TeleKIT
Designed and developped in Fablab Zoi
Q is a freedom activist who loves exploring new technologies with the purpose to make everyone free to choose how to communicate, how to consume and live without any dependence on centralized power!
Q is not from England and we are not talking about the director of the research and development department of the MI6. Quiliro Ordonez is Ecuadorian and a « citizen of the World ».
Quiliro’s project is « TeleKIT », a decentralized physical and numerical network with local nodes of laser transmitter/receptor to communicate and build the « True InterNet »
It is a replica of the Tetrapolis from the RONJA project started in 2006. « Ronja is a free technology project for reliable optical data links with a current range of 1.4km and a communication speed of 10Mbps full duplex »
Technologies used
3D printing Laser cutting Computing & softwares Electronics Traditional toolsWhat’s the project story?
As a freedom activist, I took part in many free initiatives. As an example, I have on-boarded the Free Software Foundation of Latin America to protect users’ right and promote the use of free software since 2009. My actions make me meeting inspiring people like Richard Stallman who met Correa, the Ecuadorian president, and influenced its digital policy.
But to build an autonomous community, it is not enough to use free software. The hardware should also be free and decentralized.
In that logic, I decided to build my own free internet network dedicated to autonomous communities.
In 2013, I met the RONJA project whose purpose is quite the same as mine. I decided to learn this technology to improve it and then use it in real life for isolated communities. Basically, the Ronja project is a technology that allows transmitting data with a speed of 10Mb/s with a range of 1,4km. But each transmitter/receptor costs 100 dollars. My goal was to make the same system at low cost.
Know more technical details about my project on my FabAcademy webpage
As I didn’t know anything about electronics, I had to find a place and help to achieve my project. Luckily, Luis, a friend of mine, who I was helping to introduce free software in the softacademy program he was creating, told me about the FabLab ZOI.
How the workshop was useful to you?
At FabLab ZOI I find Roberto, Alex, Juan Felipe and Fabio, very talented people, who helped me during my whole project and also the possibility to do the FabAcademy to learn all the knowledge required to use machines, build circuits, etc. I also thanks the FabLab for its financial support needed for this training.
what’s the project’s greatest success so far?
Today, the system works to send binaries data!
What’s your greatest challenge(s) & lesson(s) so far?
The electronic circuits have to be perfectly designed and produced. With big machines, you can accept some offsettings but with small CNC ones, it is not acceptable. The test and learn cycle was even more relevant to improve the circuit manufacturing.
What’s your vision for the project & next steps?
The next steps will be : * Designing a graphic interface * Converting data into binaries ones to send complex information * Improving technology to send more data
If anyone has knowledge in electronics and data transmission, I am really open to welcome new members in my team ! Let’s give freedom to communities again!