LOST ART OF ZERO MAINTENANCE(SM)

If you are looking for the Kickstarter project, please go to www.LAZM.org.

This is the LAZM contracting page.

• Your computing tools do heavy lifting. They don't glitter; they cut. There's a practical job that needs to be done, and they do it.
• You drive valuable scientific, medical, or manufacturing instruments. They would cost many times the cost of a personal computer or laptop to replace. They may be specialized beyond what the market now offers.
• You are in danger of being orphaned. Major software developers do not find place for your needs. Newer, faster systems ironically make your work more difficult, and threaten to make your interfaces obsolete. A rewrite is possible only at brutal cost and risk.

                       CRUFTWALL
               - > -  data/timing   - > -
              /     \ transmission /     \
             /       \  detours   /       \
             |       |            |       |
      ------ | ----- | ---------- | ----- | ------
      |       \  |  /              \  |  /       |
      |        \ | /                \ | /        |
      |          |                    |          |
      |  Input   |       Legacy       |  Output  |
      |   and    |        Core        |  Signals |
      | Control  |        Code        |    and   |
      |          |                    |   Data   |
      --------------------------------------------

Typically the process is as follows:

• Stabilize the core code on the current platform while detouring ALL data and control through the cruftwall. If the old platform no longer works, it must be emulate.
• Provide and document the ability to do modifications that are not platform-dependent. Such new replacement parts are connected to the core code at the cruftwall.
• Use modern processing speeds and timing precision to make this self-documenting and maintainable. This requires BOTH FAST AND SLOW programming (instant response and high-level calculations), a specialty of our team.

• We deal with many CROSSING POINTS that allow parts of different eras and computer languages to communicate reliably.

1. Raw, timed TTL such as "step and direction"
2. ASCII text
3. USB, I2C, TCP/IP, serial and parallel interconnects
4. DXF, SLT, and PDF graphics transfer languages

• We are experts at BOTH FAST AND SLOW programming. There is no timing uncertainty.
• We code at "choke points" to keep new code to an absolute minimum.
• We document clearly and in full detail. We don't just hit the "high spots" like typical help pages.
• We employ hardware solutions where appropriate. Often, fifty dollars worth of hardware can replace software that costs thousands and ends up not working reliably after its long-delayed release.

• We give prompt, free estimates.
• An experienced engineer designs your project and directs all work.
• All work is done locally (San Diego area, California).
• For small projects, payment is half up front, half on completion and acceptance.
• We charge competitive hourly engineering rates with capped total hours and overhead.
• COTS hardware is priced at cost plus modest test and joining charges.

Dr. Dickson was the first of his Princeton University Graduate School entering class to receive (1971) a PhD in mathematics. His adviser was Elias M. Stein, winner of the 2005 Bergman Prize. Throughout his career he has applied algorithmic skills to solve difficult design problems robustly, taking proper account of data, timing, and multiprocessing resources.

Most recently, he helped invent RAID data redundancy algorithms, coded them in a system-independent RAID core, and helped integrate this with Linux in a commercial product (IceNAS) that drives up to 18 disks simultaneously. He is experienced in C, assembly (X86 and PIC), Fortran, Perl, and the parallel language Occam.

Dr. Dickson is inventor in several patents and patents pending. Recently as sole inventor he has received U.S. Patent 7,219,289 "Multiply redundant raid system and XOR-efficient method and apparatus for implementing the same" (owned by Tandberg Data) and U.S. Patent 7,512,718 "Reconfigurable computing array without chassis" (owned by LAZM). He is also aiding in the mathematical development of code for another inventor, Dave Swanson of MeasureBot3D LLC.

Robert graduated Pomona College in Physics, 1974, and moved to San Diego and helped start one of the early microcomputer companies. Appropriately named, GNAT, made pre IBM PC desktop and industrial microcomputers. So these old floppy sizes and formats are familiar to him.

In 1980 at Linkabit, he worked on satellite phone ground stations, which used triple redundant hot swappable RISC processors, all very leading edge at the time. He also worked on the design and testing of the SAC Milstar terminal, over-built in the same way as the MSU 8 inch floppy. After Linkabit was sold, Robert moved into consulting working on various projects, consumer products, financial software, GIS and environmental data collection and reduction.

In 2001 he joined a new startup as VP engineering at StarBridge. StarBridge was then working on a DARPA technology demonstrator contract, involving hot gas, hyper-velocity gun launched projectiles for sub-orbital and orbital launch.

In 2003, the focus moved to toys, again as VP engineering, Robert worked at Star Sports designing and making flying toys based on an unusual flying ring airfoil. Robert is one of the holders of the patent for this ultra-low velocity flying ring. At Star Sports, unique robotic production gluing and painting equipment was designed and built to support production in Mexico. In 2005, the rights were sold to a leading sport firm, Razor. Later, Robert joined in starting a small experimental optical sensor company, ThermoPhotonics, with patents in an area covered by a novel IR sensor technology. Robert is one of the patent holders.