Mecha Comet is a modular open source handheld computer that reminds me of the Indian PDA that may have inspired the iPhone
- The Comet is a mix of Raspberry Pi, Simputer and Project Ara with a touch of Game Boy
- The standout feature is the use of hardware extensions that can be quickly removed
- It will be launched very soon on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter
Developed in India in the early 2000s, the Simputer(Simple Inexpensive Mobile computer) was a groundbreaking portable Linux computer that many people believe inspired the Apple iPhone (and by extension Android devices). It had a touch interface, stylus input with handwriting recognition, an accelerometer and a USB master port – all innovations that were ahead of their time.
I mention the Simputer now because I’m reminded of it when I look at a brand new modular handheld computer that will soon debut on Kickstarter – the Mecha comet is a portable Linux device aimed at developers, makers and tinkerers.
The device runs on open source software and features a magnetic click interface for interchangeable extensions, which currently include a game controller, keyboard and GPIO breakout board. Users can also design and build their own extensions using Mecha’s open-source design files and community support.
Mechanix operating system
The Mecha Comet is powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
The 3.4-inch IPS LED touchscreen provides a compact yet functional display for a variety of tasks. Connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5.0 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, two USB 2.0 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The device also includes a 5 MP camera with autofocus, dual digital microphones and an HD speaker.
The Comet runs on Mechanix OS, a Debian-based operating system, and is compatible with more than 60,000 software packages from the Debian repository. Users can also port other Linux distributions. Mechanix Shell, built in Rust, supports GPU rendering on Wayland.
Mecha sees the Comet as a versatile tool for various applications, such as a DIY Linux phone, drone launch pad, AI assistant, nanosatellite controller, car diagnostics tool, radio transceiver, DIY robot controller and even a Tricorder inspired on Star Trek. However, some of these ideas may just be wishful thinking.
Measuring 150mm x 73.55mm x 16mm and weighing 220g, the Comet has a 3000mAh battery that charges via USB-C and features a gyroscope, real-time clock (RTC) and analog-to- digital converter (ADC) for extensive project possibilities. Security features include a Trust Anchor with CC EAL 6+ certification and accelerated cryptographic capabilities.
Kickstarter supporters will be able to take advantage of super early bird rewards when the project goes live soon, with prices for the Mecha Comet starting at $159.