The LAMI
Laboratoire de Microinformatique
Microprocessor and Interface Lab
To reach me now: nicoud@didel.com
Dr Jean-Daniel Nicoud was the Director of the LAMI (Laboratoire de Micro-informatique), which was a lab mostly concerned about microprocessor systems, sensors and interfaces. Expertise and interest exist for building small and potentially low cost systems. The team masters microcontrollers, DSPs, neural network dedicated circuits, mobile robots, sensors, positionning devices, as well as the associated software tools.
J.D Nicoud got interested in logic and calculator design in 1968. He developped the Logidules, a powerful, but too expensive tool for student's labs. He was appointed professor in 1973 and conducted several research and developments on Minicomputers, interfaces, peripherals and serial transfers. In 1973, he started working on microprocessors, and built in 1974, while taking a 5-months sabbatical at Digital Equipment (Maynard) one of the very first personal computers. This was the beginning of the development of the Smaky family of Personal Computers. 4000 machines have been built by a small local company, Epsitec, and more than 3000 are still in operation, mostly in Swiss schools, with a very nice set of software. The Smaky 130, developped in 1991, is based on the 68030 and got recently a high resolution extension colour card developed by René Beuchat.
This pionneering work on PCs has conducted to successful results on buses (Mubus defined in 1975, vice-chairman of IEEE-P896 working group in 79-81), on local networks (the lab is wired since 1978), on mice (Depraz and Logitech have benefitted from our developments) and on laser printers (hardware and software in operation since 1981 as a result of R.D. Hersch PhD).
Many other microprocessor-based systems have been built for research or control applications. Three multi-microprocessor systems were built. The first one, in 1978, was based on Z80 microprocessors, and proposed improvements to the Mubus arbitration mechanisms (H. Rothlisberger PhD). A proposal for an 8-bit cost-effective multiprocessor bus was made in 1988, but no prototype was built due to the need of dedicated ICs. A second multiprocessor system was built in 1988 to test the possibility of the dualport of Videoram memories for fast data transfers between processing elements (R.D. Hersch and F. Maddaleno). A third multiprocessor graphic system was built around 17 Transputers in 1988 (Ph. Schweizer PhD).
J.D. Nicoud has a strong interest for VLSI and miniature systems, and more generally any design using microprocessors, microcontrollers, standard or specialized components, e.g. for mobile robot applications. His laboratory is well-equipped and his staff consists of 20 full-time people, plus 15 to 25 undergraduate students each term. A strong orientation is taken now in the direction of mobile robots. The Khepera robot, designed by E. Franzi, F. Mondada and A. Guignard has got a quick acceptance and 250 units can be found in more than 80 labs through the world.
Present research interests are centered on intelligent microsystems and mobile robots. The application for searching antipersonnel mines is a strong motivation and a good enough support has allowed to set up a Demining Technology Center (DeTeC), which is the next step after the "Minerat" action encouraged by John Walker.
JDN also enjoys hang-gliding. Wonderful mountains can be found close-by. On the first picture, you can see JDN starting from the Rochers de Naye, above Montreux. A train brings you at 1950m. You are sure to make at least a nice 30 mn flight with a beautiful view on the Lake Leman.
The next picture is taken at Fiesch, 2 hours from Lausanne, near the source of the Rhone river. A cable car brings yo at 2200m, and it is easy to climb, using the thermal winds, in front of the Eggishorn and make the Glacier d'Aletsch appear. You can fly there for hours and far away.
