Services

Intesym’s approach to engineering is to always seek the simplest answers to problems. It is our contention that increasing the simplicity of a design can lead to greater sophistication, flexibility, and reliability of the product.

We are always happy to work with clients on their projects in a flexible capacity, as consultant engineers, a technology partner, mentor, or other appropriate arrangement. We can contribute, amongst other things, hardware, software, system engineering, and technical review. Topics have spanned image processing, artificial intelligence, finite-element analysis, fuel cell control, and imaging systems.

A particular speciality is bespoke computational systems, and Intesym draws on two decades of in-house experience in parallel processing, unconventional processor architectures, CPU design, and system design.

Our general philosophy towards engineering was discussed in our 2018 article in The Parliamentary Review, and can be summarised thus:
  • Discard prior notions of how to solve a given problem.
  • Question assumptions and axioms.
  • Avoid reflecting a solution’s problems onto the question.
  • Consider historical ideas in a modern context.
  • Invoke novelty sparingly.
    • “New”, “Innovative”, “Patented” != “Better”.
  • Look for routes around barriers, not over or through them.
  • If you’re too close to the problem, ask someone else.
  • Often a lay-person can see an answer that an expert can’t.
  • Ask the silly questions.
  • Consider if the stated problem is the true problem, or an assumed solution posing as the problem.
  • If the stated problem includes technical details then it is probably not the true problem.
Our electronic (hardware) R&D engineering capabilities include:
  • Digital logic
    • Discrete
    • Progammable (CPLD/FPGA/Microcontroller)
    • Multi-million gates FPGAs
    • Schematics, netlists, and VHDL
  • Analogue
    • Audio and small-signal
    • Filters, amplifiers, sensors, etc.
    • DAC/ADC
  • Computational systems
    • Bespoke unconventional and novel CPU models
      • A particular speciality is our Symbiotic architecture
    • Bespoke traditional RISC/CISC-based CPUs
      • We can also incorporate third-party designs and ICs
    • Bespoke designs for embedded, FPGA, discrete, mobile, and HPC
    • Concurrent and massively-parallel processing
    • Multi-processors
    • Multi-threading processors
    • Naturally-parallel processors
    • Graphics and special-function acceleration
  • I/O
    • Video controllers
    • Memory and cache controllers
    • Digital and analogue interfacing
    • Control logic
    • Communication links and protocols
  • System engineering
    • Embedded systems
    • Microcontrollers
    • Board-level and chip-level design
    • Emulations
    • System integration
Our algorithmic and mathematical R&D capabilities include:
  • Deriving and developing new algorithms
  • Implementing and/or optimising existing algorithms
  • Profiling and analysing
  • Language translation / porting code
  • “Artificial intelligence”
    • Control systems and automation
    • Expert systems
    • “Narrow” A.I. and heuristic algorithms
    • “Deep-learning” A.I.

 

Our software R&D engineering capabilities include:
  • Algorithms & Mathematics
  • Hardware and systems engineering
    • Machine code / assembly language / high-level languages
    • Embedded microcontroller software
    • Bespoke operating systems
    • Functional libraries
    • Compilers / interpreters / virtual machines
    • Hardware drivers
    • Bespoke emulators
  • Custom applications (“apps”)
    • Electronic, structural, mechanical, and general engineering, scientific, & mathematical software
    • Bespoke software, e.g. for Microsoft Windows, Linux/BSD, Apple MacOS, Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Hardware deliverables can range from concepts through schematics, netlists, synthesisable VHDL on CPLD/FPGAs, to complete turn-key populated boards.

Software deliverables can range from a non-exclusive application through to complete source-code hand-over under a selection of licences.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are taken seriously, and we are flexible with regards to licensing according to clients’ needs, and are happy to work on projects ranging from proprietary to open-source.