- Alexey Eduardovich, to begin with, tell us a little about the scientific and technical center "Module".

What does the company specialize in and which companies does it supply its products to?

- Our company has been operating since 1990.

We are engaged in the production of microprocessors, microcontrollers, computing modules, electronic equipment, software kits for the development and implementation of deep neural networks, computers and other systems.

One of the largest Russian design centers for embedded hardware and microelectronics functions in the "Module" structure.

We have a very wide range of customers: housing and communal services organizations, universities, administrations of business centers, a large number of private companies.

Also among the main consumers of our products are enterprises of the leading state corporations - Roscosmos and Rostec.

For example, at the present stage we are actively developing cooperation with one of the leading Russian manufacturers of aviation equipment and supplying computers that are installed on the satellites of the Russian GLONASS system.

The key areas of activity of the "Module" include artificial intelligence, navigation, space, aviation, medicine, machine vision, unmanned systems, multimedia, software and debugging tools.

In recent years, a huge scope for the center's activities has appeared in connection with the launch of import substitution programs, the transition of enterprises and government institutions to the domestic electronic component base.

- At the recent MAKS-2021 international aerospace show, you presented one of your latest products - a new mezzanine computer

.

What is this device and where will it be used?

- It is an effective special computer for the implementation of artificial neural networks and digital signal and image processing tasks.

It was created on the basis of the most advanced neuroprocessor and is a board for artificial intelligence solutions.

The size of the sample presented at MAKS-2021 was 12 x 12 cm, but in mass production the area of ​​the calculator will be 10 x 10.

This is the eighth generation of chips and the fourth generation of the architecture.

The team of the center considers the creation of a new module a great achievement: the device consumes from 5 W to 9 W of energy with a computing power of 0.5 flops.

  • Deputy General Director for Development of the Scientific and Technical Center "Modul" Alexey Mokhnatkin

  • © Press service of STC "Module"

The product is easily connected to the "head" of robotic systems, drones and manned aircraft - our special computer is installed in a standard connector on the control board.

It can act as a dependent means - that is, accept "instructions" from the outside - and perform the functions of a microcomputer, acting "independently".

In fact, the new product was developed at the request of a number of Russian manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles.

They asked us to reduce the size and power consumption of the computers we supplied them.

For Russian drones, the mezzanine module is a truly unique solution.

Not a single Russian company offers anything of the kind yet.

The integration of a special computer helps the drone to fly in autonomous mode, in conditions where there are no GLONASS and GPS signals.

Thus, the aircraft is practically unaffected by the enemy's electronic warfare means.

The new device provides the carrier with ample opportunities due to the integration of technologies of deep convolutional neural networks.

Thanks to them, artificial intelligence learns to make decisions without human intervention based on the results of database analysis.

The mezzanine module performs a huge amount of calculations, helps the UAV control system to recognize surrounding objects and determine the positioning of the carrier.

Despite this, we are moving on and are now starting to develop the ninth and tenth generations of chips and the fifth generation of architecture.

- What other projects in the field of artificial intelligence for UAVs are being implemented by the center's team?

“Based on the Elbrus processor and our Neuromatrix accelerators (computational modules -

RT

), we have created an automated workstation for object recognition for UAVs.

Simply put, this is a classic computer with a system unit (processor -

RT

).

The neural network that is used there almost accurately identifies targets.

The recognition accuracy indicator is close to 100%.

For comparison: the level of the human eye is 85%.

The computer is completely built on the domestic component base and is intended for use at the control center of the drone.

We expect that from next year the workstation will be supplied to government customers.

- Earlier you reported that the center is developing in the direction of medicine.

What products are we talking about?

Is the enterprise involved in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic?

- In cooperation with the Shvabe holding and the Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after

Burnazyan, a mobile diagnostic complex with a built-in artificial intelligence system was developed.

Now the product is being tested in about ten federal medical institutions and in the future, of course, will be used to detect covid disease.

Our contribution lies in the development of a medical neural network hardware and software complex.

This is a workplace (computer) that recognizes COVID-19 by analyzing tomographic images of a person's lungs.

The neural network helps to reduce the burden on the medical staff, which is especially important during a pandemic.

The probability of an accurate conclusion given by this medical module is 95%, but the final diagnosis is naturally made by the doctor.

The project of this medical complex is of great importance for the Russian healthcare system.

It can be transferred to any locality and take the necessary measures there.

- A neural network cannot do without a wide database.

Where do you get it from?

- Indeed it is.

To form a database for the neural network, we cooperate with customers and their contractors.

In general, our main task is "hardware", that is, the creation of efficiently working microelectronics, boards and computers.

We port software created by customers or other organizations to our solutions.

  • Computer developed by STC "Module" at MAKS-2021

  • © RT / Alexey Zakvasin

- What other new products does Module offer to its customers?

- As I said above, we have a lot of government customers with whom we cooperate on import substitution, creation of data centers (data processing centers), micro data centers, server solutions.

We have many joint products with the Moscow State Technical University.

Bauman, developers of "Elbrus" (JSC "MCST". -

RT

) and processors "Baikal" (Baikal Electronics. -

RT

).

Nevertheless, in our activities and cooperation, we are more market-oriented.

For example, we offer lighting and utilities management systems that reduce electricity and other resource consumption.

The advantage of our systems is that they can be operated by an operator without special training.

They are intuitive to anyone.

Operators do not need to keep a staff of engineers or IT specialists, one operator is enough.

The economic effect of the integration of our smart complexes is very tangible.

An important direction of the "Module" is the manufacture of power sources.

In particular, our center has concentrated its efforts on the development of a line of Triumph batteries with electrolyte in the form of a gel.

They can be installed on ground vehicles and aircraft, including as backup power supplies.

The peculiarity of this product is that there is no liquid inside it.

The gel battery is unpretentious and extremely resistant to mechanical damage - it remains operational, even if it breaks through.

Such a product will definitely suit the army and law enforcement agencies.

Apart from us, there is only one company currently operating in Russia that produces gel batteries.

- Really curious development.

It turns out that such a battery is capable of working even after being hit by shrapnel and bullets?

- Quite right.

It continues to work, and the release of electrolyte and harmful gases does not occur.

"Triumph" perfectly tolerates the ingress of water, works well in frost and heat, and after a full discharge it is able to charge up to 100%.

Liquid analogs do not possess such qualities - at best, they will be charged by 80%.

And the most important thing is safety.

We offer starter, traction and other types of gel batteries.

Yes, their cost is 10-20% higher than liquid accumulators, which are widely used in the military and in civilian life.

But, you know, the advantages of a gel battery are much greater.

For example, it practically does not need to be serviced.

Unfortunately, Russian gel batteries are poorly represented on the domestic market.

However, the situation is beginning to change.

Triumph is now being successfully tested in a number of law enforcement agencies and in Arctic conditions.

We hope that our line of unique gel batteries will find wide practical application.