Precursor is an open hardware development platform for secure, mobile
computation and communication. This pocket-sized device accommodates a
built-in display, a physical keyboard, and an internal battery while
remaining smaller and lighter than the average smartphone. Precursor
was built for use on the road, but it compromises nothing as a
development platform. Powered by an FPGA-hosted, soft-core
System-on-Chip (SoC), it gives developers the freedom to inspect,
verify, and customize nearly every aspect of its operation. Help us
take those critical first steps toward a world in which silicon-level
trustworthiness is attainable.
We are accustomed to accepting the word of large corporations, like
Apple and Google, that our gadgets are trustworthy. Without any hard
evidence, we’ve long had to take in on faith that our privacy is being
respected and that our personal data is not just one backdoor away
from being stolen, exploited, or exposed. (We’ll go ahead and leave
"monetized" off that list, since we all know that’s happening.)
We’ve had to accept this reality in large part because we’ve had no
other choice. Precursor changes the status quo by making evidence-based trust a core principle of its design. We have
subjected every aspect of this platform to a level of scrutiny that
will allow users to trust their devices. You, the user, will be able
to trust Precursor based on scientific evidence that is observable
without access to a million-dollar microscope.
The principle of evidence-based trust was at work in our decision to
implement Precursor’s brain as an SoC on an FPGA, which means you can
compile your CPU from design source and verify for yourself that
Precursor contains no hidden
instructions or other
backdoors. Accomplishing
the equivalent level of inspection on a piece of hardwired silicon
would be…a rather expensive proposition. Precursor’s mainboard was designed for easy
inspection as well, and even its LCD and keyboard were chosen specifically
because they facilitate verification of proper construction with
minimal equipment.
Thanks to this pivotal design principle, Precursor is well-suited as a
hardware development framework for security-critical applications such
as password managers, authenticators, crypto wallets, and secure
messaging platforms.
Precursor is also distinctive among open hardware gadgets in that it
was designed from the ground up for portability. While most open
hardware FPGA development boards share Precursor’s evidence-based,
compile-your-own-CPU trust properties, none of them are packaged into
a slim, 7.2 mm, machined-aluminum case, complete with a charger, a
battery, a display, and a keyboard. And speaking of batteries,
Precursor draws less power than most other FPGAs thanks to the "-1L"
variant Xilinx Spartan 7-Series at its heart. (The "L" stands for "low
leakage.") That efficiency — combined with a super-low-power Lattice
iCE40 UP5K FPGA for deep-sleep system management and a Silicon Labs
WF200 with integrated network co-processor for Wi-Fi connectivity —
allows Precursor to achieve a standby time measured in days and an active screen time of about five to six hours.
Precursor gets your bright idea out of the lab and into your
pocket. And if that idea happens to involve software for a password
manager, a crypto-wallet, a secure messaging platform, or something
similar, then Precursor also gets it well on its way toward its
destination as a packaged product.
The most important difference between a jail and a home is
who controls the lock on the door. Most smartphone companies want you
to believe that the gilded jail they’ve designed for you is the safest
place to spend your time. Precursor takes a different approach. By
giving you the keys to the lock, it gives you a home. And, like your
actual home, you’re free to make it your own because we’ve published
100% of Precursor’s design source, from the outer case to the inner
CPU core. And once you’re done configuring and inspecting your system,
you can activate Precursor’s security features to protect your newly
redecorated home from unwelcome intruders.
The Precursor tier includes the following items in the box:
The Limited Edition Precursor tier includes all of the above, with a
special limited edition case. You will also receive the regular
production aluminium case body as well, as a bonus spare part.
What exactly is the Limited Edition case? In a fashion similar to ordering omakase at a sushi bar, we’re going
to prepare a premium experience for your enjoyment. In the end, however, what
you get will be a bit of a surprise!
Part of the purpose of Precursor is to validate the system-on-chip
(SoC) design we hope eventually to produce as a custom ASIC for use in
future such products. This SoC, which we call "Betrusted-SoC," is
meant to be the central pillar of security for devices like
Precursor. The version of Betrusted-SoC used in Precursor is based on
a Xilinx FPGA and has the following features:
In addition to using Precursor to validate the SoC, we are also
validating the embedded controller (EC) that’s in charge of standby
power functions, as well as firewalling the untrusted hardware domain
in devices like Precursor. The version of "Betrusted-EC" used in
Precursor is based on a Lattice FPGA and has the following properties:
#betrusted:matrix.orgPrecursor consists of the following major elements:
Once the campaign has concluded and we know our final volume, we will
begin manufacturing according to the following time line: