Project Ara is a Google initiative to create an open hardware platform for modular smartphones, allowing users to customize and upgrade components like displays, batteries, and keyboards. Led by Paul Eremenko, the project utilizes an endoskeleton design for module attachment and communication through technologies like Unipro and capacitive M-PHY. The first model is expected to launch in January 2015, with an estimated price of around $50, aiming to revolutionize smartphone customization and longevity.

1. PROJECT ARA
Building the Lego of Smartphones

2. OVERVIEW
 PROJECT ARA is the codename for an initiative by Google that aims to
develop an open hardware platform for creating highly modular
smartphones.
 The platform will include a structural frame that holds smartphone
modules of the owner's choice, such as a display, keyboard or an extra
battery.
 It would allow users to swap out malfunctioning modules or upgrade
individual modules as innovations emerge.
 The first model of the modular phone is scheduled to be released in
January 2015.

3. What is it ?
Who is doing ?

4.  The project was originally headed by the
Advanced Technologies and Projects team
within Motorola Mobility while it was a
subsidiary of Google.
 Project Ara was developed and is led by Paul
Eremenko .
 The concept is a simple one –– you buy a
basic model Ara phone and all the bits can be
pulled off and swapped as you see fit.
 You'll be able to buy the modules through
Google's dedicated store just like Google Play
for apps.
 The modules can be anything like memory,
display panels, physical keyboards, sensors
and scanners, ports, modems and wireless
modules, and much, much more.

6. How It Works ?
Project Ara has mainly two core
components:
 Endoskeletons
 Module

7. Endoskeletons
• Endoskeleton consists of network circuits
and interfaces for modules.
• Electro-permanent magnets used to
attach modules.
• Emerging standard “UniPro” for
communication.
• Endoskeleton has slots of varying sizes.
• Made from aluminium.
• Comes in three sizes: mini; medium;
jumbo.
• Water and dust-proof.

8. Modules
• Modules can be anything that users can think of
battery, speaker, camera etc
• They can be developed by anyone; 3D-printed on
demand, used, replaced and even re-sold
ensuring your phone is completely made for each
user.
• Module development is open-source and there is
a toolkit provided to help developers understand
the hierarchy of functions and how components
can be integrated.
• Independent & interchangeable and can be
swapped between different phones.

9. Technologies in Project Ara
There will be three technologies that will make Project
Ara work :
UniPro
Capacitive M-PHY
Electropermanent Magnets

10. UniPro
 UniPro is a high speed internet protocol that project ARA uses to allow its modules
to speak to each other.
 They share a common low level language for communicating and building a
network.
 Project ARA is tapping into the latest UniPRO 1.6 SPEC which offer high -
bandwidth, and low power connections between the modules.
 The UniPro Protocol has been in development for several years as a way to build a
standard for mobile phone accessories – think of it like USB protocol, but
optimized for mobile.

11. Capacitive M-PHY
 Even though modules know ho to connect to each other, they need a way to
physically connect to the Endo. They do this through a new technology Capacitive
M-PHY.
 A physical layer spec which is developed by MIPI alliance and made to works with
UniPro.
 For project ARA, M-PHY is a capacitive interface, which means that the points
won’t be worn down over time from swapping modules in and out of the phone.
 M-PHY is requiring less pins and providing more bandwidth per pin with
improved power efficiency.

12. Electropermanent Magnets
 Electropermanent magnets are used for affixing the modules in place in the
‘ENDO’.
 Normal Electromagnets magnetize depending on if current is running through
them that would be a battery drain but Electropermanent magnets only use
current to flip magnetization on and off.
 It is able to retain its magnetized state without draining additional power.
 The hardware components will be held in place by electro-permanent magnets
– meaning that users will be able to lock or unlock them from the
endoskeleton using an app on the phone.

14. Advantages
 Phone is very cheap, may be around $50.
 You only buy the features that you want.
 Your phone could last indefinitely.
 Repairs are easier and cheaper.
 You could buy two versions of your phone.
 Modules can have multiple functions.
 Large pool of modules from which required one can
be selected.
 Support specialization.
 Longer battery.

15. Disadvantages
 Size and weight of the phone
 Testing issues might be there
 Design
 It will be bigger and heavier than the standard phone
 Unavailability of required modules initially
 Certain combinations won’t work
 The connections are bound to cause problem
 It won’t be optimised

16. Future Scope
According to Time’s report, Ara will come in three size variants at first; “mini, medium and
jumbo”, which will cover all currently popular sizes from compact to phablet.
Advanced 3D-printing techniques will allow users to create their own personalised textures for
each module, or embed an image into the plastic substrate of the module itself.
The project will be leaning on third party developers to create and invent different modules
for the Ara phone (MDK), with Google producing only the "Endo", or hardware frame. There
will be demand for module developers.
First Ara model will cost around $50.
Project Ara will definitely be the next, and could well be the most important.

17. REFERENCES
o http://www.projectara.com
o http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/15/5615880/building-blocks-how-
project-ara-is-reinventing-the-smartphone
o http://www.stuff.tv/features/google-project-ara-last-smartphone
o http://time.com/10115/google-project-ara-modular-smartphone/
o http://www.modularphonesforum.com/news/history-of-project-ara-
and-modular-phones-market-pilot-in-puerto-rico-359/

18. For more information on Project Ara :-
Either Google
Or, Ask
Or, Bing
Thank You