to this is the ASIC design itself.

I have benefited greatly from open-source code over my career, and I want to give back to the open-source community as much as I can. HDZero will grow and thrive with contributions from developers around the world. Manufacturers of HDZero VTX’s and receivers can feel confident that they can support and extend the code and hardware long into the future.

This was always part of my plan. First, I had to demonstrate to the market that the technology was viable. Soon we will start the next chapter of HDZero - to become an open and extendable standard for digital FPV that replaces the ubiquitous Richwave analog chip.

However, please be patient with me. I first need to finish the HDZero goggle and software. Next, I want to develop an open-source community not unlike Betaflight or ELRS around HDZero so that the project will be well maintained and vtx’s and receivers will all be interoperable.

Thank you,
Carl

Nice!

So are they willing to supply the ASICs to third parties, if they're open-sourcing the hardware designs? That would be awesome. We'd be in with a chance of getting a freestyle SKU that hits a bit closer to our needs.

Regardless, more code out there is always good. I wonder what license it'll be released under?

I assumed the HDZERO ASIC was always available for 3rd party developers.

They are probably opening up the API’s that interacts with the HDZERO ASIC.

Let’s see how this space pans out.

Cool, looking forward to the Axisflying Thor platinum housing edition vtx for $399.

(24-Apr-2022, 03:09 PM)sevro Wrote: Cool, looking forward to the Axisflying Thor platinum housing edition vtx for $399.

With a module the size of the goggles

I think this is probably a good move for both the community and divimath. Will result in more options and lower prices and divimath would rather just make chips.

That they only want to make chips was stated from the beginning. And they won't disclose their hardware.
Its probably the software side in the VRX for the most part. So someone could make a fancy new OSD and stuff like that. I don't see any way this could change the video side in any way. Maybe someone can also change the way breakup is handled, but from my point of view, this will not happen. This is probably baked into the firmware of the ASIC.

Well you can never know for sure till some smart open source development community takes over a project.

I want to use ELRS as an example with RC links and giving TBS and IRC a run for their money. But but but .....

But HDZero is different because we have not seen many digital video systems in our FPV space.

And this is not a chipset people are familiar with nor does anyone have an idea how open and friendly the APIs actually are.

One important improvement that can help with image quality is probably some smart way of doing on HDZero what Rapidfire or Fusion does with blending images and sync pulse reconstruction magic.

I know this is very analog related magic but there must be something similar for digital video feeds.

At the moment it simply mixes the content of all 4 antennas based on data integrity which means if 2 antennas are bad then the entire image is downgraded. (Something along these lines as there was a lot going on in the HDZero Discord chat at the time this concept of what HDZero does with the 4 antennas was being discussed).

Only time will tell.

100$ vrx and 25$vtx from happymodel?? That would be legendary, even if the qc is happymodel levels...

Getting the price down to $25 per vtx will require the ASIC costs to be very low which at this stage will be fairly tough for HDZERO.

Ian has posted the following video showing clips of the interview he did with Carl over the weekend which are specifically around the open sourcing of HDZero and partnering with manufacturers. It's really interesting to hear what the future plans are regarding that direct from the man himself.

The full 1+ hour long interview video containing all the other stuff they also discussed will be coming in a few days.

EDIT: The full 1 hour 13 minute interview is now HERE.

(29-Apr-2022, 09:01 PM)kafie1980 Wrote: Getting the price down to $25 per vtx will require the ASIC costs to be very low which at this stage will be fairly tough for HDZERO.

Or just some serious happymodel jankyness