Space Cube – the World's Smallest Linux PC 265
Barence writes "Meet the Space Cube — the world's smallest fully functional PC. Primarily designed for use in space, it somehow manages to cram a working PC with USB ports, card readers, audio outputs and proprietary interfaces into a tiny cube chassis measuring just two inches square. It runs a basic Linux front-end, which the blogger takes a look at, and there are some great photos of the device being loomed over by everyday objects like coffee mugs and cellphones. It has connections for controlling various electronics used by ESA, NASA and JAXA, but it will also apparently be for sale to the public soon, for use by amateur engineers and robotics clubs."
Smallest? (Score:5, Informative)
incorrect summary (Score:5, Informative)
The second line of the article states that it is one of the smallest computers in the world, not the smallest.
yp.
Re:Smallest? (Score:5, Insightful)
Maybe 2 years ago this might have been 'Wow!' - but with the likes of the Eee etc around - the appropriate response is 'Meh.'
Just some quick back of a fag packet calculation on the Eee put it at 9cm^3. Obviously, a lot more than this with its 5cm^3, but you do get
* a keyboard
* a screen
* 3 usb ports
* wireless ethernet
* mouse pad
* power
* loads more disk space
* 3 times the processor
* etc
all for 300 quid
Which if you got rid of would reduce the size right down to a lot less than 5cm^3.
No disrespect to the folks that put this thing together - and yes I would like one please - but... it's not rockin' my world.
Re:Smallest? (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course not. And it also doesn't help that the Space Cube, unlike the eeePC, is totally useless by itself.
It's wonderful to have a tiny computer, but if you need to slap on a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use it it's really not all that tiny, is it?
It also doesn't help that the real reason, in general (i.e., other than embedded computing environments) the reason people want small computers is portability, and this thing is hardly portable- sure, it's small and light, but given that it's totally useless on its own, that lack of size and weight is mostly irrelevant.
Even for use in space, I still think it's a waste of, well, space. Either you're going to connect it to a real computer for display and use (with that big monitor and keyboard) or you're not, and all those jacks are a waste of space.
Re:Smallest? (Score:4, Insightful)
Dont forget the power, the space cube requires a power source... while the eee does too long term, it can run for a length of time on it's battery.
Re:Smallest? (Score:2)
It might be useful if you don't need a computer while mobile, just in a few fixed locations. You could take something like this between work and home, for example, and plug it into peripherals at both ends.
Except that it's really slow. You would get better performance from a VM image running on a USB 16GB flash drive with 1GB reserved for saving state when suspending - plus you'd have 14GB more local storage space.
The only possible niche where I can see it being useful is for on-site tech support people. If they're being called out, they know that there's a computer at the far end, but it may not be working. With something like this, they can test peripherals and access online systems using the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and network at the far end. It might be useful in the future, if hotel rooms started to include monitors, keyboards and mice and you didn't trust the hotel systems enough to want to run a VM on their hardware.
Re:Smallest? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Smallest? (Score:3, Funny)
I don't think there are many spots on earth where the difference of size will make having such a small system affordable. Perhaps on the ISS but past that even NYC Where property is like (a blatenly wild guess with no facts other then by rumor) $1000 per square foot. There is no cost savings, and a normal rack mounted computer will offer better savings.
Re:Smallest? (Score:3, Informative)
I think i am closer [urbandigs.com]
Re:Smallest? (Score:2)
There's a reason they serve astronauts caviar- the cost of the caviar is pretty much irrelevant compared to the cost of launching it.
As it is, if the thing was designed for use in space- why didn't they cut off the ports during the design phase? Why leave them on so they could (possibly, I don't even know if they can) cut them off at a later date?
Re:Smallest? (Score:3, Informative)
Just some quick back of a fag packet calculation on the Eee put it at 9cm^3.
Isn't the Eee 22.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 3.5 cm? That looks like it comes out to almost 1300 cm^3. Even if my dimensions are wrong, I doubt your ability to fit a keyboard into 9cm without going to chording or something of that nature.
Re:Smallest? (Score:2)
Sorry, my bad. I didn't mean 9 cm cubed, I meant 9 cm cubed.
Space Wire (Score:2)
Don't forget it has a Spacewire [esa.int] interface.
I kindof found the bulky db15 connector on the side funny, but I guess you'd need some sort of adapter anyway. But if you had a lot of them you'd probably use a kvm and at that point you could move to a proprietary, thin, small, light connection.
Re:Smallest? (Score:5, Funny)
Just some quick back of a fag packet calculation
Please don't tell us what you used as a writing utensil.
Re:Smallest? (Score:5, Funny)
. No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
Re:Smallest? (Score:3, Interesting)
And then you have the Jack PC [chippc.com] that fits into an ordinary wall outlet box. (Round type, not the rectangular type)
Re:Smallest? (Score:4, Informative)
gumstix (Score:2)
Re:gumstix (Score:3, Informative)
Those two things would be nice to be able to get preconfigured for a beagleboard, and nothing I saw on their site hinted at it. Of course you can do it yoursself with an expansion board and soldering iron or usb ethernet, but that's bulkier. I'd buy a beagleboard now if I could get it with ethernet and a nice small case for cheap, but I can't find that anywhere so far. I'm sure someone will offer it soon enough.
Airport security (Score:4, Funny)
Would they let you pass with that in an airport?
Re:Airport security (Score:5, Funny)
Yes. Just paint it to look like this [thinkgeek.com].
Re:Airport security (Score:4, Insightful)
That'd be cool for far more than just airport security, I think that might just be the coolest casemod idea I've ever heard of.
Since a Rubik's cube is 3"x3"x3" [wikipedia.org], you could literally fit a shell that looked just like a standard Rubik's over it, and have removable squares for the ports....
The mind boggles at the coolness of that!
Re:Airport security (Score:2)
Nitpick: the measurements are not quite as large as 3"x3"x3". Your own link confirms my memory: "A standard cube measures approximately 2¼ inches (5.7 cm) on each side."
Re:Airport security (Score:3, Insightful)
These things are perfect for use in MITM attacks.
Re:Airport security (Score:2)
Yes but... (Score:5, Funny)
does it run... oh... it does? Awsome.
Re:Yes but... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Yes but... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Yes but... (Score:4, Funny)
Thanks for not letting us down.
Re:Yes but... (Score:3, Funny)
Carry on.
Re:Yes but... (Score:2)
I want one! I wish there was some way to plug it into my TV set though, no S-Video out =(
How does a cube... (Score:5, Funny)
...measure two inches square?
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2)
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2)
Re:How does a cube... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2)
Per side perhaps?
Slashdot editors are idiots, we already know that. Nitpicking is a hollow sport.
Re:How does a cube... (Score:5, Informative)
Quite simply, it's one of the smallest PCs in the world, with each side measuring around 2 square inches.
*Emphasis mine
Re:How does a cube... (Score:4, Funny)
each side
As if "each side" of a cube needs to be specified. Journalism trumps geometry.
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2, Informative)
!2 inches square (Score:4, Informative)
Each edge is 55mm long, or 2.16". So each side is 4.67 square inches. All together it is 10.1 cubic inches, which would be the appropriate measurement for a cube.
-Rick
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How does a cube... (Score:3, Funny)
And some of us don't need a calculator to figure out that 2 * 2 * 2 = 2.
And any calulator that multiplies 2 by itself and then multiplies the result by 2 and comes up with 2 as the answer is certainly a calculator which I don't need (except for entertainment value in limited situations).
Re:How does a cube... (Score:3, Interesting)
...measure two inches square?
Each face of the cube measures two inches square
I am Homer of Borg, prepare to be assim... mmmmm, donut!
I am a real cyborg [slashdot.org]. So is VP Dick Cheney. You will be assimilated. resistance is not only futile, when your time comes you will beg to join us.
Which is not even true (Score:5, Informative)
On http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2008/07/03/introducing-the-space-cube/ [pcpro.co.uk] (which is linked from the linked article) they mention that the thing is about 2x2x2 inches, so each side is about 4 square inches.
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2)
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2, Informative)
(Is there some convention for making a square root sign in ASCII?)
Could do x^(1/2) or x^0.5
Re:How does a cube... (Score:2)
sqrt(2), maybe?
The HTML entity is √, for another method.
too bad it's not available (Score:4, Interesting)
Too bad it's not available to the general public at the moment :(
Re:too bad it's not available (Score:5, Informative)
Actually this stuff IS available to the general public.
It's called the PC-104 formfactor and it's been around for decades. Hell I got a 386 with A2D inputs and digital in and outs as well as VGA, CF interface and audio interface in the basement that is slightly larger than that that I used for wearable Computing in the early 90's.
It's not new or special. It's standard industrial PC gear repackaged and sold with a "Ooooooh space technology" marketing twist.
Re:too bad it's not available (Score:3)
Another? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Another? (Score:5, Insightful)
It is enormously expensive to launch things into orbit. Making a smaller and lighter computer saves on launch costs, and the weight allowance can be used for other things. Then again, presumably you still have to launch a mouse and keyboard and VDU for this thing, so it's not quite as great a saving as it sounds...
Re:Another? (Score:5, Informative)
Then again, presumably you still have to launch a mouse and keyboard and VDU for this thing, so it's not quite as great a saving as it sounds...
Depends on its job. It could be a headless device for logging/collating/forwarding sensor data, controlling a robot, whatever.
Re:Another? (Score:5, Informative)
Not necessarily. You could (for example) have them control all kinds of things with no peripherals attached for most of the time (that is, except in the case when a problem needs to be diagnosed).
In case of a problem if there's need for diagnostics, you can then plug some small screen+keyboard and you're set to go.
They're running linux so they should be ideal for monitoring sensors and reporting, transmitting ping/heartbeat signals for any kinds of devices, for controlling hardware, basically for anything that can run autonomously.
Re:Another? (Score:5, Interesting)
What's the big deal with PC compatibility ? (Score:5, Insightful)
This thing is obviously aimed at special applications.
For these kind of things there are much better solutions than x86 chips. They are smaller, faster, cheaper and more economic than classic HW.
Take a look at TI's daVinci program, for example, or maybe some small Coldfire from Freescale or maybe some cool Arm from NXP etcetc.
Re:What's the big deal with PC compatibility ? (Score:4, Insightful)
I would think that the primary "big deal" would be programming talent.
Way back when, the government used proprietary, government-programmed operating systems and software for stuff, and it rarely worked and it was difficult to find programmers to maintain or update the software. This way, by using a processor that can run a well-known, well-liked, popular OS that has literally millions of enthusiastic programmers available, it shouldn't be difficult to get critical software written or maintained.
You also won't need to re-invent the wheel for common modules, and your programmers can therefore concentrate on the stuff that is unique to your application of the hardware.
Re:What's the big deal with PC compatibility ? (Score:3, Informative)
Apart from the inappropriate use of the 'PC' term, the article doesn't actually state what type of architecture the processor is.
This [dundee.ac.uk] far more interesting paper on it, states that it has a MIPS processor.
Re:What's the big deal with PC compatibility ? (Score:2)
We use Soekris [soekris.com] boxes all over the place because their power requirements are minimal, they can withstand harsh environments, they don't need cooling, they run x86 software, they're designed to run headless, and they don't take up much space. So even though you could buy a much more capable (speed- and expansion-wise) Wal-Mart PC for about the same price, the Soekris boxes still win out.
Plus, they're just neat.
Coincidence ?! (Score:2, Funny)
It's interesting how this articles follows the one about the NASA space virus (http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/27/1231224)
Radiation hardened? (Score:3, Interesting)
I appreciate that it's not meant for handling critical systems, but nevertheless, I wonder if its components are radiation hardened. In particular, what CPU has that thing got? Some sort of ARM?
And the RAM... is it SECDED?
wait what? (Score:2, Informative)
PC Pro is clueless. (Score:5, Interesting)
Or, less dramatically, gumstix [slashdot.org].
The spacecube is cute, I admit, I'd be amused to have one; but the notion of it being the smallest is silly.
Re:PC Pro is clueless. (Score:2)
Re:PC Pro is clueless. (Score:2)
If it came with a Weighted Companion Cube skin, I'd consider buying one just for the hell of it.
But can it run (Score:4, Funny)
the Gammima.AG worm? I hear that's popular in space nowadays
NOT a Linux PC. It's a little MIPS based system (Score:4, Informative)
This is Not a PC.
From the Manufacturer's web site, it runs a fairly standard MIPS SoC from NEC... a Vr5701. There is not x86 compatible CPU in there. Since it's MIPS, don't expect to just use RPM and install anything, and clearly it doesn't use RedHat. The OS might be derived from RedHat, but I suspect it's just bad journalism (everything Linux is RedHat, right?).
I'm not saying it's not cool, but it isn't a PC. And I think if you want a Space capable device, you'll have to deal with the radiation hardness yourself. www.gaisler.com has some perhaps more suitable chips that are rad hard (SPARC based).
Cubes from Space? (Score:4, Funny)
Imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these puppies! You might actually be able to run a GUI.
Re:Imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Imagine... (Score:2)
Ok, that was funnier than mine by a longshot. Proven objectively by the diet Mt Dew that shot through my nose when I read it.
$300 - $1500 price jump?! (Score:4, Insightful)
The biggest problem is that they're selling it for US$300+ in Japan, but the University wants to sell it for $1500+
Another good idea dying on the vine caused by greed.
Re:$300 - $1500 price jump?! (Score:2)
It's worse than you think. That second price wasn't in dollars. It was pounds. You're looking at $3000 for one of these from the University of Dundee. Better to get on a plane to Tokyo and ask around Akihabara , even with the round trip ticket you'll come out ahead and you'll be able to stop off in a maid cafe while you're there.
N810 (Score:2, Interesting)
How is this special? The Nokia N810 [wikipedia.org] has a faster processor and comes with GPS, wifi, keyboard and 640 x 480 screen. Storage space can be added to exceed that of the Space Cube.
Re:N810 (Score:2)
when did they downgrade the screen size on the Nokias?
My 770 has a 800X480 screen. that sucks if they reduced screen resolution on the newer ones.
Re:N810 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:N810 (Score:2)
Now around Jupiter you're pretty much out of luck, but there's no way NASA's ever using one of these guys on a deep space probe. Data rates are a bit worse than even a first gen iPhone :^)
Re:N810 (Score:2)
It's just too bad they don't have wired ethernet or video out.
Neither does the MacBook Air. Not designed to for that matter.
How About *Cheapest*? (Score:2)
That device is $325. How about a $50 Linux PC that might not be the smallest, but is still smaller than a notebook, runs at least as fast as a P3/500MHz, has at least one each USB and PCI (but maybe no onboard VGA), and runs fanless?
Imagine . . . (Score:2, Interesting)
Buy a bunch of them, pack them into a suitcase with some laptop batteries, Portable Cluster.
Re:Imagine . . . (Score:2)
Yes, and because the CPUs are so slow, you could just cluster the laptops that the batteries came from and get better performance from the same size suitcase.
Re:Imagine . . . (Score:2)
Buy a bunch of them, pack them into a suitcase with some laptop batteries, Portable Cluster.
I could only imagine how an airport would react to that apparatus.
It makes sense! (Score:4, Funny)
Who'd a thunk that the Borg would have such humble beginnings?
I have to say, it does explain their relative ease of Assimilation...
Product details (Score:2)
Further details on the Space Cube see the translated product page [yahoo.com] (original page [shimafuji.co.jp]). To save you clicking on the link:
Flash Memory: VR 5,701,200 MHz/250MHz/300MHz
Flash Memory: 16M byte
DRAM I/F: DDR SDRAM 64M byte
Input/output: IEEE1355 (SpaceWire), RTC and CF (True IDE), XGA (1024×768), USB1.1 and LAN (100BASE), Audio (Stereo) input/output RS232C and JTAG I/F (for debugging)
Power source: +5V
External size: 52mmx52mmx55mm (the spine is excluded)
Re:Product details (Score:3, Interesting)
Note the copyright of 2005-2006. I saw these ages ago. Not really news, but still a neat gadget. Having a PC this small means you can put it in places where you might not normally have one, providing it has the power for the application. I'm sure it could be good in a car for audio and assorted data logging.
You can get something more powerful for less money, but sometimes size and power consumption will be the main factors.
Radhard? (Score:3, Insightful)
If this thing is meant to be going into space doesn't it need to be using radiation hardened components?
TFA states the cost is likely to be around GBP1500, that along with the size and specs of it makes me wonder if they're using commercial grade components in there. Aren't radiation hardened componentes generally around 10 years behind standard PC's? In other words is this thing actually going to be of any use in space or is is just some wierd marketing gimmick?
Wow (Score:3)
I have a new record minium time required for going from "not knowing something is available" to "wanting something badly."
Not the smallest? (Score:2)
Re:Not the smallest? (Score:2)
Gumstix [gumstix.com] are tiny 386-compatible boards
Where did you get the idea that XScale chips were 386-compatible? Unless this is a very loose definition, meaning 'able to run a userspace 386 emulator.'
When spacecube meets timecube. (Score:2)
When spacecuube meets timecube, we're off to the 8th dimension for a hell of a party!
Retro-future (Score:2)
Sounds like someone hasn't been watching closely. Doesn't he know that starships are principally operated by wrought-iron wheels and analog needle gauges?
Re:awesome (Score:2)
Re:awesome (Score:2)
Nah. If you're going to drop $3,000 you're probably going to want the gaming rig.
An Eee, Beagle Board, Gumstix, or a Pandora will set you back a lot less.
Re:awesome (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:awesome (Score:2)
Too bad the Beagle board still doesn't have enough RAM to be really useful. I'd really like to replace the p3 I have for web surfing and music playing in the living room with something embedded. But good luck running Firefox in 128mb ram.
Still a neat unit for less RAM intensive applications though.
Re:Dimensions, anybody? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dimensions, anybody? (Score:5, Funny)
Not Space Cube (Score:4, Funny)
Dumbass, its a "Space Cube". It should be measured in the fourth dimension as 2 square inches/sec.
No, that would make it a "Time Cube" [timecube.com], and that would be a Bad Thing.
Re:Dimensions, anybody? (Score:2)
Re:Transformer in the cube? (Score:2)
It's got a "5V in" socket... so it definitely needs an external power pack. Of course there'll still be a bunch of regulators inside.