New Zealand's Buzz Audio released its first commercial pro audio product in 1993. Owner/designer Tim Farrant's unique Class-A preamp was originally inspired by an ultra low-noise moving coil pickup circuit Farrant had developed during his broadcast engineering years. Lynn Fuston of 3D Audio was one of the first stateside engineers to extol the virtues of the hard-to-find Buzz MA preamp, which was later featured on his 3D Pre CD. Buzz Audio's handcrafted products are no longer hard to find, thanks to their well-established high-end reputation and worldwide distribution.
In 2000, Buzz introduced its ARC 1.1 analog recording channel ($3500) featuring a discrete mic preamp similar to that found in the MA series, a top-notch parametric equalizer, an optical compressor section drafted from Buzz' popular SOC 1.1 stereo optical compressor and a FET peak limiter. Outfitted with an immense array of controls and routing options, the ARC 1.1 is truly one of the most comprehensive and flexible recording channels available.
The Buzz Audio ARC 1.1 is essentially comprised of four separate sections: a microphone preamp, an instrument/line-level preamp, parametric EQ, and compressor/limiter. With the wealth of I/O connections provided, the ARC 1.1 can in fact be simultaneously used as four separate analog audio amplifiers/processors. On the rear panel are Mic Pre In and Mic Pre Direct Out jacks (XLR), Line In and Line Loop Out jacks (XLR), and a line-level Main Out jack (XLR). A front-panel high-impedance instrument jack (TS 1/4-inch) is also provided. The Line Loop connection provides a hard-wired copy of the signal at the Line In jack for daisy-chain/parallel-path purposes. Also on the rear panel are EQ In and EQ Out jacks (XLR), and Comp In and Comp Out jacks (XLR), as well as a Sidechain Insert jack (TRS 1/4-inch) and a Compressor Link jack (TS 1/4-inch) for stereo operation of two ARC 1.1 units.
The front panel of the ARC 1.1 is logically divided into three main sections: input/output amplification, parametric equalizer, and optical compressor/FET limiter. The mic preamp section features a Mic Gain knob (+9 to +50 dB of gain), a +15 dB gain switch, a +48V phantom power switch (with soft-start circuit) and a continuously variable 220 ohm to 5.5 k-ohm Mic Load control. The line amp input section features a Line Gain knob (0 to +40 dB of gain), -10 dB line gain switch, and a Balanced/Unbalanced toggle switch that selects between the rear-panel XLR line input and the front panel 1/4-inch instrument input.
The last part of the front-panel I/O amplifier section provides the controls that pertain to the signal sent to the rear-panel Main Out XLR jack. These controls are comprised of a Mic/Line selector switch, Output Attenuation/Gain knob (providing an additional 10 dB of gain if desired), a combo normal phase/mute/reverse phase switch, and a main path/sidechain path monitor switch. Also included in this section is a Clean/Tranny switch for switching in a custom-made audio transformer into the main path for added harmonic distortion and color.
The EQ section consists of a sweepable high-pass filter, semi fixed-frequency high and low shelving filters, and two bands of fully parametric equalization. Each of the five bands features a three-position In (main path)/Ext (external rear connection)/SC (sidechain path) routing toggle switch - see In Use for more on the ARC 1.1 routing options. The high-pass filter attenuates at 12 dB/octave, and features a variable cut-off frequency range (3 dB down) of 25 to 450 Hz. The high shelf provides up to 17 dB of boost or cut in two modes: Broad or Tight. As its name implies, the Broad setting is a wide, gradual curve that starts at around 1 kHz and flattens out around 20 kHz. The Tight setting is a much steeper shelf that rises significantly starting around 4 kHz and flattens out around 20 kHz. The real inductor-based low shelf provides up to 17 dB of boost or cut in a fairly gentle curve at a 60 or 120 Hz turnover frequency. The two fully parametric bands provide for up to 16 dB of boost or cut at continuously variable center frequencies of 30 Hz to 7 kHz (Band 1) and 160 Hz to 34 kHz (Band 2) at bandwidths ranging from .25 to 1.7 octaves.
The final section on the front panel includes the ARC's compressor and limiter. The optical compressor features a Drive control (aka threshold), a four-position Ratio control (2:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1), a three-position Attack switch (slow, fast, auto), a six-position Release control (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 x 100mS, auto) and a Comp Makeup gain control (0 to +15 dB). The compressor also features a dedicated 12-step LED gain-reduction meter, a Pre-EQ/Post-EQ/EXT path selector switch and a Mono/Stereo link switch.
The peak limiter includes a 0 to +20 dB threshold knob, a three-position Release switch (Fast-100mS, Medium-750mS, Slow-2000mS), a three-position routing switch (In, Out, Ext) and a Limit operational LED. Rounding out the front-panel controls are a 12-step LED level meter plus Over LED, and a mains power switch with LED. The level meter can be switched to monitor mic or line input level in the main path (as determined by the master mic/line selector switch), the main path output level, or switched off.
From both a design and use standpoint, this is an engineer's recording channel: it is designed by someone with an obvious passion for audio circuitry and all the possible options afforded at each stage in the audio path, and it is best employed by recording engineers who appreciate being trusted with such a full range of control. Despite its 18 knobs, 24 toggle switches and 12 I/O jacks, I can picture Buzz' Tim Farrant sweating over which features he would have to cut out to fit the single-channel ARC 1.1 into its 2-rack space chassis. The first thing I did when I received the ARC 1.1 for review was to wire all its rear-panel jacks to my patch bay to maximize its routing potential. But before I get into the ARC's routing flexibility, I want to talk about how it sounds. In a word, fantastic.
The preamp is extremely quiet and pure, and its 15 dB gain switch (plus additional 10 dB available at the output stage) provides plenty of gain for even the quietest sources. The continuously variable mic impedance knob always enabled an excellent match with my favorite ribbon, condenser and tube mics (as well as an odd-ball assortment of dynamics). The not-so-subtle "Tranny" transformer switch added yet another colorful dimension to the palette, and its placement before the output gain stage allowed me to drive the transformer with the input stage to varying degrees while compensating for level at the output.
The EQ and compressor sections are as thoughtful and musical as the preamp section. The EQ section's two parametric mid bands can craft subtle or surgical changes across the entire audio spectrum, and the more limited control of the shelving and high-pass filters proved to be the perfect tools to effect quick, overall changes.
The optical compressor section also yielded excellent results, most notably in its ability to intuitively track bass and vocal performances with nary a hint of pumping. In one of the most brilliant strokes of circuit-design creativity, the ARC 1.1 essentially features three discreet audio paths to which individual sections (and individual EQ bands) can be routed: main, external and sidechain. It is by virtue of this flexible scheme and the inclusion of dedicated I/O per section that this single unit can be used to independently amplify and process up to four separate sources. In the short space I have left, I will attempt a reasonable explanation here, but I highly recommend checking out the well-written manual found on the Buzz website (www.buzzaudio.com) for in-depth info.
The main path is for the most "normal" use of the ARC 1.1 - i.e. as an all-in-one recording strip. This path routes the mic or line source into the EQ then compressor (or compressor then EQ) sections and out through the output gain stage and meter to the main output jack. Choosing the external path sends the compressor and/or limiter output signal to the rear-panel compressor output jack, and likewise, the selected EQ bands to the rear-panel EQ output jack. Setting any or all of the EQ bands to SC puts that signal into the compressor sidechain circuit, allowing frequency-dependent operation of the compressor.
In an extreme example of the ARC's flexibility, one could separately use the Buzz mic preamp via its direct I/O, the line or instrument input (with, say, the "Tranny" option, the high-pass filter and a band of EQ plus the peak limiter) through the main path, patch another source in and out of (any or all of) the remaining bands of the EQ section, and a fourth source in and out of the optical compressor. If you really want to get crazy, you can also send one of the bands of EQ to the compressor sidechain to have one instrument affecting the compression characteristic of the other! Of course you could also do that without sacrificing an EQ band by making use of the external compressor sidechain insert jack.
For me, a more common simultaneous scenario was to use the mic preamp patched into the EQ input (with the HPF set to Ext.) then back out into the compressor input and out to tape, alongside a DI on the line input routed through via the main path into the EQ and peak limiter and through the main out (with "Tranny"!) to tape. The one ommission on the ARC 1.1 - believe it or not - is its lack of individual EQ band on/off switches. In most cases, this is not a problem since bands can be taken out of circuit by simply setting them to S/C or Ext (assuming you are not using the EQ I/O). The only possible time this would be a problem would be if you have an EQ setting you want to turn on and off for A/B purposes and both the sidechain and the external EQ I/O are in use.
The Buzz Audio ARC 1.1 is by no means designed for dumbed-down, streamlined set-and-leave use, but neither is it unintuitive or difficult to operate. At its most basic operational level, the user will be rewarded with an excellent-sounding preamp, musically intuitive EQ and a smooth optical compressor section - everything one could want in a top-notch recording channel. For those with a more in-depth engineering sense (or those wanting to learn), the ARC 1.1 has the uncanny ability to instill in the user some of the same passion for audio creativity that so obviously went into its design.
[PAR Studio Editor Stephen Murphy has over 25 years production and engineering experience. His website is www.smurphco.com]


The winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics were announced today, and while the award hasn't gone to my first choice, Vera Rubin (or any astrophysicist for that matter), it has gone to a trio of very worthy winners. The winners are Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura for their work in the development of blue LEDs (light emitting diodes).
Why is this so important? Well, it is thought that about 20-30% of the electricity in the world is consumed in electrical lighting, and since LEDs are about 10 times more energy efficient and last about 100 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs, the worldwide adoption of LEDs will significantly reduce the world's energy consumption (and therefore its carbon dioxide emission).
So while this wasn't my first choice for the Nobel Prize, it is surely a deserved award!
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Jan 18, 2023
Harnessing the Strength of LIMS
At the heart of every Research and Development (R&D) establishment, a torrent of data is continuously being generated. Like a proverbial treasure trove, this data holds immense potential for innovation and growth. However, it is often concealed under layers of inefficiency, redundancies, and outdated data processes. This is where a modern Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) comes into play. Acting as a catalyst, a Laboratory Management Software can streamline laboratory operations, maximize efficiency, and effectively manage the deluge of data.
The R&D landscape is marred by the daunting task of managing and utilizing voluminous data. The technology employed in most scientific research centers for data recording and analysis is becoming an increasingly crucial factor. The opportunities for those who can successfully leverage their data are immense, but so are the risks for those who fail.
Many research and innovation labs grapple with a plethora of challenges stemming like outdated data practices. These issues may include inconsistent standards for testing and data storage, variations in procedures across different labs, varying security requirements for data access, and the need for integration with other business systems. Such challenges can result in significant wastage of time and resources, with lab workers spending as much as 70% of their time handling administrative tasks or dealing with data-related issues.
A State-of-the-art Laboratory Information System Software, such as Revol LIMS, can offer a comprehensive solution to the myriad challenges faced by research and development labs. It provides a centralized system that consolidates data from various labs, harmonizes procedures, and enhances efficiency.
One of the critical functionalities of a LIMS Software is its ability to organize R&D data into projects, studies, and experiments. This structured data management system enables quick searching and retrieval of information, thereby expediting the research process.
A Laboratory Information Management System is equipped with a wide array of tools for resource monitoring and work assignments, enabling laboratories to optimize productivity and streamline daily operations. By keeping track of available resources, a LIMS ensures that no resource is underutilized or overused.
A user-friendly request and sample submission feature in a Laboratory Informatics Solution allows researchers to promptly send requests to the laboratory, track progress, and benefit from the results. This feature not only simplifies the request submission process but also reduces the chances of human errors and delays.
A Laboratory Information Technology Solution ensures that your data is shared only with the appropriate individuals, securing your Intellectual Property (IP). It archives data in a structured manner, enabling easy searching when needed for new research.
A browser-based Laboratory Information Management Software Solutions like Revol LIMS allows users to access laboratory information from any device via a standard web browser. This feature significantly reduces IT maintenance costs as there are no client programs to install or maintain.
Replacing outdated data management strategies with a modern Laboratory Information Management System can foster faster innovation, smooth collaboration, and increased efficiency by eliminating data silos. Such a transformation can bring about a paradigm shift in the way scientific research centers function, making them more agile and responsive to the ever-evolving demands of the scientific community.
Laboratory Information System Software, like Revol LIMS, are not just data management systems. They're comprehensive solutions that address every aspect of laboratory operations, from barcoding and labeling, training and qualification management, instrument maintenance tracking, batch management, sample tracking, workflow management, quality control management, to instrument integration, data analysis, and reporting, compliance management, and audit trail. These features make Revol LIMS a critical component of any successful research and development lab, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth.
A Revolutionary Laboratory Management Software is more than a laboratory management software; it is a game-changer that can revolutionize the way R&D labs operate, propelling them into a future where data is no longer a challenge but a valuable asset that promotes innovation and growth.


Power supply manufacturer Seasonic has a nifty tool available (in open beta) on its website right now: a wattage calculator, which lets you punch in the specs for your planned PC build and receive suggestions for which PSU is best suited for your components. It’s a helpful tool for anyone building a new PC, but it may have also just leaked fresh information regarding AMD’s upcoming GPU releases.
The tool requires you to select your CPU and GPU from a drop-down menu, the latter of which is now listing three new Radeon graphics cards: the RX 7700 XT, the RX 7800 XT, and the RX 7900 XT. Although we know that AMD is planning to launch new GPUs using the RDNA 3 architecture to compete with Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series, other information is thin on the ground right now.
Plugging these GPUs into Seasonic’s wattage calculator gives us a suggestion of a 650W power supply for the 7700 XT, and a 750W one for the 7800 XT and 7900 XT. These are essentially the same as the power requirements of their RX 6000-series counterparts, and the Seasonic website also recommends power supplies with standard 8+6-pin PCIe connectors, rather than the new 16-pin connectors.
It’s unclear at this point whether these power requirements are legitimate or merely placeholders that Seasonic has implemented, but these figures are entirely reasonable and within our expectations. It also does seem to suggest that the first round of 7000-series Radeon GPUs will feature these three cards, with AMD potentially waiting to release the lower-end GPUs and bypassing non-XT variants altogether.
Analysis: What do these power specs mean for consumers?
If accurate, these leaked power requirements are very good news for the average PC-builder. If the 7000-series Radeon cards are able to offer improved performance over their 6000-series equivalents without a significant rise in TDP, they’ll be very attractive to PC gamers looking to upgrade.
It’ll be very convenient if AMD’s new GPUs continue to use 8+6-pin connectors for power delivery too, since you won’t need to upgrade your PSU to install a new GPU in your system. The new 16-pin connector is only available on select power supplies at this point, and it looks like Intel’s new discrete GPUs will be using the 8+6 configuration too.
Still, such leaks should be taken with a grain of salt. I wouldn’t be overly surprised if the high-end RX 7900 XT does require a 16-pin connector, given that it’ll need to compete with both Intel’s new GPUs and Nvidia’s imminent RTX 4000 cards (which will doubtless include an RTX 4090 flagship). Pricing is also still completely unknown, with some sources speculating that the RX 7900 XT could cost as much as $2,000.


In this Part 2 of a two-part video series, we will follow the +325VDC current as it flows to the tube plates. Then we will study the nature of the guitar input signal, and apply this signal to the grids of the tubes, following it through several stages of amplification until it reaches the speaker voice coil. The presentation is primarily conversational rather than technical and utilizes analogies and basic language to explain the chain of events that occur within the amplifier circuit.
Components such as coupling capacitors, output transformers, speaker voice coils, etc. will be encountered along the way, and will be discussed, as will concepts such as plate voltage, plate current, and output tube biasing.
If you enjoy watching videos featuring classic vintage tube amps, jukeboxes, exotic electromechanical devices, and simple, basic technical presentations, then please subscribe to my channel. You will gain immediate access to almost 100 videos, and (if you activate the service) you will be notified each time a new video is posted.
Thanks for watching !!!


Demystifying WSS:// Minecraft Servers: What You Need to Know
23 August 2023
In the expansive and ever-evolving realm of Minecraft multiplayer servers, a term that has gained attention among players is "wss://." While it may seem like a cryptic code to some, it's an essential part of the technology that powers secure connections to Minecraft servers. In this article, we'll demystify wss:// Minecraft servers, explain what it means, and why it's important for your multiplayer gaming experience.
Understanding the Basics: What is WSS?
WSS stands for "WebSocket Secure." It's a communication protocol that enables secure, real-time communication between a client (in this case, your Minecraft game client) and a server. WebSocket is an advanced technology that allows for bidirectional, full-duplex communication over a single, long-lived connection.
The Role of WSS:// in Minecraft Servers
Minecraft servers use WebSocket Secure (wss://) connections to enhance security and provide a seamless multiplayer experience. Here's what you need to know about wss:// in the context of Minecraft servers:
1. Security Enhancement
WSS:// provides encryption and security layers to your connection. This means that any data transmitted between your game client and the server is encrypted, making it significantly more difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or tamper with your data.
2. Real-time Communication
WebSocket technology enables real-time communication, which is crucial for multiplayer gaming. It allows your game client to send and receive data from the server with minimal delay, ensuring a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.
Most modern web browsers and online applications support WebSocket technology, making it a reliable choice for Minecraft servers. It's compatible with various platforms and devices, ensuring that players can connect seamlessly.
How to Identify WSS:// Minecraft Servers
Identifying a wss:// Minecraft server is relatively straightforward. When you connect to a server using the WebSocket Secure protocol, you'll typically see "wss://" or "wss://" followed by the server's domain or IP address in the server connection address.
For example, a wss:// Minecraft server address might look like this:
The "wss://" prefix indicates that this server is using the WebSocket Secure protocol for secure and efficient communication.
Benefits of WSS:// Minecraft Servers
Enhanced Security: Your gameplay data is encrypted, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
Reduced Latency: Real-time communication minimizes lag and delays, providing a smoother gaming experience.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: WSS:// technology works seamlessly on various devices and platforms.
WSS:// Minecraft servers play a crucial role in ensuring secure and responsive multiplayer experiences for Minecraft players. Understanding the significance of WebSocket Secure connections can help you make informed choices when selecting servers and enhance your overall enjoyment of the game. So, the next time you see "wss://" in your Minecraft server address, know that it represents a secure, efficient, and reliable connection that contributes to your gaming pleasure.


Ongoing information digitisation is creating increasing quantities of data and demands in terms of data administration are rising fast. Big data addresses the issue of how to process these enormous amounts of data. The intelligent analysis and processing of such volumes of information requires solutions which go beyond conventional technologies. Here we apply business intelligence systems which are able to capture and display information at high speed, incorporating diverse formats in their analysis (text, photos, videos etc.).
Our high-performance business intelligence concepts not only give companies swift access to important information, they also provide the analytical functions with which to evaluate the data. As an expert in the field of business intelligence we develop and operate well-conceived BI solutions such as mgm Hadoop for the high-capacity processing of bulk data – tailored precisely to the needs of our customers.


The easiest, BRIGHTEST way to illuminate your safe!
Attach these battery operated LED wands inside your safe to illuminate your valuables and access them quickly. Just attach the mounting bracket to the inside of your safe with the included hook-and-loop strips or screws, then set the light inside the bracket. If you prefer, you can affix the adhesive-backed magnet to the bracket and then attach the bracket to a shelf standard.
- Bright and long-lasting gun safe LED light kit.
- Motion sensor mode turns light on automatically when you open your safe door and off after 60 seconds with no movement.
- Manual mode requires pushing the lens to turn the light on/off
- Easy installation with included adhesive-backed magnet, screws, or adhesive-backed hook and loop strips.
- 70+ hour run time (actual run time may vary due to conditions of use).
- 75 lumens of bright white (5000k) light
Package includes 2 LED light wands with mounting brackets
Requires 3 - AA Batteries Per Unit (Not Included)
Dimensions: 7.81" long x 1.1" wide x 1.2" deep


Project designation | Riot-ES .: Resource-Efficient IoT-Edge Systems
Project code | POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046247
Main Objective | Co-financing of the national contribution of Ubiwhere and PROEF in the
European project "Riot-ES - Resource-Efficient IoT-Edge Systems” submitted under the Celtic
Next program of the EUREKA network.
Region of intervention | NORTH
Beneficiary | PROEF Eurico Ferreira Portugal S.A.
Date of approval | 28-10-2020
Start date | 01-10-2020
End date | 30-06-2023
Total eligible cost | 201.979,75€
Financial support | FEDER - 113.246,60€
Develop new methods, technologies and systems to maximize energy efficiency and increase performance in IoT systems, with a focus on IoT devices and wireless edge processing;
Investigate a combination of computing and data management devices, sensors and platforms, where the complementary experience of the project partners will create strong synergy and understanding effects for all parts of the global IoT edge systems.


This ETC training course is based on Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in the new renewable energy era. As intermittent renewable energy and electric vehicles become more prevalent, there is a greater need to have energy storage.
Energy Storage Systems modernize the grid by supporting power and energy in many ways, from voltage support, frequency regulation, reactive power production, duplicating spinning reserves, decreasing the need for transmission upgrades, shifting energy, grid smoothing and incorporating renewable assets into a smart grid, ESS will decrease the costs of supplying electricity. As ESS prices drop dramatically, especially with the mass production of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and ESS, we see dramatic growth in this industry.
In this training course, we will have the main focus on covering electrochemical battery systems (batteries) and will also cover pumped hydroelectric, compressed air, fuel cells, flow batteries, flywheels, and gravity ESS. We will cover all the aspects of modernizing the grid from and energy storage point of view, from the individual household to the large utility-scale infrastructure.
This ETC training course will highlight:
- Energy Storage System Technologies
- Energy Storage System Applications
- Energy Storage Systems and the Utility Grid
- Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Systems
- Utility-Scale Energy Storage Systems
By the end of this ETC training course, the participants will be able to:
- Identify Energy Storage System Types
- Design Energy Storage Systems
- Evaluate Existing and Future Energy Storage System Technologies
- Analyze Energy Storage System Data Financial Programs
- Understand how to Incorporate Energy Storage Systems into Existing Infrastructure
The participants of this training course will receive thorough training on the subjects covered by the course outline with the instructor utilizing a variety of proven adult learning teaching and facilitation techniques. This will include presentations, live feedback and interactions, quizzes, and group discussion.
A successful organization will have employees that more efficiently spend their time performing tasks that are more relevant to the company’s goals after completing this course.
The organisation will benefit from this training course through:
- Understand the interactions between the grid and energy storage systems
- Address energy storage issues in a more relevant manner
- Impress customers based on their energy storage literacy
- Communicate energy storage concepts within and outside of the company
- Avoid expensive mistakes, which are common when implementing new technologies
- Select energy storage components when designing and evaluating projects
Upon completion of this ETC training course, the participants will:
- Gain valuable skills
- Gain confidence when working with energy storage systems
- Find their skills more relevant in this fast-growing renewable energy networked environment
- Gain a better perspective on how energy storage technology can help foster a green image
- Better understand interactions between energy storage systems, renewable energy, and the grid
- Explain how ESS can benefit the grid
Who Should Attend?
This training course is designed for professionals wishing to deepen their knowledge regarding the fast-growing energy storage market. The professionals who need to increase their knowledge, vocabulary and grasp of the energy storage markets should take this course.
This ETC training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:
- EPC Contractors
- Utility Policy and Infrastructure Experts
- Mechanical Engineers and Contractors in Energy and Power Industry
- Project Managers and Electrical Engineers in the Electric and Power Plant Company
The Course Outline
Day One: Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Overview and Background
- Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Facts and Feasibility
- Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Background
- Energy Storage Systems (ESS) History
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Non-battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
Day Two: Battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Detailed
- Nickel, NiCad and NiMH
- Lithium Detailed
- Chemistry and Physical Properties
Day Three: Battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Electrical Design
- DC-coupled Systems
- AC-coupled Systems
- Stand-alone Systems
- Grid-connected Systems
- Multimodal Systems: Grid-connected with Battery Backup
- Hybrid Systems: Systems with PV, Wind, Generator, etc.
Day Four: Non-battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Gravity Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Supercapacitor Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
Day Five: Incorporating Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Grid Services with Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Frequency and Voltage Regulation with Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Reactive Power with Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
- Spinning reserves with Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
Certificate of Completion will be given to the participants who attend and complete the training course.


TLDR; Weak CAPTCHA services utilized on the internet can be programmatically solved with a fairly high success rate.
A lot of firms, including mine, have begun to recommended CAPTCHA’s be used on all web forms which feed into existing business processes (registration pages, contact pages, etc). This recommendation can be a double edged sword, because there are still several CAPTCHA services that utilize weak CAPTCHA’s, which can be readily decoded with modern image analysis techniques. That being said several individuals have asked if there is a systematic way to test the strength of a given CAPTCHA, to determine weather it’s weak or not.
There are two major methodologies currently being widely used to decode weak CAPTCHA’s. The first technique is to remove the noise from CAPTCHA images by reversing the programmatic functions, used to add visual abstractions. Then simply comparing each character to a set of known sample characters. This method relays heavily on evaluating each weak CAPTCHA service offering and creating reliable function sets to solve individual CAPTCHA’s. The best tool for using this technique to test for known weak CAPTCHA types is pwntcha.
The second methodology uses vector based image analysis to compare each pixels location to the expected location given, each possible character. After consolidating all of these pixel location checks, each possible character is ranked based on its probability of being correct. The success of this method relays heavily on the use of a reference font, thus if the reference font and the CAPTCHA’s font are distantly different the analysis won’t go well. The best freely available tool I’ve found using this technique to test the strength of CAPTCHA’s is captcha-decoder.
How to use
Unfortunately almost every implementation of CAPTCHA’s is going to be different enough to make web scrapping a sample set of CAPTCHA images difficult. Thus the first step is always going to be downloading three to five CAPTCHA images for testing.
Then we can run each image through pwntcha and see if it can identify the image as a known weak CAPTCHA type.
Test run using Paypal’s known weak CAPTCHA samples 100/100
Test run of vBullentin’s known weak CAPTCHA samples 100/100
Last we can run captcha-decoder on each of the sample images to try and get an idea if vector based analysis is going to be successful. You will have to use your best judgment once you receive the results to determine if the risk is high enough to create an issue. Generally if all the correct letters are guessed with over 70% confidence the CAPTCHA should be considered weak. However an organization may believe 70% is too high and may only have a much lower tolerance.
How to Install Arduino Backdoors within Modern Keyboards
TLDR; It is very possible to place a Teensy Arduino within modern keyboards and mice as a hardware backdoors in order to implant a Trojan on a targets computer.
Warning #1: Please understand that working with electrical equipment and components is inherently dangerous. Burns, shocks, and electrical fires are fairly common when attempting to manipulate commercial/consumer grade electronics.
Warning #2: The author of this article claims no responsibility for personal harm or damage to personal property. This information is provided as is and without merit or warranty.
Some of our tougher targets have gotten very good at detecting and shutting down our normal social engineering attack vectors. In fact several are now able to systematically detect and shutdown our classic, emails, phone calls, and media drops Trojans. Once a client has established a strong defense against our standard attack vectors we are at somewhat of a loss as to how to approach social engineering. This has forced our team to come up with new and innovative ways to get in and get access.
My innovative idea is a new twist on an older poly idea, the hardware backdoor. Where one actually solders malicious hardware into another hardware system to gain access. This is normally done to subvert security controls such as drive encryption or to maintain access to a computing system.
However I’m not the NSA, nor am I am electrical engineering, so instead of attempting to compromise an entire computing system, I set out to simply place a hardware device within a keyboard. The idea being that I could purchase a few higher end keyboards, backdoor them, and send them out as gifts to targeted individuals. I quickly discovered a cheap Arduino based keyboard controller called Teensy and set out on my quest.
After conducting some further research, I quickly realized why we don’t see this attack vector being used in the wild. I won’t go into complete detail on every discovered issue, but a brief list is as follows.
Most keyboards are now soft-key using two sheets of conductive plastic and a rubber boot to trigger a key-press.
Space is normally very limited and many keyboard types such as soft-key don’t handle added pressure well.
Creating a custom keyboard or even a DYI 60% (uses a modern PCB with built in controller), is very time consuming and expensive.
Keyboards now use proprietary layouts and controllers which make tampering with them difficult.
Almost all mechanical and soft-touch keyboards are now made with a dual or triple layer PCB, adding literally layers of complexity.
Simply splicing a device in the middle of the USB connection creates added complexity by requiring the handling of serial timing, errors, and interrupters.
Needless to say, I had to simplify my plan even further. So I narrowed my focus to Cherry MX mechanical keyboards with built in USB hub ports. Since the Cherry MX keys are extremely sought after and conveniently take up quite a bit of space, it should be fairly easy to tuck the quarter sized Teensy into some free space. Additionally, if there is already a USB hub built into the keyboard controller, I can simply add the device inside by soldering the Teensy directly to the internal leads.
Note: Using this method is quick and dirty. It will take over said USB ports communication path and power channel. If another USB is plugged into the target port, best case scenario one of the two devices doesn’t power up, worst case you have yourself a nice little electrical fire. As such I would recommend clipping the pins or putting a plastic cover over the original USB hole.
The last step is simply programing the Teensy, which is somewhat out of the scope of this article, due to complexity and lack of one size fits all payload. However the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) contains a great of code to use as a starting point (linked bellow in references).
Note: Creating payloads requires the Arduino IDE with the Teensy library’s, modules, and extensions installed. You also require direct access to the Teensy via a micro-USB cable. Meaning VMware and the aforementioned hub setup should be avoided when compiling and uploading your payload.
Unfortunately the project for which I backdoored the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate had a fairly tight time table and did not allow for me to get very good photos. Nonetheless, I’ve included two of the better photos I have of the Blackwidow, to show that the same techniques can be successfully applied to modern keyboards as well.
Showing the completed build out of the Blackwidow with the Micro-USB attached to the single set of USB leads on the builtin controller.
This photo shows the limited space within the Blackwidow shell. In fact the cable as to be flush with the PCB corner in order to get the case to close. Then the Teensy itself has to be firmly placed in an angle between the row of F-keys and the back wall of the lower plastic frame. In future builds I’ll likely just shave/grind down the plastic frame and or PCB to make things fit more precisely.
About the Teensy Arduino
The Teensy is a quarter sized fully programmable keyboard controller based on the open Arduino hardware standards. The Teensy allows for complete control over the keyboard, mouse, and touch screen via pseudo C code. It allows for roughly 30,000 lines of compiled code and roughly 60MB of on board storage, so we can accomplish quite a bit. It also is designed and built in such a way to allow for it to be easily extensible by offering 54 leads/pins for project flexibility. The Teensy also operates at as low as 3.3 volts with .25 amps and as high as 6 volts with 1 amp, making it robust enough to be connected directly to a powered or unpowered USB hub/port within a keyboard or mouse.
A Simplified How To Guide
The photos below are of a generic HP console keyboard being backdoored. This is simply because I happened to have it laying around and it awarded me the time and error tolerance required to provide detailed photos and guidance. As stated, they same steps can generally be followed on a Blackwidow, however the components are quite a bit smaller and space is more limited, making it much harder to work with and display.
The first step is fairly simple, just take all the screws out of the back of the keyboard and pop the back cover off. Just be very careful to not damage any of the components or parts, including the tiny plastic tabs that normally seal the edges.
Next identify the USB port to target by considering surrounding space and ease of access. Here I’ve chosen to use the forward set of pins since there is more space and avoids the lower screw hole/ground
Next review the orientation and contacts of the female USB port to identify each lead against the USB standard. In this case the leads were on the lower portion of separator within the female USB port.These leads are just copper or aluminum that normally just have a 90 degree bend and connects straight down on the bottom of the board. In my case the leads simply passed straight through to the bottom USB port and were arranged in order from 1 to 4.
Next cut a micro USB cable to the needed length, remove the shielding, remove the netting, untwist the wires, and strip the ends of each of the four wires. Then be sure to cut away all of the excess shielding and netting, so it doesn’t get in the way going forward.
In my case, each of the striped wires had dozens of tiny aluminum wires within them, instead of a single copper core. This can make keeping these wires together while soldering really annoying, but can also be used to your advantage by soldering the smaller wires together into a nice single bundle. The bundle makes soldering easier and the excess solder soaked up by the wires, normal removed to need to add additional solder when connecting the wires.
Once all the bundles are complete, they should all be soldered together and have a small ball on the ends. The ball on the end is used to quickly heat up each joint with the soldering iron and to quickly set the wire on the lead by holding it in place for a few seconds. If you are sensitive to heat, you may want to use some metal clips or helping hands.
Be sure to double and triple check your solders against the USB wiring standard before testing, to avoid electrical fires.
Note: For those who may not know how to solder or need a refresher, I’ve included a info-graphic bellow that I think provides enough information to hit the group running.
Once all the wires are soldered into place, simply make sure none of the surrounding leads are jumped or damaged and then run some tests to verify the system works as intended. In my case I had an issue with the ground initially and the Teensy was not receiving power, so always test thoroughly.
Once everything tests okay, find the best placement for the Teensy and secure the cable, Teensy, and solders with hot glue and/or electrical tape. In my case I had originally wanted to place my Teensy on the left side of the USB but the cable was too large for the sharp corner. Instead I carefully adjusted the cable over to the right under the USB hub cable.
Once the Teensy and cable are secured in place, run some additional tests, to ensure nothing was damage then button everything up. Just note as stated earlier, you will need to remove the Teensy in order to properly connect it directly for development of your payload.
The next image shows the Teensy hidden away under the USB hub cable. Just be careful about placing the Teensy on its face, as seen here, due to the payload launch button on the face. If its compressed it will continuously fire the payload until power is removed or all of the Teensy’s resources are locked up.
As always I want to include references as a massive thank you to the community at large. I couldn’t have done this without their help, support, and knowledge.


John Deere’s new generation StarFire 6000 satellite receiver has been designed to set new standards in operational accuracy and signal uptime. As the successor to the StarFire 3000 receiver, the StarFire 6000 features an improved antenna and the latest in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal processing technology. A new optional locking device for better theft protection is also available.
Russian GLONASS satellite compatibility and the proven integrated terrain compensation module (TCM) remain as standard. In addition, the new receiver is available with an improved, free SF1 correction signal (+/-15cm, reduced from 23cm), an all-new SF3 signal with +/-3cm pass to pass accuracy and a number of major RTK (+/-2.5cm) innovations.
The StarFire 6000 features a new ‘triple StarFire accuracy’ mode, which now tracks three satellites in parallel instead of one. This provides three times more signal stability in shady conditions and the potential to switch to a back-up satellite 80 per cent more quickly than the previous model.
Acquisition of the new SF3 correction signal is also three to four times quicker, so users spend less time waiting for the receiver to achieve full accuracy and can get high-precision jobs started even faster.
With in-season repeatability up to nine months, the SF3 signal can be relied on to prevent guidance line drift when operating in long fields, skipping passes or when using AutoTrac for multiple jobs throughout the growing season. Examples include the creation of AutoTrac guidance lines during drilling and planting, and the use of the same lines to complete subsequent jobs such as fertilising, post-emergence spraying and harvesting.
RTK customers can now benefit from a longer RTK Extend mode of up to 14 days. If the line of sight to the base station or the mobile network connection is lost, users can maintain full accuracy and repeatability for up to two weeks, even outside the RTK network.
A new John Deere 4G LTE mobile RTK modem with two high performance antennae not only supports the latest 4G LTE (long-term evolution) mobile communication standard, but also continues to support 3G and 2G standards to provide the best possible network coverage and signal stability. Customers also have a free choice of SIM card and correction signal provider. Being entirely self-contained, the complete StarFire receiver system can easily be moved from machine to machine in less than a minute.
The new, John Deere mobile RTK signal is compatible not only with the John Deere 4G LTE mobile RTK modem but also with the JDLink modular telematics gateway (MTG) controller. With this uniquely integrated solution, customers don’t need to invest in a separate modem and SIM card with a data plan. The whole system is provided from one source, making it easy to buy, set up and service.
All of this new technology adds up to improved performance and uptime as well as lower operating costs, when paired with FarmSight precision farming systems such as AutoTrac automatic steering and John Deere Section Control.


We present a sampling-based framework for multi-robot motion planning which incorporates an implicit representation of a roadmap with a novel approach for pathfinding in geometrically embedded graphs.
Our pathfinding algorithm, discrete-RRT (dRRT), is an adaption of the celebrated RRT algorithm, for the discrete case of a graph. By rapidly exploring the high-dimensional configuration space represented by the implicit roadmap, dRRT is able to reach subproblems where minimal coordination between the robots is required. Integrating the implicit representation of the roadmap, the dRRT algorithm, and techniques that are tailored for such subproblems on the implicit roadmap allows us to solve multi-robot problems while exploring only a small portion of the configuration space.
We demonstrate our approach experimentally on scenarios of up to 60 degrees of freedom where our algorithm is faster by a factor of at least ten when compared to existing algorithms that we are aware of.


UR12 2 x 2 USB 2.0 audio interface with 1 x D-PRE and 192 kHz support Combining an extremely compact design, extraordinary build quality, full iPad connectivity and the outstanding D-PRE mic preamp, the UR12 redefines quality for its class of 2-in 2-out USB interfaces. 24/192 converters offer you outstanding levels of audio fidelity, while the D-PRE gives your microphone recordings incredible detail, depth and dynamics.Key features24-bit/192 kHz Top-of-the-range converters provide a maximum sampling rate of 192 kHz and a resolution of 24 bits, delivering pristine audio quality. One Class-A D-PRE mic preamp Yamaha’s highly acclaimed D-PRE preamp delivers a truly transparent and beautifully detailed sound that is unrivaled in this product class. Rugged metal casing Built to the most exacting standards by Yamaha’s experienced engineers, the UR12’s metal chassis is rugged enough to withstand all the rigors of the road.Major recording software compatible The UR12 is compatible with all major audio editing, mastering, and music production software supporting ASIO, Core Audio or WDM standard. iOS connectivity UR12 offers connectivity with Apple’s iPad and iPhone. When paired with Steinberg’s iPad-based Cubasis music app or other iOS audio apps, the UR12 offers a portable and intuitive production experience. Latency-free hardware monitoring The UR12 features latency-free hardware monitoring with an easy-to-use monitor source switch that allows you to choose between the direct signal and the output of your host application. Power source selector On the UR12 a 5 V DC port is provided to supply sufficient power when using it with an iPad or iPhone. A standard USB power adaptor or an external USB battery can be connected to guarantee power stability. Loopback function UR12 offers an easy way to streaming performances live to the internet, with incoming audio signals merged to the playback signal from Cubase or other DAWs inside the computer. Cubase AI included Based on the same core technologies as the popular Cubase DAW, Cubase AI offers an intuitive feature set for composing, recording, editing and mixing. Cubasis LE included Cubasis LE is a streamlined version of Steinberg’s popular iOS music production app, offering professional music production on your iPad.The UR12 in detail Ultra-compact... The UR12 proves how many first-class components can fit into a compact device at a very competitive price point. Its cleverly engineered capabilities give you all the I/O you need to quickly record your tracks… ... with full-on audio quality …at a quality that would just a few years ago have seemed impossible on a recording device at this price point. The acclaimed D-PRE offers a sumptuously detailed, wonderfully dynamic sound, while the second input offers access to a Hi-Z input for guitars or basses. Featuring recording in stunning 24-bit quality at a whopping 192 kHz, the UR12 offers almost unheard of fidelity for recording in its class. Portable and affordable The UR12 has been engineered not only to offer the maximum functionality and quality in an extremely compact design, but also to be available at a very low price point. Often, smaller interfaces that are affordable for those on a tight budget mean (at best) average audio quality; this ethos has been transcended by the UR12, with its first-rate components, fantastic price/value ratio and exceedingly portable design. iOS connectivity The UR12 offers a Class Compliant mode for connectivity with Apple’s iPad and iPhone. Combining the UR12 with an iOS audio application like Steinberg’s Cubasis gives you a remarkably intuitive music production experience. If you’re running your UR12 with an iOS device, just add a portable USB battery or any standard USB power supply to provide the interface with the required current. Integrate your system The UR12 is compatible with all major audio editing, mastering and music production software supporting the ASIO, Core Audio or WDM standard. UR12 also includes a special version of Cubase, Cubase AI, to offer a complete production environment in one package. And Cubase users also benefit from the auto-setup functionality which handles configuration of input and output channels and buses from within Cubase for a uniquely integrated music production environment.


Proteus achieves fast response times and efficient utilization of the available hardware resources. It encapsulates device heterogeneity to enable seamless orchestration across CPUs and GPUs.
Proteus is a database engine designed for today's heterogeneous environments. Proteus adapts to variable data, hardware and workloads through a combination of GPU acceleration, data virtualization, and adaptive scheduling.
The challenge: Heterogeneity
Data, hardware, and workloads are increasingly heterogeneous, challenging existing system designs and slowing down data scientists' exploration cycles.
Proteus uses heterogeneity to unlock optimization opportunities, delivering accelerated operational analytics and reducing the data-to-insights time.
Data scientists rely on a wide variety of heterogeneous datasets to gain insights. The different data models and formats pose a significant challenge in performing analysis over diverse datasets.
Proteus virtualizes the data to provide a uniform operational model while allowing for just-in-time specialization to the data models and formats at hand.
The modern hardware landscape expands beyond CPU-only servers to meet the computational demands. Modern servers have multiple hardware accelerators relying on software exploiting the available hardware resources, challenging existing systems that depend on hardware uniformity, and continuous hardware advances on CPUs.
Proteus exploits accelerator-level parallelism to reduce query response times by orchestrating query execution in multi-CPU, multi-GPU servers and using just-in-time compilation for smoother cross-device operator support.
The velocity of modern workloads generates vast amounts of data that need to be quickly ingested to allow timely business intelligence, pushing the limits of existing static resource allocation schemes for operational analytics.
Proteus exploits workload irregularities to deliver fast insights, while it exploits accelerator-level parallelism to increase workload isolation.
Proteus customizes itself on-demand to the data formats and hardware. It uses LLVM-based code generation to JIT (just-in-time) provide highly-optimized specialized engines per query.
Proteus schedules concurrent OLTP and OLAP based on the amount of fresh data queried by OLAP, and adapts data access paths, compute affinities and snapshot granularity across the OLAP & OLTP engines.
Proteus enables efficient and online data exploration through JIT data summaries. It uses hardware-conscious approximation operators designed for high-bandwidth data processing to unlock interactive data insights.
Proteus minimizes software-level interference across the transactional and analytical engines. It uses the hardware isolation between CPUs and GPUs to bound interference across workloads.
Proteus intelligently caches input data for fast analytics on disk-resident data. Through query- and execution-awareness, it distributes the in-memory space across input data to maximize the overall query speedups.
As the data volume grows, reducing the query execution times remains an elusive goal. While approximate query processing (AQP) techniques present a principled method to trade off accuracy for faster queries in analytics, the sample creation is often considered a second-class citizen. Modern analytical engines optimized for high-bandwidth media and multi-core architectures only exacerbate existing inefficiencies, resulting in prohibitive query-time online sampling and longer preprocessing times in offline AQP systems.
We demonstrate that the sampling operators can be practical in modern scale-up analytical systems. First, we evaluate three common sampling methods, identify algorithmic bottlenecks, and propose hardware-conscious optimizations. Second, we reduce the performance penalties of the added processing and sample materialization through system-aware operator design and compare the sample creation time to the matching relational operators of an in-memory JIT-compiled engine. The cost of data reduction with materialization is up to 2.5x of the equivalent group-by in the case of stratified sampling and virtually free (∼1x) for reasonable sample sizes of other strategies. As query processing starts to dominate the execution time, the gap between online and offline AQP methods diminishes.
Analytical engines rely on in-memory caching to avoid disk accesses and provide timely responses by keeping the most frequently accessed data in memory. Purely frequency- & time-based caching decisions, however, are a proxy of the expected query execution speedup only when disk accesses are significantly slower than in-memory query processing. On the other hand, fast storage offers loading times that approach or even outperform fully in-memory query execution response times, rendering purely frequency-based statistics incapable of capturing impact of a caching decision on query execution. For example, caching the input of a frequent query that spends most of its time processing joins is less beneficial than caching a page for a slightly less frequent but scan-heavy query. As a result, existing caching policies waste valuable memory space to cache input data that offer little-to-no acceleration for analytics.
This paper proposes HPCache, a buffer management policy that enables fast analytics on high-bandwidth storage by efficiently using the available in-memory space. HPCache caches data based on their speedup potential instead of relying on frequency-based statistics. We show that, with fast storage, the benefit of in-memory caching varies significantly across queries; therefore, we quantify the efficiency of caching decisions and formulate an optimization problem. We implement HPCache in Proteus and show that i) estimating speedup potential improves memory space utilization, and ii) simple runtime statistics suffice to infer speedup expectations. We show that HPCache achieves up to 12% faster query execution over state-of-the-art caching policies, or 75% less in-memory cache footprint without deteriorating query performance. Overall, HPCache enables efficient use of the in-memory space for input caching in the presence of fast storage, without any requirement for workload predictions.
GPUs are becoming increasingly popular in large scale data center installations due to their strong, embarrassingly parallel, processing capabilities. Data management systems are riding the wave by using GPUs to accelerate query execution, mainly for analytical workloads. However, this acceleration comes at the price of a slow interconnect which imposes strong restrictions in bandwidth and latency when bringing data from the main memory to the GPU for processing. The related research in data management systems mostly relies on late materialization and data sharing to mitigate the overheads introduced by slow interconnects even in the standard CPU processing case. Finally, workload trends move beyond analytical to fresh data processing, typically referred to as Hybrid Transactional and Analytical Processing (HTAP).
Therefore, we experience an evolution in three different axes: interconnect technology, GPU architecture, and workload characteristics. In this paper, we break the evolution of the technological landscape into steps and we study the applicability and performance of late materialization and data sharing in each one of them. We demonstrate that the standard PCIe interconnect substantially limits the performance of state-of-the-art GPUs and we propose a hybrid materialization approach which combines eager with lazy data transfers. Further, we show that the wide gap between GPU and PCIe throughput can be bridged through efficient data sharing techniques. Finally, we provide an H2TAP system design which removes software-level interference and we show that the interference in the memory bus is minimal, allowing data transfer optimizations as in OLAP workloads.
Modern Hybrid Transactional/Analytical Processing (HTAP) systems use an integrated data processing engine that performs analytics on fresh data, which are ingested from a transactional engine. HTAP systems typically consider data freshness at design time, and are optimized for a fixed range of freshness requirements, addressed at a performance cost for either OLTP or OLAP. The data freshness and the performance requirements of both engines, however, may vary with the workload.
We approach HTAP as a scheduling problem, addressed at runtime through elastic resource management. We model an HTAP system as a set of three individual engines: an OLTP, an OLAP and a Resource and Data Exchange (RDE) engine. We devise a scheduling algorithm which traverses the HTAP design spectrum through elastic resource management, to meet the workload data freshness requirements. We propose an in-memory system design which is non-intrusive to the current state-of-art OLTP and OLAP engines, and we use it to evaluate the performance of our approach. Our evaluation shows that the performance benefit of our system for OLAP queries increases over time, reaching up to 50% compared to static schedules for 100 query sequences, while maintaining a small, and controlled, drop in the OLTP throughput.
Modern server hardware is increasingly heterogeneous as hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, are used together with multicore CPUs to meet the computational demands of modern data analytics workloads. Unfortunately, query parallelization techniques used by analytical database engines are designed for homogeneous multicore servers, where query plans are parallelized across CPUs to process data stored in cache coherent shared memory. Thus, these techniques are unable to fully exploit available heterogeneous hardware, where one needs to exploit task-parallelism of CPUs and data-parallelism of GPUs for processing data stored in a deep, noncache-coherent memory hierarchy with widely varying access latencies and bandwidth.
In this paper, we introduce HetExchange-a parallel query execution framework that encapsulates the heterogeneous parallelism of modern multi-CPU-multi-GPU servers and enables the parallelization of (pre-)existing sequential relational operators. In contrast to the interpreted nature of traditional Exchange, HetExchange is designed to be used in conjunction with JIT compiled engines in order to allow a tight integration with the proposed operators and generation of efficient code for heterogeneous hardware. We validate the applicability and efficiency of our design by building a prototype that can operate over both CPUs and GPUs, and enables its operators to be parallelism- and data-location-agnostic. In doing so, we show that efficiently exploiting CPU-GPU parallelism can provide 2.8x and 6.4x improvement in performance compared to state-of-the-art CPU-based and GPU-based DBMS.
In the last years, modern servers are adopting hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, in order to improve their power efficiency and computational capacity. Modern analytical query processing engines are highly optimized for multi-core multi-CPU query execution, but lack the necessary abstractions to support concurrent hardware-conscious query execution over multiple heterogeneous devices and exploit the available accelerators.
This work presents a Heterogeneity-conscious Analytical query Processing Engine (HAPE), a blueprint for hardware-conscious analytical engines for efficient and concurrent multi-CPU multi-GPU query execution. HAPE decomposes query execution on heterogeneous hardware into, 1) efficient single-device and 2) concurrent multi-device query execution. It uses hardware-conscious algorithms designed for single-device execution and combines them into efficient intra-device hardware-conscious execution modules, via code generation. HAPE combines these modules to achieve multi-device execution by handling data and control transfers.
We validate our design by building a prototype and evaluating its performance using radix-join co-processing and the TPC-H benchmark. We show that it achieves up to 10x and 3.5x speed-up on the radix-join against CPU and GPU alternatives, respectively, and 1.6x-8x against state-of-the-art CPU- and GPU-based commercial DBMSs on the selected TPC-H queries.
Industry and academia are continuously becoming more data-driven and data-intensive, relying on the analysis of a wide variety of heterogeneous datasets to gain insights. The different data models and formats pose a significant challenge on performing analysis over a combination of diverse datasets. Serving all queries using a single, general-purpose query engine is slow. On the other hand, using a specialized engine for each heterogeneous dataset increases complexity: queries touching a combination of datasets require an integration layer over the different engines.
This paper presents a system design that natively supports heterogeneous data formats and also minimizes query execution times. For multi-format support, the design uses an expressive query algebra which enables operations over various data models. For minimal execution times, it uses a code generation mechanism to mimic the system and storage most appropriate to answer a query fast. We validate our design by building Proteus, a query engine which natively supports queries over CSV, JSON, and relational binary data, and which specializes itself to each query, dataset, and workload via code generation. Proteus outperforms state-of-the-art opensource and commercial systems on both synthetic and real-world workloads without being tied to a single data model or format, all while exposing users to a single query interface.
As the size of data and its heterogeneity increase, traditional database system architecture becomes an obstacle to data analysis. Integrating and ingesting (loading) data into databases is quickly becoming a bottleneck in face of massive data as well as increasingly heterogeneous data formats. Still, state-of-the-art approaches typically rely on copying and transforming data into one (or few) repositories. Queries, on the other hand, are often ad-hoc and supported by pre-cooked operators which are not adaptive enough to optimize access to data. As data formats and queries increasingly vary, there is a need to depart from the current status quo of static query processing primitives and build dynamic, fully adaptive architectures.
We build ViDa, a system which reads data in its raw format and processes queries using adaptive, just-in-time operators. Our key insight is use of virtualization, i.e., abstracting data and manipulating it regardless of its original format, and dynamic generation of operators. ViDa’s queryengine is generated just-in-time; its caches and its query operators adapt to the current query and the workload, while also treating raw datasets as its native storage structures. Finally, ViDa features a language expressive enough to support heterogeneous data models, and to which existing languages can be translated. Users therefore have the power to choose the language best suited for an analysis.


SMOK RPM 80 OPEN POD KIT
the RPM80 appears as you required! It is small in size but has a battery capacity of 18650mAh and a power range of 1W-80W for you to adjust. The internal IQ-R chip is a new one, shortening the firing time to 0.001S, and charging time to two hours. Besides, the newly designed RPM Mesh 0.4Ω Coil is designed for the best flavor and excellent vapor production. Innovation keeps changing the vaping experience!
Smok RPM80 Pod System Kit Includes:
1 x Smok RPM80 Pod
1 x RPM Standard Pod (RPM Mesh 0.4ohm Coil Preinstalled)
1 x RPM Nord Pod (Nord DC 0.6ohm Coil Preinstalled)
1 x USB Cable
1 x User Manual


(this article originally appeared in thenextweb.com and was written by Paul McNeil)
The coronavirus pandemic has clearly accelerated our dependency on technology, online activities, and artificial intelligence. AI is particularly important for businesses as it enables personalized services on a massive scale, and customers are increasingly demanding it.
However, not every company has the knowledge or the tools to implement AI, nor do they know what is required from them to become AI-driven. In this post, I will discuss what options these companies have.
It is important to note that while many of the methods described below assist no-coders, they are also suitable for developers, who can enjoy the extra development speed they bring in.
Ever since I was learning to program, the idea of developing a tool that could create applications with plain English commands was floating around. Many years later, OpenAI’s GPT-3 managed to get quite close to this idea as we saw demonstrations of code and HTML markup being written by the text generator.
GPT-3 stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3, which demonstrates the idea of training an AI on colossal amounts of data, then using that built-in knowledge to get stunning results for new tasks with little or no training. GPT-3 was trained using huge amounts of data including, among others, Common Crawl and Wikipedia. But more importantly, it was on supercomputers which enabled it to amass 175 billion parameter values, making it the largest AI model developed to date.
This has enabled the AI to use its current learnings and transform it to apply to other tasks. Transformative AI has many advantages, as it takes much less time to train and gives a head start compared to developing from scratch. It also makes AI much more accessible: companies only need to share their specific data with the model to make it their own. For instance, Anyline’s no-code AI trainer helps companies build their own text reader solutions (such as ID scanners or license plate readers). Customers simply upload their data into the trainer, which automatically tunes the neural networks for them to produce a customized OCR scanner.
Users do not need to learn how the system works or what the source code and architecture of the application look like—all they need to do is to feed the data they want intelligence on, and the AI adjusts accordingly.
Of course, some degree of AI knowledge is still necessary. According to Drew Conway’s Data Science Venn Diagram, effective development and implementation of AI requires two important skills: hacking skills, and math and statistics knowledge. Without these components in place, companies risk developing an AI that works well in lab settings but fails in when faced with real-world problems.
No-code or low-code
Another popular approach has been no-code and low-code platforms, which enable companies to develop their applications through simple drag-and-drop interfaces. No-code and low-code tools are the next battle frontier of the tech giants, as proven by Amazon’s late entry with its Honeycode platform. We are looking at a $13.2 billion market, which is projected to reach $45.5 billion by 2025.
According to Raj Koneru, the CEO and founder of conversational AI platform Kore.ai, no-code has many benefits. “No-code platform can be easily customized for developing an application. The effort that usually took a few weeks or months before can now be completed in a few hours or days,” Koneru says. This results not only in reduced time-to-market, but also reduced cost and dependency on IT and expensive development teams.
Another benefit is that no-code platforms are easily customizable. According to Koneru, no-code platforms enable you to “implement new logic and can have the changes ready in a matter of hours.” More importantly, it gives power to the people who use the platform most. They can now implement what they need on the fly without the need to explain things to another IT developer.
But no-code platforms also have their drawbacks. Many such platforms are cloud-based, and they tend to lock in clients in the long run. This makes changing platforms down the road problematic and time-consuming. Also, no-code applications tend to work well within their defined boundaries, but the struggle as soon as users need extra features that go beyond the built-in capabilities of the system.
Of course, there are ways to overcome these problems. For instance, while Kore.ai offers a drag-and-drop interface for virtual assistant builders, it also grants API connections to developers which gives them much more freedom to develop extra features. The same goes for Radial, an AI platform that helps e-commerce businesses analyze their customers. They offer a plug-and-play solution for regular users and API tools for more advanced clients.
The optimal approach
The importance of AI cannot be underestimated. Without extracting value and information from data, companies will be at a competitive disadvantage. What approach you take depends on your business needs and technical capabilities. Between transformer learning, no-code, and low-code platforms, the optimal approach would be one that would enable you to reach your business goals and offer a moderate interface to develop applications without prohibiting you to move beyond the platform’s offerings.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC (September 8, 2021) – Today, the Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) announced the addition of Sudip Parikh, CEO of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals, to the Advisory Board. The JSPG advisory board is composed of some of the most distinguished leaders in science, technology, and innovation policy and governance.
Members of the JSPG advisory board share our mission of empowering students and early career researchers to substantively engage in the policymaking and debate process through rigorous research and clear and concise writing.
“I am honored to join the advisory board of the Journal of Science Policy & Governance and applaud the team at JSPG for their dedication to offering an outlet for students and early-career researchers interested in science policy research and writing," said Sudip Parikh.
“Over the past decade, JSPG’s advisory board has helped catalyze the engagement of students and early career scholars in international debate and discourse in science, technology and innovation policy. As a well-recognized figure in this field, Sudip Parikh has made significant contributions to the science policy landscape at multiple levels,” said Adriana Bankston, JSPG CEO. “We are delighted to welcome Sudip Parikh to the JSPG advisory board and look forward to continued collaborations with AAAS around our common mission to develop the next generation of science policy leaders.”
Sudip Parikh joins the JSPG advisory board alongside other distinguished leaders who have been at the forefront of science policy for many years and in many cases have defined the field as we know it today. We are grateful for their continued guidance and expertise as we enter the next decade of innovation for the journal. Read more about Sudip Parikh here.
The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is a nonprofit organization and open-access peer- reviewed publication managed by and for students, policy fellows, and young scholars in science, technology, and innovation policy. Since 2011, JSPG has served as a vehicle for students and early career researchers to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. Visit sciencepolicyjournal.org and follow on Twitter @SciPolJournal to learn more.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For additional information about AAAS, see aaas.org.


DJI Mavic Pro Platinum Fly More Combo
DJI Mavic Pro Platinum Fly More Combo
*Ships to Australia Only
- Flight time: up to 30 mins
- Control range: up to 7km
- Noise reduction: up to 4dB
- Gimbal: 3-axis
- Video resolution: 4K
- Camera resolution: 12MP
Enhanced Endurance, Quieter Flight
New FOC sinusoidal driver ESCs and 8331 propellers mean that up to 4dB (60%) of aircraft noise has been lowered during takeoff and landing, and the Mavic Pro Platinum’s maximum flight time has been extended to 30 minutes, providing a quieter and more enjoyable flight experience. The 8331 propellers have a brand new aerodynamic design giving the Mavic Pro Platinum an impressive noise control performance, and new FOC ESC drivers offer sinusoidal current for increased stability.
OcuSync long-range-transmission technology is capable of relaying a signal up to 4.3 miles line-of-sight while supporting 720p HD video (1080p HD transmission in short-range mode). Every time you fly, OcuSync scans a range of available frequencies to find and use the one with the least interference to give you more reliability and control. Tightly integrated with the DJI GO app, OcuSync transfers vital statistics of the Mavic to you in real time, and can also be used to download photos and videos at up to 40 Mbps while flying.
12MP Raw/JPEG Still Photos
Every photo you take with the Mavic can be as big as 12 megapixels, with the ability to save in DNG raw or JPEG. You can even flip the camera 90-degrees for portrait oriented shots, just like you do with your phone.
UHD 4K and Full HD 1080P Videos
The Mavic Pro camera shoots 4K video (up to 4096 x 2160) at 30 frames per second and Full HD 1080p at 96 frames per second, so you can create incredible slow motion. Its minimum focusing distance is just 19", making it perfect for everything from the ultimate aerial selfies to landscape shots.
With ActiveTrack, just tell the Mavic who to track and it handles the rest. No GPS bracelets or transmitters are required. The Mavic has been trained to detect and recognize a number of common subjects including people, bike riders, vehicles, and even animals. Once you have marked your subject, you can fly around them to create a huge variety of shots, depending on the mode you are in. As the Mavic is tracking, you can even select exactly where you want the subject in the frame.
Three modes are available:
- Follow behind or in front of your subject, or circle it as it moves
- Fly alongside your subject
- Keep the camera trained on your subject while you fly almost anywhere
When you tap on your phone's screen, software translates your touch into a heading, including whether you want it to climb or descend. When you want to change direction, just tap somewhere else on your screen and the Mavic will smoothly turn to the new destination.
When you are flying over changing terrain, like following bikers riding uphill, the Mavic's Terrain Follow function uses height information gathered by the on-board ultrasonic system, and its downward-facing cameras to keep you flying at the same height above the ground even as the ground moves. Just set the height from the ground you want — from 9 to 33' — and focus on getting the right shot.
Sport Mode was designed for fun, giving the Mavic a top speed of 40 mph, all the while ramping up agility and responsiveness, to give you a taste of drone racing. You can also use it to film something fast, or zip out to catch a shot before the moment passes. Even in Sport Mode, the Mavic will stop immediately if you let go of the controls.
FlightAutonomy is the Mavic's brain and nervous system: a complex network of hardware and software that includes five cameras, GPS/GLONASS, a pair of ultrasonic range finders, redundant sensors, and a group of 24 CPUs to process and fuse all of this information
The Mavic is able to position itself accurately in a range of environments, beyond what is possible using basic "optical flow" technology, which depends on a single downward-facing camera and assumes that the ground below is always flat. Mavic is able to sense its environment in 3-dimensions and react to it, ensuring it hovers steadily, whether it is high up on the side of a cliff where downward sensors have no target, or under a forest canopy where satellite positioning is blocked and the ground is covered in uneven markings and obstacles.
As the Mavic flies, it scans the world around it, creating a 3D map that tells it exactly where it can fly and what it needs to avoid. Because it uses vision processing, it can see up to 98' in front and can accurately measure distance up to 49' in front, making it significantly more accurate than sonar based avoidance technologies. When the Mavic detects an obstacle and sees a way around it, it will simply adjust its route to fly around it. If it can't see a way around, it will slow to a stop gently and hover until you tell it what to do next.
In flight, the Mavic uses its compass to tell it where it is heading and the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to tell it how it is flying. An interruption in the data flow from either of these may cause it to fly less reliably, which is why the Mavic has not one, but two of each. Whenever the system detects an inconsistency in one, it switches to the other, keeping your flight steady and reliable.
DJI Goggle Compatibility
The separately available DJI Goggle are FPV goggles designed to make flying totally immersive. The feature two 1080p LTPS displays with a wide 85° angle of view to give you a bird's eye view of the world around you. Built-in OcuSync connectivity means that it links directly to the Mavic and not through a cable or a Wi-Fi link to the controller. This seamless connection yields a delay of only 120 milliseconds.
In The Box
- 1x Aircraft
- 1x Remote Controller
- 3x Intelligent Flight Battery
- 1x Charger
- 1x Power Cable
- 2x Gold Tip Propellers(Pair)
- 3x Platinum Tip Propellers(Pair)
- 1x RC Cable(Lightning)1x Battery Charging Hub
- 1x Car Charger
- 1x RC Cable(Micro USB)
- 1x RC Cable(USB Type-C)
- 1x Gimbal Cover
- 1x Gimbal Clamp
- 1x 16 GB Micro SD
- 1x Micro USB Cable
- 2x RC Cable Slider(Large)
- 2x RC Cable Slider(Small)
- 1x Battery to Power Bank Adaptor
- 1x Shoulder Bag


1. ANY piece of conducting material will work as an antenna on any frequency.
Even a straightened paper clip will work on 160 Meters. All we have to do is properly match the the transmitter to the the paper clip, and the paper clip will radiate ALL of the power fed to it! The aperture of this antenna will have a radius of 5/32 wavelength (.079 sq. wavelengths cross section area); essentially this is close to the theoretical "Isotropic" source. If this antenna is located in "free space", the radiation will be almost equal in all directions.
2. The ONLY reason for building sophisticated antennas is to allow us to CONTROL THE RADIATION PATTERN.
The radiation pattern is controlled by focusing the radiated energy. The geometry of the antenna and the proximity of near-by objects are the main controlling factors.
The total amount of energy radiated remains constant for a given transmitter output power. When this energy is focused, the energy radiated in one or more directions will be increased, and the energy radiated in other directions will decrease. This is what gives an antenna "gain".
3. An antenna has an aperture similar to that of a camera lens. The aperture of an isotropic source is a circle with a diameter of 5/16 wavelength.
The aperture of a dipole antenna is roughly the shape of a rugby ball (elliptical) when viewed from a point 90 degrees from the line of the conductor.
The cross section area of the aperture of a dipole is 1.64 times that of an isotropic source.
When A1 = aperture of a dipole and A2 = aperture of an Isotropic Source:
4. The Dipole antenna.
Contrary to popular belief, the dipole is so named because it has two electrical poles, not two physical poles; it also has two zeros and could have been called a di-zero antenna. When the length is such that the poles are at ends of the conductor and the zeros are at the center, the antenna will be exactly 1/2 wavelength long.
A dipole antenna is exactly 1/2 wavelength long.
A dipole is most commonly fed at the center, where it presents a pure resistive, balanced, 68 Ohm (R68j0) load to the feed line (this is why the popular misconception of two physical poles).
A dipole can be fed anywhere along its length, however CENTER FED and END FED are the most common, and the easiest.
5. The effects of APERTURE INTERFERENCE.
Anything that enters into the aperture of an antenna will affect the operation of the antenna. The effects are pattern distortion, skewing of balance, change of feed impedance and resonant frequency shift; in other words - everything we want to control.
Sometimes it is desirable to cause intentional aperture interference. Placing other conductors into the aperture will cause severe pattern distortion. This can be beneficial when this distortion takes place in such a manner as to focus the radiated energy into a tight beam. This is the basic operating principle of parasitic beam antennas.
6. Ground mounted vertical antennas.
One common practice is to mount one half of a dipole vertically on a conducting surface (ground plane). This reduces the size of the aperture by 50%, resulting in a 3 dB loss. As we have seen, a dipole has 2.15 dB gain over an isotropic source; if a 1/4 wavelength antenna on a ground plane has 3 dB loss as compared to a dipole, that means that the "1/4 wave" antenna has 0.85 dB loss as compared to an isotropic source. Some antenna manufacturers express the gain of their products as "gain over a 1/4 wave". An antenna advertized as having 3 dB gain over a 1/4 wave is the same as as an antenna having 2.15 dBi gain or 0 dBd gain. It's the same antenna - the bigger numbers are just that - bigger numbers!
A somewhat less common practice is to mount a vertical dipole directly on the ground. This practice is fraught with problems. A portion of the aperture is beneath the ground. This induces large currents into the ground surrounding the antenna. With the high (and uncontrollable) ground resistance, these currents result in substantial voltage drops. The power lost to heating the ground does nothing more than make the worms uncomfortable. These losses can be reduced to acceptable levels by installing an extensive ground system (90 - 1/2 wavelength long radial wires placed on the ground at 4 degree spacing is about minimum). The severe aperture interference also causes the antenna to exhibit a high angle of radiation. It would be easier (and cheaper) to elevate the antenna far enough so that the aperture does not touch the ground.
7. Elevated vertical antennas:
One attempt at elevating a dipole antenna resulted in what is commonly known as the 5/8 wavelength vertical antenna. The theory goes something like this:
Alas, it does not perform as expected. There is considerable mismatch between the antenna and the high impedance, single conductor feed line, resulting in radiation from that line. This would not be all bad except that this radiation is in the wrong direction (30-45 degrees up depending on ground conductivity). This approach also did not eliminate the need for an extensive grounding system. Because this antenna does exhibit some gain (approx. 2.9 dB) over a 1/4 wave whip, it has become a sort of de-facto standard for VHF and UHF mobile operation.
Another approach to the problem is the "J-Pole" antenna. In this design, the antenna is elevated at least 1/4 wavelength above ground, thus eliminating the ground losses and "normalizing" the radiation pattern. The Impedance matching between the low impedance feed line and the high impedance of the end of the dipole is accomplished with an open wire stub matching network. A shorting bar is placed at one end of a 1/4 wavelength of open wire line, the dipole is then connected to the open end, and the feed line is connected at the point where the impedance of the feed line matches the impedance of the stub. If Co-axial cable feed line is to be used, a BalUn MUST be used. Attempts to feed this antenna directly with co-ax have met with disastrous results. The 0 Ohms reference point is at the center of the short, NOT somewhere up the side of the "J".
Yet another workable solution to the problem is to use a co-axial stub matching network. The advantages of this approach are that it can be fed directly with co-axial cable, a large reduction in wind resistance making it suitable for mobile operation and its total independence from ground. The major disadvantage is the extreme difficulty of construction. Unless special (expensive) tooling and fixturing is available, it is almost impossible to assemble the matching network! Although it can be done, this antenna is easier (and much cheaper) to purchase (mass produced) than it is to build just one!
8. The PROPER and COMPLETE match.
The match between an antenna and its feed line is only proper and complete when the following conditions are met:
a. The antenna impedance is matched to the feed line impedance. The only "right way" to do this is to use a matching network between the feed line and the antenna. ANY adjustments made to the antenna in order to achieve impedance matching will change the radiation pattern of the antenna.
b. The antenna balance is matched to the feed line balance. When feeding a balanced antenna, a balanced feed line MUST be used. Conversely, when feeding an unbalanced antenna, an unbalanced feed line MUST be used. When it is necessary to mix balances, a BalUn MUST be used. This can be incorporated into the design of the matching network.
9. 1:1 VSWR does NOT indicate resonance.
The Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is only the ratio between the impedances of the feed line and the load.
If we connect a 50 Ohm resistor at one end of a piece of 50 Ohm co-axial cable, and connect a transmitter and SWR meter at the other end, the VSWR will be 1:1. The resistor is NOT, by any means, resonant.
If we connect a resonant antenna that has a feed impedance of 272 Ohms to the end of that piece of co-ax (ignoring any resonance effects of the co-ax), the VSWR will be 5.44:1.
It is possible to cut a piece of feed line to just the right length, and measure a 1:1 VSWR at the transmitter end of that feed line -- the actual VSWR on this line is (infinity):1.
The only practical way to measure the resonant frequency of an antenna is to use a DIP METER at the antenna.
10. High VSWR does NOT cause feed line radiation.
Most radiation from co-axial cable is caused by terminating this unbalanced feed line with a balanced load. The remainder of the radiation is due to other problems such as: dis-continuities in the outer conductor (braid corrosion is a major factor), improperly installed connectors and signal pickup caused by routing the feed line too close to, and parallel to the antenna.
Contrary to popular belief, properly terminated and installed open wire line does not radiate. Even with infinite SWR, the fields surrounding each wire cancel each other at a distance roughly equal to the wire spacing distance away from the line. Terminating the line in an unbalanced load, or causing anything to come within the "field space" will cause unbalance in the line, thus allowing the line to radiate.
11. Antenna Gain Information.
There are four ways of expressing antenna gain. These are:
|dBi||Gain over an isotropic source (a theoretical antenna having no dimensions: a geometric point).|
|dBd||Gain over a dipole (0 dBd = 2.15 dBi).|
|dBq||Gain over a quarter wavelength whip (bigger numbers than dBi).|
|dBadv||LARGE RANDOM numbers generated by the advertizing and marketing departments at some antenna companies. These departments are sometimes known as the "S and M" (Smoke and Mirrors) groups.|
Sad to say, but the advertized gain claims of most large antenna companies are out and out fraudulent. Because most users of antennas can't separate the real numbers from the phony, they wind up paying big money for junk and the honest antenna companies suffer. With lower sales, the honest companies have smaller R&D budgets. New and better products don't get produced. Everyone loses.
This antenna gain chart shows the maximum theoretical (minus a small allowance for system losses) gain achievable from arrays of closely spaced co-linear dipole elements. Dimensions shown are for elements almost touching; the actual heights may be slightly more due to phasing networks used between the dipole elements.
Number of Overall Height Co-Linear Gain Gain 2 Meters 70 Centimeters Elements dBd dBi Meters Feet Meters Feet
1 0.00 2.15 0.98 3.2 0.32 1.0 2 2.15 4.25 1.95 6.4 0.64 2.1 4 4.25 6.35 3.90 12.8 1.28 4.2 8 6.35 8.45 7.81 25.6 2.56 8.4 16 8.45 10.55 15.62 51.2 5.11 16.8 32 10.55 12.65 31.23 102.5 10.22 33.5 64 12.65 14.75 62.47 204.9 20.45 67.1 128 14.75 16.85 124.93 409.9 40.90 134.2 256 16.85 18.95 249.86 819.8 81.79 268.4 512 18.95 21.05 499.73 1639.5 163.59 536.7 1024 21.05 23.15 999.45 3279.0 327.17 1073.4


VP of Platform Architecture
Tim Millet has been at Apple for 16 years and has served as the vice president of platform architecture since 2015. His group develops Apple’s system-on-chip architecture. In this role, Millet oversaw the rollout of the A14 chip, which is capable of 11 trillion calculations per second. That’s a huge leap over the 2017 iPhone X, the first with face unlocking, which could process 600 billion operations per second. He holds over 60 patents.