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Amazon brand story; A store for everything
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Amazon brand story; A store for everything
Amazon became a full-fledged empire with the Machiavellian leadership of Jeff Bezos; An extremely successful company, always greedy and unstoppable. Only Bezos knew how to expand the boundaries of his dominance in the midst of the never-ending competitive war of the big tech companies.
This article was updated on the occasion of Amazon’s founding anniversary on July 15, 1403.
Jeff Bezos chose Seattle to start Amazon because he knew very well that he would find the technical talent he wanted in this area; Because that was the city of Microsoft. Thus, the history of Amazon became a narrative that motivated entrepreneurial students for years; The story of starting a business from a home garage and leading it to reach the pinnacle of technology and even beyond imagination.
Amazon is now celebrating its 30th anniversary as the world’s largest e-commerce company. The brand derives the majority of its operating profit from segments such as cloud computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the generative artificial intelligence platform Bedrock. In the field of media, Amazon has entered the “streaming world” with Amazon Prime Video and seeks to maintain and increase its share of the subscription market.
Amazon’s origins are rooted in third-party seller services, subscription services, and advertising. The spokesperson of the company defined his goal in a conversation with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as follows:
We naturally want to achieve the maximum sales possible, and we pursue this goal by improving the overall customer experience. By lowering prices, improving accessibility, delivering orders faster, expanding the range of choices and providing product information, Amazon provides people with a platform that is easy to use and earns their trust.
But to this day, Jeff Bezos and his company have repeatedly made headlines not only for their pioneering services but also for the sad, scary, and controversial stories that have leaked out of the company’s giant warehouses. Join us to review the ups and downs of Amazon over the past 30 years.
History of establishment
In 1994, Jeff Bezos was looking at the phenomenon of “The Internet” and was thinking about the results of the reports that they had written about the huge growth of the World Wide Web during the past year. He deeply believed that there must be a way to take advantage of this rapid growth, so he spent several weeks working late into the night on various ideas.
The online store was the most reasonable and futuristic plan that did not leave the mind of Jeff Bezos. After careful consideration, he made a list of 20 products that were more likely to be sold online; Then he narrowed the list down to five items and finally came to the conclusion that there is no better option than books to get started.
Bezos’s decision to leave his good job at DE Shaw was opposed by his boss and his family; But Bezos was determined to implement his idea, even if he failed and had to return from the world of entrepreneurship to the lifestyle of an employee.
The development of the experimental version of the platform began in the garage of Bezos’ house in the suburbs of Seattle, and it took some time for the team to rent a two-bedroom apartment.
Jeff Bezos in the early years of launching Amazon’s online bookstore
Bezos launched his startup with the name Cadabra in July 1994, and when a lawyer heard the name of the startup mistakenly as Cadaver (which means corpse) during his phone conversations with him, he realized that he had to change the name before the company was officially registered.
When Jeff Bezos chose the name of his startup, he was fascinated by the wonder of the river and the Amazon jungle.
In September of the same year, he bought the domain name Relentless.com, but his friends convinced him that this word was worse than the previous name of the startup and would not have a good impression in the minds of customers. After that, Bezos went to the dictionary and came across the word Amazon in the same letter A.
Read more: The story of the Tesla brand
Amazon is one of the largest rivers in the world and the Amazon forest is one of the strangest and most diverse places on the planet. These qualities were exactly what he wanted from his business: greatness and inclusiveness.
In the first days of work, every time the company registered an order, a bell rang in the office. Then all the employees would gather to see if they knew the buyer or not; But just a few weeks later, the number of orders had increased so much that such a thing was not possible. Amazon had shipped books to 50 US states and more than 45 different countries in the first two months of its launch.
The interesting thing is that Bezos got a million dollar capital for the development of the first platform from his former colleagues on Wall Street, his university classmates, and of course his family. At this stage, his parents invested more than 300,000 dollars in their son’s new business.
Amazon sent books to 50 US states and more than 45 different countries in two months
Bezos later said that from the beginning he viewed Amazon as a technology company, not a bookstore. By the way, this vision was ridiculed by the tech people at the time, to the point where Barron’s magazine published a cartoon of Bezos with the headline “Amazon. bomb”.
In 2021, Bezos, who still remembered the story of the cover of Barron’s magazine, published the same photo on X social network and wrote:
Listen to opposing voices and keep an open mind; But don’t let anyone tell you where you stand. [Barron’s] was just one of those stories telling us that all the ways we’re going will fail in the future; But today, Amazon has become one of the most successful companies in the world and has revolutionized two completely different industries.
General store
Bezos envisioned a global online retail platform, starting with books and eventually expanding into the realms of industrial stores, sporting goods, jewelry, food, music, and video, as well as working with independent retailers and beyond. would find Amazon was supposed to be the “everything” store.
Bezos’ management motto was a three-word phrase emblazoned on employees’ T-shirts: “Grow Fast.” Like many startups, Amazon experienced rapid growth in the beginning and then consecutive quarterly losses.
Although Amazon’s sales and cash flow were strong, most of the revenue was spent on updating the platform as well as improving services such as reducing delivery times and inventory management and control. In 2003, Amazon made a positive profit for the first time.
Bezos had designed Amazon’s business strategy in such a way that it would not require any warehouses, but in 1997 the company had to abandon the original plans. When the team set out to find the first warehouse, no one thought that one day thousands of small and large Amazon warehouses would appear all over the United States.
Amazon printed its slogan on its employees’ t-shirts: “Grow fast”
On its way to becoming the world’s largest e-commerce company, Amazon opened its doors to other sellers in 2000, giving independent retailers space to offer a variety of new, used, refurbished, or unique items.
According to the plan, Amazon remained the host platform for the retailers and handled much of the logistics in exchange for transaction fees. Sellers’ acceptance of Amazon’s services made this company introduce the service “Fulfillment by Amazon” or FBA; In this way, sellers could send their inventory to Amazon’s warehouses by paying a higher fee so that the company handles the processes of storage, shipping and delivery of goods, as well as customer relationship management services for them.
Amazon’s third-party seller services continued to grow, and by 2023, it would account for about 60% of the company’s total e-commerce sales.
The world of cloud computing and storage: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Jeff Bezos’ vision of Amazon as a technology company was largely realized with the launch of the AWS division in 2002. In the early years, this department provided developers and marketers with data on Internet traffic patterns, website popularity, and other key statistics.
Since 2006, the AWS division has offered its cloud computing and infrastructure services to companies and businesses that could not (or did not want to) invest in a separate infrastructure for hosting and storing their processing. Amazon’s first step in this direction was the introduction of S3 service; A scalable storage service that allowed users to store and retrieve their data and files with high security.
AWS event to introduce Amazon cloud services to technology businesses
AWS provides the cloud infrastructure of many world-renowned companies
Another service that led to AWS’s significant growth was Amazon’s EC2 computing service, which allowed users to create and manage their own virtual machines in the cloud.
Today, Amazon Web Services provides processing, storage and cloud data center infrastructure for millions of businesses around the world, including well-known companies such as BMW, Netflix, Disney, and General Electric.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Moderna Company managed to produce COVID-19 vaccines in a short period of time with the help of Amazon’s computing services.
Moderna brought the COVID-19 vaccine to the production stage using AWS cloud services
By 2023, Amazon’s web service had about one-third of the cloud market and stood above Microsoft Azure and Alphabet’s Google Cloud. AWS is also a very profitable business for Amazon, historically providing 15-18% of the company’s total sales and about 50% of Amazon’s operating income.
Subscription services: Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime was introduced in 2005 as a membership program for Amazon’s service collection and began its work by offering two-day delivery of custom packages in the United States. The number of subscribers of this program reached more than 200 million people in 19 countries by 2023. Jeff Bezos says:
Amazon Prime’s success shows how a customer-centric business can monetize its customers in a way that doesn’t make them feel taken advantage of. People should get what they want as soon as possible and move on with their lives.
A collection of Amazon Prime services
Amazon introduced Prime Music in 2007 as an ad-free music streaming service that was included in the standard Amazon Prime subscription. The segment’s services changed in 2022, and although its music catalog had expanded significantly, its streaming style changed to the Pandora platform or listening to radio broadcasts.
Prime Music was the forerunner of the Amazon Music subscription service, which users had to pay a separate fee to use and instead had no restrictions on choosing or rejecting songs.
Prime Video was introduced in 2006 as Amazon’s streaming service for movies and TV series. Over time, Prime Video became one of the largest online video streaming services in the world, which had much wider facilities and also produced film and television works.
Jeff Bezos was personally involved in the negotiations for the Lord of the Rings TV series
For example, Amazon paid $250 million in 2017 to secure the rights to make the Lord of the Rings TV show, and this issue was so important to Bezos that he personally attended the negotiation and contract meetings.
Prime Day: In 2015, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, Amazon held an event called Amazon Prime Day, which was actually a 24-hour celebration and Amazon included hundreds of products with great discounts. This event was somewhat similar to Black Friday and was so well received by users that Amazon made it an annual tradition.
Prime Gaming: Amazon’s video game service started in 2016 under the name Twitch Prime and four years later was rebranded as Prime Gaming. Prime Gaming subscribers have access to free and exclusive games, game packs, exclusive content and internal Amazon store discounts, and can also receive a free game every month.
Prime Air: The initial plan of sending orders with drones was proposed in 2013, but its development continued until a few years later. Amazon’s drones were supposed to deliver small packages (with a maximum weight of 2.5 kg) from the company’s local centers to customers in less than 30 minutes.
It took seven years for the initial tests and government approvals of this program, but its implementation was again delayed; Because each state had to agree to the flights separately.
Alexa: the world’s most popular virtual assistant
In 2011, one of Amazon’s subsidiaries, Lab126, which was responsible for the research and development of many of the company’s projects, including the popular product “Kindle Reader”, secretly began developing a computer that was controlled by voice commands.
In order to obtain the necessary information to complete the project, Lab126 purchased several startups, one of which was the Polish startup Ivona. Alexa was developed based on this startup’s hybrid and speech program.
The supply of Alexa with Amazon Echo speakers
Jeff Bezos wanted a system with hundreds of different voices, each of them performing a specific set of tasks; But David Lamp, the company’s chief executive, disagreed with his decision. He says:
Bezos’ idea provided a magical experience for users, but accessing it was not an easy task and required many inventions.
The demand for “Echo” speakers with the Alexa program reached more than 100 million units in 2019, and Amazon gained 70% of the global market share of American virtual assistants.
Of course, Amazon did not limit the Alexa project to the level of speakers and brought it to display smart TVs and even car systems, mobile phones, and headphones. The main competitors of this virtual assistant are Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, and Samsung’s Bixby.
As Alexa evolved, so did concerns about the data collected from users, as Amazon has thus far shown an endless appetite for access to more data.
Alexa’s Big Language Model Introduction event
In 2023, David Lamp , the chief executive of Amazon’s hardware division, announced that the company would use its large language model to evolve Alexa. He said:
Alexa’s language model is optimized solely for our AI assistant’s use cases and has nothing in common with chatbots like Google Bard or ChatGPT.
It was clear that Amazon did not want to act hastily in this field and face the same problems as Google and Microsoft. Lamp explained about this:
When you connect a large language model to the real world, you need to minimize illusions. Although we think we have the right systems in place, we need to do all the necessary testing before releasing this product to the real world.
Whole Foods and physical stores
Amazon’s presence in the grocery market dates back to 2006 and the launch of the Amazon Fresh service. In 2017, Amazon took a big step by buying the chain stores Whole Foods (Whole Foods) to eliminate competitors such as Walmart and Target.
The purchase of Whole Foods was Amazon’s biggest move to beat rivals like Walmart and Target
Amazon also opened 22 branches of the retail chain called Amazon Go, where there were no salespeople.
There are no salespeople or cashiers in Amazon Go stores
When customers enter the store, their phone barcodes are scanned. Customers would then walk the length of the store, and pick up the items they wanted, and cameras and sensors on the shelves would record their purchases. This process became famous in the world under the name of Just Walk Out.
Pharmacies and medical clinics
In 2017, Amazon bought the PillPack online pharmacy company for $735 million and covered its services. Three years later the e-commerce giant launched its own independent pharmacies, a move it called “the biggest push ever to the health care business.”
In order to use the services of Amazon pharmacies, users had to create a profile with their real name and details and record their medical and insurance information in it; But Amazon’s efforts in the field of medicine did not end there, and the company introduced its virtual clinics for patients aged 18 to 64 from 2022.
Amazon in the age of artificial intelligence: from Badrak to Anthropic
Three decades ago, Amazon took the first steps that were the background of today’s artificial intelligence by analyzing customer behavior and developing advanced models for suggesting products to users. Amazon executives have always emphasized the principle of improving the consumer experience, but the reality was that the best way to increase the revenue generation of different parts of the company was to develop machine learning algorithms that operate based on user data.
Later, “Alexa Shopping” through natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms analyzed and implemented all user requests from adding items to the shopping cart to placing orders. This seamless integration of AI into the shopping experience cemented Amazon’s position as one of the leading technology companies.
Amazon uses Nvidia chips and servers to develop its artificial intelligence department
Cooperation with Nvidia was another key decision of Amazon in the field of taking advantage of advanced deep learning and AI technologies. By purchasing a large number of powerful processors and servers from Nvidia, this company tried to increase the speed of artificial intelligence training and interpretation of tasks as high as possible and process a huge amount of data in a shorter period of time with more accuracy.
In 2023, Amazon, like many large technology companies, was influenced by the success of ChatGPT and invested $4 billion in artificial intelligence startup Anthropic to compete with Microsoft, which had previously invested $13 billion in OpenAI.
Before this important contract, which is considered the largest AWS commercial contract, Amazon had a history of cooperation with Entropic in its portfolio, and Amazon customers had access to Entropic’s main artificial intelligence model, Claude, through the Bedrock program, and its services in Amazon’s local models. and used by third-party applications.
In the continuation of 2023, Amazon unveiled its various artificial intelligence projects, such as the artificial intelligence chatbot “Q” and the text-to-image conversion tool “Titan”.
From robotic systems to harrowing reports of workers’ lives: what’s going on in Amazon’s warehouses?
The rapid growth of the Amazon empire was accompanied by the development of the company’s internal automation systems. In the early years of the company’s establishment, the workers were in charge of all the warehousing matters, arranging and finding the goods, but a decade ago, the sorting of warehouses started with the help of computer systems.
In 2022, Amazon announced that by introducing robots and automation systems such as Cardinal, Sparrow, Proteus, and the warehouse space system, it is still working on optimizing these devices.
Digit robot working in Amazon warehouse
Siddhartha Srinivasa, director of artificial intelligence at Amazon Robotics, wrote in an article on the company’s website:
Our technology is not going to put workers out of work. Our big goal is to help empower our colleagues to do their jobs better and safer by developing technology.
In October 2023, Amazon announced the use of Sequoia and Digit robots in its centers. With an appearance similar to a digital vacuum cleaner, Sequoia performs the process of storing and processing goods 75% faster than humans, and Digit is a humanoid robot that is responsible for emptying the baskets of goods in the first step.
Amazon executives say the use of robots is a step towards improving worker safety
At the same time, Amazon officials have repeatedly announced that they use robots to increase productivity and improve worker safety, but Amazon’s warehouses have shown the world another dark side that is not very consistent with these claims.
The first reports exposing the harsh working conditions of Amazon workers were published in 2011, but in 2017 the workers’ protest took on a different color.
Out of every 100 Amazon warehouse workers, 20 suffered serious injuries during work
Reports indicated that some workers were sleeping and standing up due to heavy work. While the temperature in the warehouses was between 36 and 43 degrees Celsius, there was no ventilation and the workers passed out from the heat. If a person visited the company’s nursing stations due to adverse health conditions, they had to sign a paper before being discharged stating that their illness was not related to their job. Also, workers were fired if they could not complete their tasks within the specified hours. Actions such as drinking water during working hours or talking resulted in a negative score.
Amazon denied the reports for about a year, but eventually announced in an effort to maintain its public image that it would raise workers’ wages and introduce new regulatory rules to ensure workers’ health.
Researchers consider the working conditions of Amazon warehouses to be inhumane and alarming
In 2023, while Jeff Bezos had stepped down as CEO of Amazon, reports from the Guardian, Times, and Fortune showed that more than half of the company’s workers were still unable to provide daily meals and shelter.
The managers of the warehouses even reduced the time the workers went to the bathroom from their working hours. The workers said we were not as valuable as the robots because if the robots were damaged they would be taken care of quickly. On the other hand, if a worker suffers a serious physical injury during work, he must use unpaid leave for his treatment.
Gutleus, a veteran logistics and warehousing researcher, told The Times:
The story of Amazon is the saddest story of the decline of workers’ expectations from employers.
As of July 2024, Amazon was the sixth most valuable company in the world, with more than one and a half million employees and workers, 100 executive offices in the United States and 180 offices worldwide, and a market value of $2.09 trillion.
Many people in the world don’t know that during the day even when they check a website or watch a movie, they indirectly use Amazon services. Now Amazon is present almost everywhere and continues its path toward a future that will undoubtedly be more competitive than in the past.
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![The Icon of the Seas cruise ship](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Capture.jpg)
![The Icon of the Seas cruise ship](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Capture.jpg)
Conjunction: Expressing a condition.
Conjunction: Connecting two to create a new well-formed formula that requires it to only be true when both of the two formulas are true.
Noun: In rhythm, the second half of a divided beat.
Noun: breath.
Noun: ; steam fog.
Verb: To breathe; whisper; devise; imagine.
The Icon of the Seas cruise ship, a city on water
On January 27, 2024, the first passengers of Icon of the Seas stepped on the deck of the world’s largest ship to experience an enchanting discovery in the west and east of the Caribbean Sea; A journey for eight days and seven nights.
The cruise tourism industry set a new record in 2023 with an increase of 2 million passengers over four years; But the biggest news on the high seas in 2024 was the maiden voyage of the world’s largest cruise ship, three times the length of a football field and five times the size of the Titanic.
Icon of the Seas ship with 20 decks and gross weight of 250,800 tons and a capacity of 9,950 people is the most amazing human-made phenomenon that goes to unknown waters like a luxurious metropolis. The 2,805 bedrooms in 28 groups, including family cabins with infinity-view balconies and bunk beds, offer a relaxing feel to adventurers looking for unique accommodations during their travels.
The Icon of the Seas is three times the length of a football field and five times the size of the Titanic
The symbol of the seas, the newest member of the Royal Caribbean cruise family, has dethroned its previous generation counterpart, the Wonder of the Seas, as the world’s largest ship, but beyond its gigantic and astonishing dimensions, this ship has also broken other records and claims various It is “the first” and “the most”.
The unveiling of Icon of the Seas sparked a wave of surprise, excitement, and curiosity among Internet users. The images that were published during the first voyage of the ship, followed endless discussions, comments, and questions of the interested people on social networks. Let’s take a look at some fascinating and stunning facts about this maritime marvel:
Icon of the Seas key features at a glance
- The largest ship in the world with a length of 365 meters, a width of 67 meters, and a weight of 250 thousand tons
- It has the largest and most optimal interior space with more than 20 decks
- It has advanced technical equipment and luxurious cabins for 7514 passengers and 2350 crew members
- The most compatible with the environment and the least carbon emissions with LNG engines
- Using artificial intelligence for optimal energy consumption on board
- The highest cost of building a cruise ship with about 2 billion euros
- It has more than 20 restaurants with international menus
- Extensive recreational facilities such as a floating bar, rock climbing walls, large slides, and infinity pools.
Also, in December 2023, Lionel Messi’s name was registered as the sponsor and “godfather” of Icon of the Seas.
The beginning of the story
In 1996, the architects of two companies, Royal Caribbean (Royal Caribbean) and Wilson Butler (Wilson Butler) defined a new mission for themselves: “Providing an environment for the best family vacations on the planet.” Over the past 28 years, these two companies have launched 24 giant cruise ships, each of which was recognized as the world’s leading floating artifact of its time.
In the mid-2010s, the cruise industry was growing rapidly and major cruise lines were looking to create different experiences and more innovations to attract passengers. In this regard, in 2016, Royal Caribbean proposed a new idea, the implementation of which challenges the innovation boundaries of the entire industry:
“Launching a project to build a new cruise ship that will be unique not only in terms of size but also in terms of technology, amenities, and environmental sustainability.”
Builders and designers
To implement its plan, Royal Caribbean Group prioritized several main goals:
First, the optimal use of ship space to build multiple sections with different uses that at the same time work in an integrated and coordinated manner. The second priority of the builders was to significantly reduce the harmful effects on the environment, and for this purpose, the use of green technologies, energy consumption optimization systems, and reduction of carbon emissions were considered in all stages of design.
In addition, in order to provide a unique experience, the new ship had to meet all the needs of passengers, including recreation, relaxation, and adventure; Therefore, the companies had to design each area as a multi-purpose, modern, and intelligent space.
Therefore, the Finnish company Meyer Turku, one of the largest and most reliable shipbuilders in the world, was chosen as the main contractor for the construction and design of the ship’s structure and hull. This company, which had previously collaborated with Royal Caribbean in the construction of two Oasis-class ships and had a lot of experience in the construction of cruise ships, was responsible for the design of the hull, mechanical systems, and structural integrity of the ship.
The Swedish company Tillberg Design of Sweden, as the second partner of the project, is committed to creating a unique and inspiring space by using the latest techniques and production materials. Tilburg Design had to focus on the priority that the interior of the ship should not only be luxurious and luxurious, but also efficient and innovative.
Finally, Royal Caribbean’s oldest partner, the American company Wilson Butler, which is famous for designing public and cultural spaces, entered the project as the third partner with the aim of creating a space that evokes the feeling of a city floating on water for passengers. In addition to these partners, during the construction of the ship according to the needs of each department, other teams from different countries of the world were invited to cooperate.
Scott Butler, director and founder of the Wilson Butler Company in 2023, said about the design of this ship:
The design of a ship is not much different from the design of a building on land. Our work is like designing a building that is in a constant state of vibration. In fact, the great design of a ship proceeds just like the planning of a city.
What makes Icon of the Seas look like a city on the water are the “neighborhoods” or planned areas named Aquadome, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside, Hideway, and Central Park, which we will take a look at in the following sections.
Ship building
The construction of Icon of the Seas officially started in early 2019. The first stage, as is usual in the construction of any large ship, involved checking the details and carrying out preliminary tests.
At this stage, the designers carefully focused on the body shape, propulsion, and energy systems, as well as environmental sustainability. Advanced fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also performed to ensure high efficiency and reduced hull drag in water.
In October 2019, Mir Company inaugurated the project, according to the common tradition of shipbuilders, by cutting the steel sheets used in the ship’s hull.
Azipod propulsion systems and LNG fuel
The Icon ship’s six engines were provided by the Finnish company Wärtsilä with a dual propulsion system to use heavy oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.
The LNG propulsion system produces much less nitrogen oxide than traditional fuels, which is a big step towards cleaner seas. Accordingly, two 307-meter tanks with a capacity of 27 tons were transferred to the ship for LNG fuel.
The ship’s fuel system was equipped with “high pressure tanks” and “heat exchangers”, which allowed the storage and optimal use of LNG. Also, this system was connected to the combustion management unit, which continuously adjusts the fuel quality and combustion efficiency, and prevents the creation of harmful NOx gases by precisely controlling the fuel-air mixture.
LNG fuel tanks being transferred to the ship
Royal Caribbean
The Icon of the Seas propulsion system was designed based on azipods, which are among the most advanced electric propulsion technologies in the marine industry. Unlike conventional propulsion systems where a fixed propeller is driven by a shaft, the Azipod enables the propeller to rotate 360 degrees.
Azipods increase the maneuverability of the ship
This complete rotation capability increases the ship’s maneuverability reduces the need for lateral propulsion systems such as rudders, and particularly facilitates the stopping or moving of the ship in narrow harbors. Also, the design of azipods is such that it minimizes the turbulence created in the water, and by reducing water resistance, it reduces fuel consumption by 20% compared to conventional systems.
The deployment of three 20MW Azipod drives on the Icon ship increased the speed of this modern cruise to 22 knots (41 km/h).
Engineering-wise, azipods operate using induction motors and are powered by diesel generators or a combination of diesel and natural gas. These engines have high efficiency due to not having many moving parts and reducing friction, and on the other hand, using an efficient cooling system in Azipods increases their lifespan.
Two 307-meter LNG fuel tanks with a capacity of 27 tons provide the ship’s propulsion energy
Artificial intelligence not only recognizes the paths that require the least energy but also controls the energy consumption of numerous internal equipment such as air conditioning and elevator systems.
The lighting department of the ship was entrusted to Helamarine company, which creates a safe and pleasant atmosphere in the open seas with 20,000 low-consumption LEDs. At the same time, several complex and extensive optical systems provide accurate control of the light in the public areas of the ship digitally to the ship’s officials.
Intelligent ship control
Ship control includes an integrated management system (Integrated Bridge System) that is driven by advanced software and modern user interfaces. This system provides real-time monitoring and control of all operational parameters of the ship, including positioning, speed, route, and fuel consumption.
In addition, the IBS system is equipped with multiple sensors and warning systems that detect sudden changes in environmental or operational conditions and notify the crew.
The IBS system controls all operational parameters of the ship with multiple sensors
Using artificial intelligence and predictive algorithms, the intelligent control system can suggest the best sea routes and optimize fuel consumption. Also, the stabilization system (Stabilization System), which works in coordination with IBS, reduces the ship’s oscillating movements in turbulent sea conditions, which results in more passenger comfort and reduced depreciation of the ship’s structure.
Executive stages of ship construction
Part of the Icon of the Seas construction process
The process of building the Icon of the Seas went through three complex but coordinated stages:
Design and simulation: The first stage included the initial design and computer simulation of the systems. Using specialized software and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulators, accurate models of propulsion and fuel systems were prepared. These models were tested under different operational conditions to identify any possible defects or challenges before starting the actual development of different sectors and areas.
Construction and assembly of parts: In this stage, different parts of the ship were made in a modular way in special workshops. Then these parts were moved to the main ship building site and installed using super heavy cranes. To avoid any mistakes, the assembly process was done using automatic welding robots and laser measurement systems.
Aquadome dome assembly stage
Testing and commissioning: After the completion of the assembly, the ship was subjected to detailed tests. All sections were examined and adjusted separately and in combination with each other. At this stage, navigational tests including maneuverability tests, fuel efficiency, and response of control systems to variable conditions were conducted. These measures were accompanied by the simulation of different sea scenarios to prepare the ship to face any conditions.
Different parts of the ship are made modularly in special workshops and then transferred to the hull of the ship.
During the coronavirus pandemic, when the raw materials for construction were not available, the design personnel simulated, tested, and calibrated their designers in 3D by making replicas of different parts of the ship in appropriate sizes.
Testing the Aquadome waterfall in the workshop
Even the cabins were assembled in sections called “mega-blocks,” or modules, at the manufacturing plant, then at the docks, and then transferred to the ship. This reduced the build time and was like building a giant Lego.
Commitment to environmental technologies
As part of Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future program, the company’s new ships are equipped with MAP and MAG systems that synthesize solid waste into gas and reuse it to generate energy.
These technologies not only minimize waste but also produce valuable by-products such as biochar, which can be used as a soil conditioner. According to the recycling programs of this ship, 90% of the waste is never buried in the soil. The energy obtained from the MAP system is also used in the ship itself.
MAP and MAG systems convert solid waste into gas
Another noteworthy point is that Royal Caribbean plans to reduce the food waste of this ship by 50% by 2025. In this futuristic plan, artificial intelligence is used for immediate food production according to existing needs and requests, and training of the ship’s crew with sustainable solutions is also on the agenda. The above program has led to the saving of 24% of food waste to date.
In another environmental innovation, the heat from the engine houses is used to desalinate seawater. 93% of the ship’s fresh water is produced and purified by the reverse osmosis system in the ship itself. Also, by producing small bubbles that cover the whole body of the ship, the compressors reduce the friction between the water and the body and subsequently reduce fuel consumption.
93% of the ship’s freshwater is purified and produced by a reverse osmosis system in the ship itself Mockler, Chief Decarbonisation Manager for the new build, describes Icon as a great example of how sustainability is being considered for the future:
What we did on board Icon was the beginning of a path, not an end goal. We want to use these ships as platforms to advance the development of technologies that we will need in future products; Because our effort is to draw the next modern ships in the most stable state possible.
Different departments and quarters of the ship
Icon of the Seas is described as a city on water because it consists of different neighborhoods; Including Hideway, Gobd Cascade, and Central Park, and we will have a close look at these amazing neighborhoods.
The Pearl: The pearl of the ship’s entrance
The Pearl section was designed and introduced by one of Brooklyn’s media artists. This spherical piece with a diameter of 15.3 meters is covered with more than 3,600,000 moving computer tiles and is now known as the largest kinetic art sculpture in the world, which displays an unprecedented fusion of art and technology.
This awe-inspiring work stands out not only for its grandeur, but also for its depiction of the essence of the ocean, as it beautifully simulates various natural phenomena such as rolling waves, gentle breezes, meteors, and a dynamic ocean surface. Inspired by the sea, the tiles are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence and reflect the patterns found in marine life.
The movements of “Marwaid” are influenced by the tide and wind data of the Caribbean Sea. This data, obtained from the web or the ship’s sensors, allows the massive pearl to constantly change and reflect the current environmental conditions in an ever-evolving display.
More than 3,600,000 computer-animated tiles inspired by marine life patterns are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence.
The Pearl area, like the entire ship, is an architectural masterpiece and a prime example of the innovative use of modern technology in the cruise industry. This spherical pearl is spread over four decks of the ship and welcomes passengers as a gateway as soon as they board. In the center of the pearl, a beautiful marble staircase connects the floors.
The Pearl derives its spherical form from a steel ball that acts as a supporting structure. Prominent engineers have also planned and deployed the infrastructure technologies of this sector: a combination of more than 5 thousand controllable LED lights and interactive media technology creates stunning visual effects and adapts to the environment at every moment.
The moving tiles, produced with Linear technology, create computer-controlled lighting effects. Also, the integrated sound system of more than a thousand watts enriches the listening experience of passengers and elevates their mood to higher levels. The total structural load of this section is estimated to be around 20 tons.
The iconic pearl is not just an eye-catcher but serves as a central point of reference for passengers exploring the heart of the ship.
AquaDome waterfall dome; Manifestation of art and technology
Located at the front of the ship, the Aquadome has a huge space with a magnificent glass dome that offers viewers a wide and captivating view of the ocean. This area has the “highest waterfall” in the middle of the sea along with other exciting attractions. The construction of this dome set the record for the largest glass and steel structure installed on a ship.
AquaDome; The highest waterfall in the middle of the sea with a height of 16.7 meters
Of course, the waterfall itself with a height of 16.7 meters attracts attention as one of the engineering miracles of shape change. The Aquadome transforms throughout the day, offering passengers a variety of delightful experiences, from breathtaking sunrises to vibrant daytime activities. During the day, travelers can tour the AquaDome Market, eat at its restaurant, or sit and watch the 220-degree view of the surrounding ocean.
As evening approaches and sunset approaches, the waterfall becomes a dynamic backdrop for a diverse range of entertaining shows that take place nightly. In this way, the Aquadome creates a dramatic scene beyond a tall waterfall, with energetic movements and captivating lighting, which enhances the quality of every show beyond imagination. The show center of this neighborhood is called AquaTheater.
Michael Bailey, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, says about the construction of this section:
We went through an amazing journey with the engineers, architects and designers to build the AquaDome, and what amazes travelers is a testament to the innovation and creativity of the teams.
Aquadom neighborhood with an area of more than 33 thousand square meters extends from deck 14 to deck 22. The beautiful dome was built outside the ship so that other teams could complete the forward deck at the same time. The sea dome weighing 367 tons consists of 12 different modules with 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels and it took 8 months to assemble them.
The first marine dome with 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels
The process of lifting and connecting the dome to the spreader was done with 54 cables, and when the crane wanted to place it in a special position on the ship, another 12 cables were added. Just maneuvering it into place using a specialized rig took 80 hours. During this time, a separate team monitored the weather conditions to find the safest time to depart.
Central Park: Green Paradise in the heart of the sea
Central Parks are usually one of the most popular parts of Royal Caribbean cruises: a green and playful atmosphere that evokes the experience of being immersed in a park, and even the sound of birdsong. The presence of bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops in these areas makes them a pleasant environment to work.
But the Icon ship has also improved the class of Central Park in a surprising way: the central park with an area of several thousand square meters contains more than 33 thousand natural plants of different species that grow well with intelligent irrigation and lighting systems.
The largest cruise ship park with more than 33 thousand natural plants
To manage water in this section, a multi-layer drainage system was created under the ground surface. This system collects excess water and returns it to the smart irrigation system. In addition, the plants that were planted in this neighborhood were selected based on their resistance to sea conditions, including strong winds and direct sunlight, and each plant was carefully placed in a suitable place according to the light and irrigation needs.
This neighborhood also uses the fresh sea air to create a cool and comfortable environment by using advanced ventilation techniques. Smart lighting systems have been developed in a way that preserves the sense of naturalness of the environment even at night.
Royal Promenade: The beating heart of the ship
Royal Promenade is a busy and exciting street located in the center of the ship and is considered a place for gathering, shopping, and entertainment for passengers. This neighborhood, with a large area spread over two floors, is considered one of the most important and busiest parts of the ship.
From clothing boutiques to electronics stores, travelers can find almost anything they want in the department stores on this street. In addition to restaurants that offer a variety of international cuisines, the daily performance of live shows, music, and dance also doubles the vitality of the Royal Promenade.
The roof of this neighborhood is designed as a large digital screen that displays the sky views and attractive images, and the glass elevators also provide the opportunity to see all the surrounding scenery while moving passengers.
Surfside: a space for families
The space that was known as the Boardwalk in the Oasis class ships is designed in a unique and more advanced way in the Icon ship.
The most diverse entertainment facilities with smart security systems
For example, a large water playground is installed for children, and facilities such as splash pads, smaller water slides, Ferris wheel, face painting, arcades, sports areas, video game halls, and even a DJ play a significant role in entertaining families.
Separate restaurants and bars also make it possible for parents to grab something to eat or drink while the children are playing nearby while keeping an eye on their children. Easy access to Playmakers and an ice rink makes this neighborhood ideal for families.
From another angle, smart security systems guarantee the safety of all children in all parts of this neighborhood. Interactive applications also enable parents to manage their children’s entertainment programs online.
Chill Island: an ocean of tranquility
Chill Island is a neighborhood where travelers can get away from the daily hustle and relax in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. This neighborhood with artificial beaches and beautiful swimming pools provides the best atmosphere for travelers to relax and unwind.
It has the largest pool in the middle of the sea
In this three-story neighborhood, which occupies a good part of the middle of the ship, there are beaches with soft sand and comfortable chairs for relaxing, swimming pools with a curved design and jacuzzis with a view of the sea, and beach bars with a variety of cool drinks for passengers.
Some of the pools in this area are:
- Royal Bay: The largest pool in the middle of the sea, designed for all ages and located on the 15th deck.
- Cove Pool: A pool that is designed to face the ocean, and for this reason, it is also called an infinity pool.
- Cloud 17: Another pool overlooking the ocean with swirling water and a personalized and customized beverage bar that stands out on Deck 17.
- Swim & Tonic: The first water bar brand, a shallow pool with in-water seats that allow passengers to sit or stand comfortably and order their favorite drink. This pool is located on the 16th deck.
The water in the pools is purified and heated using modern technologies. Also, the surround sound systems reproduce the sound of waves and nature realistically so that passengers have the feeling of being on a real island.
The Hideaway: a modern and dynamic space for young people
Hideaway was originally designed with the aim of creating an attractive and modern space for young people and couples, and with a combination of fun and trendy facilities, it provides a great opportunity for travelers to spend their free time in a friendly and pleasant environment.
The floating pool can be considered one of the most prominent features of The Hideaway, which is located on the edge of the ship and offers a wonderful view of the sea. Several social spaces with live music and professional DJs provide revelers with lively nights, not unlike Texas clubs.
Smart lighting systems create subtle changes in the spectrum of colors and light intensity according to the event and time, and the advanced surround sound systems also bring a unique music experience to passengers.
In addition, if young people need to relax after several hours of fun, they can separate themselves from the surrounding noise in the exclusive lounges that have a very stylish and modern design, with comfortable chairs and light.
The interesting point is that Hideaway has spaces with multiple uses that can be changed quickly. For example, a lounge can be transformed from a daytime lounge to a nightclub.
Thrill Island Amusement Park: Innovation in Exciting Structures
A neighborhood located on the back deck of the ship, with a series of challenging games and activities for lovers of excitement and adventure. For example:
- The six water slides, which are the tallest marine specimens in the world, leave a unique memory and experience of free fall and speed in the minds of travelers.
- Adventure park with rope climbing routes, suspension bridges, and towers to climb
- Surfing simulator miniature golf and all kinds of energizing entertainment, each of which has its own fans.
It has the tallest water slides in the world and a surfing simulator
The construction of Thrill Island required advanced design and engineering to provide the desired facilities in a safe and efficient manner. For this purpose, in the structure of the water slides and adventure park, light, resistant, and stainless alloys were used, which can withstand high pressure and weight and have a long life.
One of the other requirements for the success of this neighborhood was intelligent safety monitoring and control systems that continuously monitor the condition of structures, equipment, and even weather conditions and take preventive measures if needed. For example, in case of sudden changes in wind speed, the FlowRider surf simulator automatically changes its settings to keep passengers safe.
On the other hand, due to the high volume of Thrill Island activities, special energy management systems were designed for this neighborhood. These systems help reduce overall energy consumption on board while maintaining an exciting experience for passengers.
District 6 in this neighborhood has a free fall slide called Pressure Drop, which falls from a height of 33 meters at an angle of 66 degrees.
Crown’s Edge in Thrill Island
The most daring passengers can also go to the ship’s edge and make their way along the skyway that extends beyond the ship’s perimeter towards the open sea: Crown’s Edge, a suspended walkway 47 meters above the ocean, is a first-of-its-kind attraction. It is installed in the icon ship and has no similar example in the marine technologies of the world.
Absolute Zero: The Show on the Ice Arena
This area is considered to be the largest ice skating rink on ships in history, completely redesigned for bigger feats to amaze all passengers.
Passengers can sit on the seats around the square to watch star actors and artists perform high takeoffs and spectacular turns on skates. During the day, fans can enter the ice rink themselves and perform.
Suite Neighborhood: luxury accommodation
With special facilities and private space, the Suite Quarter offers the highest level of comfort and VIP services to passengers who have booked the ship’s luxury suites. Private lounge, modern design and stunning views, exclusive restaurants and bars, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and private sun deck are just some of the facilities reserved for VIP passengers.
Each suite uses soundproof walls and is equipped with smart systems that allow travelers to manage the temperature, lighting, music, and even their orders in a personalized way.
In addition, passengers in this neighborhood have priority and faster access to all parts of the ship. The spacious deck area with plenty of seating in this two-story neighborhood provides a quiet and well-equipped area for families to relax.
Cabins
Although Icon of the Seas has fewer cabins (2,805 cabins compared to 2,874 rooms) than the largest ship of the previous generation, Wonder of the Seas, it hosts more passengers.
The reason for this difference is nothing but the focus of Icon designers on larger cabins that accommodate more than two people. In fact, more than 82 percent of the ship’s staterooms are designed for three or more guests, making them an ideal choice for family vacations.
The largest cabin on the ship is a three-story suite with an area of 540 square meters, two bedrooms, and a maximum of 8 passengers, with a cinema room, two balconies, and a private backyard.
But beyond the room size, the family-oriented design can be seen in every detail: from room layout to amenities and in-suite activities.
Icon of the Seas family cabin
For example, the tube-like slide that connects the upper floor to the ground floor living area, along with the popcorn machine, ping pong table, whirlpool, video games, and other entertainment can keep children entertained for hours.
These luxury suites have both a high cost ($8,000 per week) and an ever-increasing demand so that the entire complex is fully booked until the end of 2024.
Read more: Kansai International Airport, Japan
All of these innovations have been developed based on “customer intelligence,” says Michael Bailey, president of Royal Caribbean International, about the ship’s smart technologies. He said during the round table of senior managers at a media event in Turku:
Understanding customers and understanding how they want to interact with each other is fundamental to creating innovation and new products like Icon of the Seas.
This is not done like throwing darts at a sable board. We use a huge amount of data, not just the data of the guests who travel with us, but much more. We actually have a lot of questions from this data, trying to understand if our guests are enjoying the product or the experiences we’re offering, or what they like and don’t like.
The highest ship booking rate
Since its introduction in October 2023, Icon of the Seas has captured the attention of the world with numerous record-breaking events, but apart from the features and facilities, this ship has also broken the ticket booking record. Prior to this ship’s maiden voyage, Royal Caribbean set the record for the most booked ship in one day and the most weekly booked in history.
All tickets for the first voyage of the Icon ship, which took place in January 2024, were sold out within 24 hours. On this cruise, which started from the port of Miami, the ship made stops in the following ports according to the schedule of the Eastern Caribbean: Buster in the country of St. Kitts, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and then Kokoki in the Bahamas.
The ship will continue to sail year-round on routes covering the eastern and western Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean symbolized the endless horizons of the modern shipbuilding industry and set new benchmarks and standards for future cruise ships.
According to this company, the second Icon class ship will be unveiled in the summer of 2025 under the name Star of the Seas. Now it seems that in the endless world of innovation, the boundaries of possible and impossible are shifting every day.
Technology
Designed in California, copied in the Soviet Union; The story of the first Soviet chip
Published
5 days agoon
01/09/2024![chip](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Capture.png)
![chip](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Capture.png)
Designed in California, copied in the Soviet Union; The story of the first Soviet chip
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a breathtaking competition in various fields, and each tried to prove its ideological superiority by showing its progress. This competition was not limited to the battlefield and extended to space, nuclear capabilities, technological innovation, and even competition to discover new super-heavy elements.
The space race, which culminated with the launch of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union and the United States’ Apollo landings on the moon, attracted everyone’s attention and became a symbol of the Cold War at that time. Similarly, the arms race led both superpowers to amass and develop advanced nuclear arsenals, a constant reminder of the unstable balance of power. This extensive competition fueled technological advancements in the military and space fields and influenced the process of innovations.
One of the examples of this technology competition was the development of computer technologies. In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union began to imitate key Western innovations in the field of microprocessors, aiming to close its technological gap with the West. One of these innovations was the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which was considered a significant development in the computer field. The Soviet version of the 8080, known as the KR580VM80A (aka the 580 series), represented their broader strategy of reproducing Western technology.
This competition for copying and innovation during the Cold War illustrates the interplay between geopolitical conflicts and technological advances. Due to the silence of news in the Soviet Union at that time, little has been written about the details and the story behind this processor. In this article, by examining most of these sources, we are trying to discuss the story of the design and introduction of the Russian copy of the 8080 microprocessor.
Soviet Union before the Silicon Age
Before going into the history of the Soviet 580 series microprocessors, it is necessary to briefly talk about the level of Soviet technology before the emergence of integrated microprocessors.
In 1950, the “Small Electronic Computing Machine” (SECM) was developed in the Soviet Union. It should be noted that SECM was launched in the Soviet Union when there were only a few computers in Europe; including the English EDSAC, which had been launched a year earlier, and the Z4 Zuse in Zurich, which had been built around 1947. However, the SECM processor was much more powerful because it processed the calculations in parallel.
In the construction of SECM, all the basic principles of computer construction, such as the presence of input and output devices, coding and storing the program in memory, automatic execution of calculations based on the stored program, and other such things, were used. Most importantly, this computer was built on binary logic (processing based on zeros and ones) used in digital computing engineering.
Large Soviet BESM-6 electronic calculating machine at the London Science Museum
During the historic Soyuz-Apollo space mission in 1975, mission control was handled by a complex system that included a large computer called the BECM-6 (Big Electronic Computing Machine). This computer was developed directly from SECM and was able to perform the calculations needed to launch a missile in one minute; While on the American side, the calculations related to this mission lasted 30 minutes. This time difference in calculations indicated the technological differences between the two countries at that time.
So far, Soviet computing superiority over the West has been evident. But the real disaster occurred when the Soviets decided to produce copies of the IBM-360 mainframe computer; It meant the transition from innovation to copying American design. It is clear that copying does not stand a chance of being overtaken; However, the Soviets usually upgraded Western designs to make them look more indigenous and innovative.
The Soviet SECM performed calculations in one minute, but the American computer in 30 minutes
Copying only makes sense when it is used as a learning step in the absence of technology necessary for innovation. Of course, the logical end of such an approach is still moving towards the development of dedicated systems, which today, China has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of this method. However, this story did not have a happy ending for the Soviet Union. From the moment the decision to copy was made, the Soviet Union was in an impossible scramble for advancement in the chip industry.
Copy instead of innovation
In late 1962, by order of the Soviet Union government, the Kyiv Design Bureau was established in the capital of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic, later known as the Kyiv Institute of Micro Devices (KNIIMP). This institution was associated with an experienced manufacturing plant. In August 1976, the institute’s first official mission was to create a copy of the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which had only been introduced for two years.
The design team of the KR580VM80A processor included a group of talented engineers and specialists working under the supervision of the Electronics and Engineering Design and Research Center. The team, led by Nikolai Beretsky, one of the most prominent Soviet engineers at the time, was responsible for the design and development of the new processor.
At the beginning of the work, the design team faced problems such as a lack of resources and advanced equipment. In particular, the production of semiconductor products in the Soviet Union faced serious problems due to the limitations of technology and raw materials, which directly affected the quality and performance of the processor. These issues caused delays in the project and the need for adjustments in the design.
Kiev Institute of Micro Devices with strange architecture during the Soviet era
On the one hand, funding technology projects during the Cold War was a big challenge. Due to the strategic sensitivity of the issue, the KR580VM80A project was funded through the Soviet Ministry of Electronic Industry and was specifically allocated for this project. This budget included research and development costs, purchase of laboratory equipment, and the supply of raw materials.
Since at that time, the semiconductor production technology in the Soviet Union was limited, part of the budget was allocated to upgrade the manufacturing equipment and technologies. The scope of the research and the lack of private investors, along with the economic crisis that engulfed the Soviet Union, faced serious challenges in funding this project.
The Soviet Union was facing the problem of funding and limited access to Western technologies
On the other hand, looking at the tense relations between the Western and Eastern Blocs, Soviet engineers had limited access to the 8080A microprocessor. Instead, they relied on existing documentation, technical articles, and spy intelligence that provided detailed information about the architecture and performance of the microprocessor. This information was often obtained from public sources, technical publications technical descriptions in manuals, or from insiders in companies.
Hence, Soviet engineers used reverse engineering to analyze the hardware design of the 8080A. The first step was the preparation of physical samples of this processor, which was purchased from America under the cover of fake companies.
The reverse engineering process involved opening the processor package to study the design of the silicon chip and its circuits. Soviet engineers used techniques such as decapsulation (removing the protective package of the chip) and microscopic study of the chip to examine the internal structure of the microprocessor. This allowed them to identify logic gates, circuit paths, and other critical components of the chip.
In addition to the physical examination, the Soviet team also had to understand the functional behavior of the 8080A. They performed various tests to see how the processor reacts to different commands and inputs. By running a series of software programs and checking the processor outputs, they were able to deduce the operational characteristics and architecture of the instruction set of this microprocessor. This step was very important to ensure the compatibility of the copied product with the software designed for the original processor.
The biggest challenge for the Soviet design team was the exact reconstruction of the microcode
One of the biggest challenges in this process was the exact reconstruction of the microcode design. Microcode is the low-level on-chip instructions that control the internal operations of the microprocessor and is very difficult to understand without detailed documentation.
Microcode instructions, like a cooking recipe, control the sequence of assembly code entry steps in calling, executing, and storing the results. Without having the correct combination and sequence of microcodes, the microprocessor will not be able to perform processing tasks. Soviet engineers had to reverse engineer the microcode by carefully analyzing the behavior of the processor in response to various commands and transferring it to their design.
The first series of processors produced at the Kyiv Microdevices Institute
CpusHack
Finally, between 1977 and 1978, the manufacturing of the first prototypes of the chips was completed. The first base set of this series included three chips: K580IK80, K580IK51, and K580IK55. These chips were produced in flat metal-ceramic packages with 48 pins, which was 8 pins more than Intel’s original architecture. Contrary to popular belief, these chips were not exact, layer-by-layer copies of Intel’s 8080 processor; Some blocks were similar, but the design and position of the metal joints were dramatically different.
Technical details of the Soviet chip
On November 6, 1980, The New York Times published an article entitled ” Soviet Advances in Computers ” in which the author analyzed the features of the KR580VM80A. The Soviet chips operated at 2 MHz (500,000 operations per second) and were manufactured based on the nMOS fabrication process with a channel width of 6 microns. The nMOS fabrication process involves the use of lithographic techniques to pattern different layers on a silicon wafer, which by applying high temperature, N and P semiconductor regions are precisely created within the silicon structure.
Compared to the 8080 with 4500 transistors, the Soviet chip had 4758 transistors
Western researchers’ analysis showed that this chip had exactly 4758 transistors; While there were rumors about the existence of 6000 or 4500 transistors. In 1981-1982, the packaging of these chips was changed to standard DIP (double-in-line pin package) packages with pin spacing corresponding to the Soviet standard, and later versions were released in the 40-pin format. Both versions were produced for domestic use in plastic frames and for special applications in metal-ceramic frames.
In 1983, the name of the IK80 model was changed to VM80, the IK55A model to VV55A, and the IK51 to VV51. The addition of the letter “A” at the end of the name of these models indicates an upgraded version that uses more of the basic set of this series. In this version, the processor speed increased to 2.5 MHz. Also, the area of the part was reduced by 20%, which happened due to the miniaturization of the production process to 5 microns.
The 580 series was produced by many Soviet integrated circuit design companies over the years. Among these companies, we can mention Quasar, Electronpribor, Radon, Kuvator, and Dnieper. Chips produced for export were marked “Сделано в СССР” (Made in the USSR) and were marketed without the manufacturer’s logo. In fact, it was the “manufacturer” of the Soviet Union, because the propaganda aspect of the government was more important than the name of the company that produced the chips.
Exported chips were marked “Made in the Soviet Union”.
With the widespread entry of these microprocessors into the market, microcircuit manuals were also prepared, which resembled a very high-quality translation from English to Russian. The importance of the manuals was that they not only had to fully explain the main purpose of the product but also technologically led the domestic manufacturer to build a product that was compatible with these microprocessors. Due to the minor differences between this product and the original, this was very difficult.
Although during the era of 8080 and 8086 microprocessors, the Kyiv Microdevices Institute succeeded in fulfilling its task, this company could not produce chips similar to Intel’s 80286 and then 80386 microprocessors.
Comparison with Western examples
Although at first glance, the Soviet version is completely compatible with the Intel 8080 processor in terms of software, there is a slight difference in the interrupt processing logic between the two processors. This difference seems to originate from a bug in the microcode of the KR580VM80A processor.
In 8080 processors, the interrupt response cycle begins when the processor detects an interrupt and intends to respond to it. In this cycle, the processor sends a signal that indicates the acknowledgment of receiving the interrupt, and with its help, the relevant hardware can send more information or perform the necessary requests. In this process, the CALL instruction tells the processor to go to a specific subroutine and transfer program execution to this subroutine. If a call instruction is received during the interrupt response cycle and the interrupt input remains active, the processor must properly update its internal flags and jump to the appropriate subroutine.
The microcode of the Soviet processor had a bug that caused the subroutine call stack to overflow
However, even if the interrupt output was disabled in the KR580VM80A processor, the processor could not clear the internal interrupt flag. This problem causes the processor to enter a microcode loop that continuously responds to the interrupt and adds the program counter to the stack, eventually leading to a stack overflow. In a typical hardware configuration, this problem is covered by the behavior of the 8259A interrupt controller, which disables the interrupt during the detection cycle. The Romanian MMN8080 processor also behaved similarly to the KR580VM80A, but other 8080 copies do not seem to be affected by this bug.
The legacy of the first Russian chip
Although Russian engineers produced a large number of specialized microcontrollers for special tasks that had no direct Western equivalents, the focus on copying rather than innovation has put the Soviet Union forever behind the United States in the development and production of modern microprocessors.
Although the 8080 processor was quickly replaced in the West by newer and more advanced chips, the Soviet copy remained popular until the 1990s. Even to this day, Russia continues to produce various versions of Western processors, including the MCS-96 series and the PIC17 chip; While it seems that China’s chip industry is only four years behind the US despite the sanctions.
Technology
Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch review; Alternative economic option for iPhone owners
Published
7 days agoon
30/08/2024![Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Capture-18.png)
![Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max](https://elixirofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Capture-18.png)
Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch review; Alternative economic option for iPhone owners
These days, the market of economical smartwatches with a premium appearance and almost all the functions that we expect from these popular wearables is very hot; the time has passed when reliable tests for measuring heart rate and blood oxygen level and even sleep monitoring were only limited to Apple Watch and It was Galaxy Watch. Let’s say that our eyes are slowly getting used to seeing more luxurious features such as answering calls in economic wearables and even from lesser-known brands.
In a market almost saturated with smartwatches and wristbands with their limitations and capabilities, Xiaomi’s Glorimi products have been able to gain considerable popularity within a year or two, using the formula of attractive appearance, high build quality, accurate sensors and, of course, an affordable price tag. Find users. The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch, which was recently received by Zomit for review, is easily included in the list of the best smartwatches and wristbands in the Iranian market by filling almost all the boxes that make it worth buying.
To say without exaggeration; The Glorimi M2 Max was one of the few watches that I felt I had to own while reviewing! It’s not because of the bright screen or very accurate sensors and the ability to contact the iPhone effortlessly; But because of the wonderful user interface of notifications!
But before I talk about the unique display of notifications, let me start the review with a quick look at the general specifications and design of the watch.
Glorimi M2 Max specifications at a glance |
|
---|---|
Dimensions |
46.8 x 46.8 x 11.8 mm |
weight |
50 grams (with strap) |
body |
zinc alloy |
Display |
AMOLED 1.6 inches, 480 x 480 pixels, brightness 1350 nits |
Built-in GPS |
does not have |
Storage space |
4 GB (photo, song, and voice recording storage) |
battery |
360 mAh (about 6 days of daily use/20 days of standby) |
waterproof |
IP68 certified |
Sensors |
Optical heart rate sensor with the ability to calculate blood oxygen level (SpO2), accelerometer |
Speaker and microphone |
has |
operating system |
Exclusively compatible with Android 5 and iOS 9 and later |
Connections |
Bluetooth version 5.3 |
Eye-catching design with extra strap
The Glorimi M2 Max watch uses a large 1.6-inch circular screen in a zinc alloy frame, with a rotating button an aluminum action button, and a black/orange magnetic strap, which of course is available in black/blue, black/red, and white/blue colors. It is also available, it has an attractive and premium look. The 46.8mm size of the watch has an acceptable effect on narrow wrists, and its 50g weight does not cause any problems in long-term use; However, the magnetic strap makes you sweat a lot on hot summer days.
Glorimi M2 Max uses the IP68 degree of resistance against dust and water penetration up to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes; Therefore, it is not suitable for recording swimming activities in the pool. Inside the box, apart from the magnetic strap, there is an additional silicone strap with a screen protector and a magnetic charging cable.
Bright with more or less brilliant performance
The screen on the Glorimi M2 Max is almost flawless; 1.6-inch 60 Hz AMOLED with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels and a brightness of 1,350 nits, which is a step higher than similarly priced watches with 600 nit screens. Colors are vivid and bright on this watch, the pixel density is such that icons look sharp and clear, and text is easy to read, even under the summer sun. However, due to the lack of an ambient light sensor, there is no automatic brightness and you have to manually adjust the screen brightness.
Glorimi watch is one of the few watches that does not discriminate between different ecosystems in the true sense of the word. Changing the language of the watch is done immediately without the need to restart, and by the way, the translation of the words is accurate and fluent.
Glorimi watch uses a proprietary operating system compatible with iOS and Android and a dual-core processor with a 2.5D graphics engine to display animated watch faces with a 3D feel. In this price range, you should not expect perfect performance from the watch, and sometimes we see a little lag in the corners of the operating system; For example, there is a slight delay in displaying the clock after lifting the wrist or switching between screens. The animation of moving watch faces is also a bit slow.
I tested the Glorimi M2 Max with firmware version 1.0.5 on an iPhone and most likely the lag issue will be fixed in future updates. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any bugs during the review, and the display of notifications and calls was lag-free; The Bluetooth 5.3 connection was always established and, unlike most watches of the same category, it had no problem maintaining the connection with the iPhone.
This watch also uses four gigabytes of storage space to store photos, songs, and voice recordings. Transferring photos and songs is done through the HaWoFit watch app, and it is possible even on the iPhone.
Best implementation of the notification display
Glorimi M2 Max’s operating system, while similar to many other smartwatch OSes, benefits from a unique and interesting feature that Xiaomi refers to as a “Split Screen Browser”. While on most watches, swiping left and right simply switches between different apps, swiping right on the Glorimi M2 Max displays a small split screen in the left corner of the main screen. In this small space, you can see the time and date, quick access to notifications and the complete list of applications; You can also define a shortcut to access up to four applications by keeping your finger in this space.
The user interface of the Xiaomi watch is simple, clean, and straightforward and uses standard gestures to access different parts of the watch; By pressing the rotary button, the list of applications will open, and you can change their arrangement from the watch settings section. By rotating this button on the home screen, you switch between watch faces, control the volume in the Music app, and scroll through other pages. If you haven’t activated Always-on and Raise-to-wake to increase battery life, you can turn on the watch face by pressing the rotary button.
The second button is also a shortcut to the workouts screen by default, but you can replace it with any other app. A swipe down reveals quick settings that include brightness adjustment, Do Not Disturb mode, silent mode, raise-to-wake feature, power saving mode, watch face and sound settings, AOD mode, and several other options.
Split Screen’s right swipe and left swipe switch between several frequently used apps, including activity overview, heart rate test, blood oxygen level, stress, sleep monitoring, music control, and weather, and you can remove some of these shortcuts. Finally, swiping up reveals the notifications screen.
I am not exaggerating; Glorimi M2 Max has the best notification display implementation among all the smart watches reviewed by Zomit. Apart from the complete and perfect support of the Farsi language and emojis, it is as if there is no limit defined for the notifications of the Xiaomi watch! First, notifications are placed in separate categories depending on the application, and each application has its own official icon. Scrolling is also enabled for each notification so you can read messages almost completely (the only thing that doesn’t show fully is the link).
Notifications will be saved in any category you want; For example, the number of X social network category notifications reached more than 60 and continued! In comparison, the CMF Notting Watch Pro only keeps 10 notifications, and new notifications overwrite the previous ones.
Ability to call even for iPhone
Apple’s closed ecosystem does not allow many smartwatches to be compatible with the iPhone, and call support is usually one of the first features that fall under Apple’s monopoly; However, with the Glorimi M2 Max, you can easily connect it to the iPhone and enjoy all the functions of this watch, including answering calls, except for sending a quick reply.
Answering calls with the Xiaomi watch is done without problems and delays, and the performance of the speaker and microphone is satisfactory for use in a low-noise environment. The watch has a relatively weak vibration and is not suitable for waking up; But you can use several different ringtones for alarms and calls that have a suitable volume.
Glorimi M2 Max’s proprietary operating system does not support any app store and you have to go with the pre-installed apps on the watch that meet most of the user’s needs; Including weather app, calculator, watch lock with password, find phone, camera shutter control, alarm, stopwatch, timer, photo album, reminder, flashlight, Pomodoro timer, voice recorder, music control, and four mini-games. Of course, it is possible to synchronize information from the iPhone’s Health app with the watch, but Strava’s place is empty.
The shutter control unfortunately only works with the camera interface of the HaWoFit app, but the music control allows you to play songs from the watch itself or even save songs for the iPhone. Voice recording is one of those apps that are usually not found by default in smartwatches; However, the sound recording quality of Glorimi M2 Max does not disappoint.
In the watch application, you can access a diverse and colorful collection of watch faces with five different styles for AOD mode. Most watch faces are very busy and many of them use animated elements that may not suit all tastes. Fortunately, it is possible to use a custom watch face, and the process of installing it on the watch takes less than 30 seconds. In the personalization section of the watch face, you can choose from 5 different styles, although the front of the watch is too simple and does not match the design of the official watch faces.
Extremely accurate sensors
The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch uses an accelerometer and an “advanced” heart rate sensor with the ability to calculate the blood oxygen level (SpO2) and an accelerometer, but there is no gyroscope or skin temperature and ambient light sensor; However, many of the health features the user needs are available in this watch; Including 24-hour heart rate measurement, heart rate alarm, blood oxygen measurement, sleep monitoring, a reminder of water consumption and movement, stress test, monthly habit tracker, breathing exercise and a new feature called Mood, which seems to be closely related to stress test.
But just providing health features is not enough; You should be able to trust their results. Fortunately, the Xiaomi watch showed an extremely accurate performance in the health and sleep monitoring tests, so that we can safely recommend the Glorimi M2 Max to people whose purpose in buying a smartwatch is health monitoring. As you can see in the table, the test results of the three health functions of the Xiaomi watch are almost equal to the results of the Galaxy Watch 4, which has accurate sensors.
Tests |
Glorimi M2 Max |
Galaxy Watch 4 |
---|---|---|
heartbeat |
86 beats per minute |
85 beats per minute |
blood oxygen level (SpO2) |
98 percent |
97 percent |
stress test |
normal |
normal |
I usually don’t expect much from the accuracy of sensors or even pedometers in this price range, but the Glorimi M2 Max blew me away in all tests. The sleep monitoring results are quite accurate and the pedometer did a great job of recording 100 steps with only one step difference.
The Xiaomi watch supports more than a hundred different workouts and all of them can be seen and selected from the watch itself. Since the watch does not have a resistance level of 5ATM, there is no mention of a swimming workout in the list of sports activities. For sports activities, information such as the number of steps, the amount of calories burned, the duration of the activity, the heart rate, and the speed of the steps are recorded. The Glorimi M2 Max lacks built-in GPS, but the map app has accurate positioning.
Satisfactory battery life
In terms of battery life, the Glorimi M2 Max fares very well. Xiaomi announced a battery capacity of 360 mAh and claims that it will last about 20 days in standby mode and 3 to 5 days in heavy use.
In my review, with 50% brightness, AOD and BT Switched off, notifications on, heart rate, stress, and oxygen levels constantly monitored, and about half an hour of calls and exercise per day, the watch lasted about six days on a charge. . If you enable AOD and BT Switch, the battery life will probably decrease to about 3 days. The watch is charged with a special magnetic cable and it takes about two hours to charge from 0 to 100 percent.
Is Glorimi M2 Max worth buying?
The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch is an attractive product in many ways, and considering the price tag of about three million tomans, it has outstanding features that make its purchase worthwhile; Including a clear and bright AMOLED screen, full support for Farsi language in the menu and messages, very accurate sensors, the ability to call even with an iPhone, great implementation of notification display and satisfactory battery life.
But on the other hand, this economic watch also has limitations; Including the lack of built-in GPS, the lack of the ability to install external applications, the lack of ability to respond to messages (in Android phones, it is possible to send a quick response) and the lack of support for 5ATM resistance level to record swimming activity.
If texting, installing third-party apps, and built-in GPS are important to you, you might want to consider buying the Galaxy Watch 4, which, despite being three years old, costs almost twice as much as the Glorimi M2 Max, and isn’t compatible with the iPhone.
Read more: Galaxy Watch Ultra Review
The Galaxy Fit 3 is roughly the same price as the M2 Max and offers 5ATM resistance, fast performance, and drop detection, but lacks built-in GPS, calling, and app installation.
Along with its attractive appearance and built-in GPS, Notting’s CMF Watch Pro uses accurate and responsive touch sensors compatible with the iPhone, but at the time of review, it suffered from numerous software bugs.
In addition to the M2 Max model, the Glorimy brand also has two models, the M2 and the M2 Pro, where the M2 model is cheaper and the Pro model is more expensive and has a more luxurious appearance. The Max and Pro models share the same processor, but the Pro model has a slightly smaller screen, two extra straps in the box, and no storage space. The M2 has the same screen as the Pro but uses a possibly weaker processor. All three models do not differ in terms of features and capabilities.
The specifications of all Glorimy products can be seen on the official Glorimy website. Fortunately, these products benefit from 12 months of after-sales service, including a 6-month replacement warranty, and it is possible to register a service request and inquire about authenticity from the glorimi.ir website.
Why should we buy the Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch?
- Excellent display of notifications
- The ability to call even with an iPhone
- Bright AMOLED screen
- Very accurate sensors
- Satisfactory battery life
- Affordable price
Why should we avoid buying the Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch?
- Lack of built-in GPS
- It was not possible to install the app
- No ability to reply to messages
- No support for 5ATM grade
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