Brief history of YCRDI



In Armenia Scientific research and Technical developments in Informatics and Computers started when Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute was founded (YCRDI, 1956). After that, the Computer Center of Academy of Sciences and State University (1957, now Institute of Informatics and automation problems of National Academy of Sciences) was founded. Both Institutes were founded by NAS initiative and Government of Armenia support.

YCRDI was founded by USSR government decision and its main task was development of computer equipment. Going through all stages of computer science development, the Institute became a major center for development of computers and automatic control systems for civil and defense purposes. For the republic the Institute played a coordinating role and its expansion decisively inflicted the development of other adjacent branches of science and technology (NAS, High Education Institutes, Branch Institutes and factories).

At the beginning of 1960s the main areas of Institute activities were formed. Based on that time classification, these were small and medium performance computers and by the end of 1960s – special purpose computers and automated control systems. Along with the main areas, for supporting their progress, a number of departments were created such as Electronics and Construction, Computer Aided Design, Memory systems and Power units, technology support and others. The personnel of scientific and pilot production parts of the Institute reached 7000.

The foundation and success of the Institute is due to the continued support of Heads of National Academy of Sciences and Government and academicians S. Mergelyan and F. Sargisyan.

The profile of the Institute led to the creation of structure necessary for development and implementation of computer equipment starting from technical specifications and ending with implementation and production. Departments for construction, computer aided design, software development and testing, laboratory for testing computer parts and units in different ambient conditions and departments for developing proper documentation are now available.

For producing pilot samples of computers and computer equipment an experimental factory was founded at YCRDI. The factory ensured thorough testing of pilot samples of equipment, carried out corrective actions in technology and documentation prior to its transfer to mass production factories elsewhere.

Organization of such a development-production cycle made it possible to achieve high productivity of cooperation among several factories and scientific research institutes. During its development activities the Institute closely collaborated with the Research and Development Center for Computer Techniques (NICEVT, Moscow), Institute for Precise Mechanics and Computer technologies (ITM&VT, Moscow), Automatic equipment R&D Institute (Moscow), R&D Institute for Computers (Moscow) and others. Computers of YCRDI design were produced in Kazan Computer factory (Russian Federation), Vinnitsa Radio technical Factory (Ukraine), Yerevan Electron factory (Armenia) and elsewhere.

Due to close cooperation with leading Institutes and factories of Soviet Union, it was possible to gain big experience in developing, producing and implementing four generations of computers, complexes and automatic control systems.

In 1992 the Institute had 3500 strong highly qualified staff and together with the experimental factory and the factory for integrated circuits - more than 7000.

One of the first projects developed by YCRDI was the first generation mainframe ARAGATS on electron tubes (1958-1960, Head of the project – B. Haikin).

First generation electronic modules Model of First Generation mainframe "Aragats"

During 1958-1961 the first in USSR, built on semiconductor devices, second generation computer HRAZDAN was developed (Head of the project – E. Brusilovsky) and the next to it – HRAZDAN-3 (1965, Head of the Project – V. Rousanevitch) which was produced at YCRDI experimental factory and was exported.

Second generation electronic modules Model of Second Generation mainframe "HRAZDAN"

YCRDI was the first in USSR in development of small microprogram control NAIRI 1,2,3,3-1 line of computers (1963-1971, Head of the projects – H. Hovsepyan, USSR State prize – 1971). During 1972-1976 NAIRI 3-2 and NAIRI 3-3 small computers were developed (Head of the projects – H. Geoletsyan, Ukraine State prize). They were the first time sharing and problem oriented computers in USSR. The computer NAIRI 4 ARM which was designed for automatic control of typical production and NAIRI 4, NAIRI 41 computers (1974-1981, Head of the Projects G. Ohanyan) ensured processing of any graphic and text information and compatibility with such popular computer families as SM EVM (USSR) and PDP (USA). During 1980-1981 development of NAIRI 4B and NAIRI 4B/C was carried out (Heads of the projects V. Karapetyan and H. Sarkisyan, USSR State prize, 1987). They were implemented in Automatic control systems as communication and back-end computers.

Model of computer NAIRI 4/BC Model of computer NAIRI 4/ARM

During 1964-1990 the line of NAIRI computers was produced at the experimental factory of YCRDI, "Electron" factory of Yerevan and Kazan factory (Russian Federation), holds 44 patents and was shown at 19 international exhibitions.


"The ministry of Radioindustry of USSR insisted to develop and organize the production of an unusual for our institute project – equipment to control the flight to the moon (BRS), which for several years has tried without success to fulfill one of the biggest factories of Soviet Union... Because of that the flight to the moon was at stake... For nine month we didn't come out of the Institute... and the task was fulfilled even ahead of schedule". 

     F. Sarkisyan
         Director YCRDI 1963-1977,
         President National 
         Academy of Sciences
                      
    From the book "Lessons of my life"

In 1967-1968 a system BRS for processing telecommunication information from a flight to the moon was upgraded and put into production (Head of the project – A. Kuchukyan).

During 1967-1973 YCRDI developed and implemented the first in USSR fault tolerant computer system MARSHRUT-1 with three interchangeable special purpose computers. It was used for railway ticket reservation at Moscow railway station (Head of the project – A. Kuchukyan, Armenia State prize 1974).

Meantime YCRDI started the development of medium performance mainframes of the Unified Range of Computers (ÅÑ-ÝÂÌ). They were compatible with IBM 360, 370 and 4300 families and were produced in great quantities in "Electron" (Armenia) and Kazan (Russian federation) factories.

Within the scope of these activities YCRDI designed and developed the EC-1030 mainframe (Heads of the project - M. Semerdjyan, A. Kuchukyan, Armenia State prize 1976); the EC-1045, EC-1046 mainframes (Head of the projects – A. Kuchukyan, USSR State prize 1983, Armenia State prizes in 1983 and 1988). A. Kuchukyan was awarded Lenin prize in a group of authors.





Third generation electronic modules Model of third generation EC-1045 Mainframe

YCRDI has developed also the EC-1170 fourth generation mainframe with large integrated circuits (Head of the project – A. Kuchukyan).

Fourth generation electronic modules

Simultaneously YCRDI developed complexes and systems. Based on EC-1030 mainframe first in USSR duplex BK-1010 system was developed (1975, Head of the project V. Rusanevich). Similarly, based on EC-1045 and EC-1046 mainframes, duplex (BK-2M-45, BK-2M-46), dual (BK-2Ï-45, BK-2Ï-46) and triple modular BK-3M-45, MBK-46 fault-tolerant systems were developed (1975-1981, Head of the projects – A. Kuchukyan).

To increase the performance of mainframes on special tasks, the institute was the first in USSR to develop an array processor (1980, Head of the project – A. Kuchukyan).

To ensure memory units for computers developed by YCRDI, a thin film technology of memory units was developed and implemented (Heads of the project – L. Grigoryan, A. Edigaryan, Armenia State prize 1974).

The scientists of YCRDI have published 16 monographs, 52 collections of scientific publications and hold 380 patents.

After gaining independence of Armenia and creating a new institute out of departments dealing with automatic control systems (YerACSSRI), YCRDI directed its scientific-technical potential to solve the problems of the republic and gained big experience in development and implementation of Information and Control systems for different State agencies. Today in the Institute there are many highly qualified specialists in computer system, software and electronics.

Under the leadership of G. Hovhannisyan, during recent years the institute has developed or is developing a number of very important systems such as special purpose PAREK-VS (1994-2000), Information-Analytic INIA (1997-current) and the system URARTU for control, calculation and checking of electricity consumption. A number of developments in cryptography and radioelectronic equipment upgrade were carried out.

Under the leadership of A. Kuchukyan, with assistance of USAID, TACIS, WB and other international organizations, a number of information and control systems of great importance are developed. They have hierarchical structure (district-region-republic) and are based on off-shelf personal computers with application software developed by YCRDI specialists on a modern level. Among such systems are the ARAKS system for registration of pensioners, assignment and payment of pensions as well as for taking account of employers contributions (1994-1999); a system for assessment of households vulnerability and distribution of state poverty benefits PAROS was developed and implemented (1994-2001); SEVAN system for registration of unemployed, payment of benefits and placement (1997-2001); MIDAS system for collecting data and their analyses from medical institutions of Armenia was developed and implemented (2001-2002, President of Armenia prize, 2003).

Systems for computerization for Civil Status Registration offices of Armenia (project OSIRIS, 2001-2003) and a system for personified pension insurance (PARNAS, 2001-current) were recently developed.

During 2003-2005 a system AREV for information communication in Armenian for blinds and persons with impaired vision was developed. In 2006 a Russian language version of the system AREV-2 was developed. Pilot version of e-government was developed in 2004-2005.


Main directions of YCRDI activities now are:



YCRDI closely collaborates with: