Robin J. Akins
Personal Engineering Projects
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1972

Designed, programmed, tested and delivered an inventory control
system for United Airlines, Chicago, Il. It was developed and ran on
a Control Data Corporation 3100 mainframe. Written in assembly
language and completed in 1973.

1976

Built my first microcomputer using prototype circuit boards.
This wirewrapped Z80 microcomputer with 64k of memory ran at 2mhz
and ran DOS and a small kernel Unix.

1977

Designed the hardware and software for a real-time home environment
control system (HEART). The system monitors fire, security, environment
and communications. Written in assembly language on a Z80 platform.
The original program took 17 months to develop and was ported to the
PC in 1983.

1978

My first multi-user operating system written in assembly language on
a Z80 platform was transformed into a communications terminal controller
for use at Caterpillar Tractor's communications department.
The product was given to AT&T in 1978 and portions of the program
ended up in an AT&T commercial communications package.

1980

I completed a more advanced version of my multi-user, multi-tasking
operating system which could use up to 256 Z80 processors for a fault
tolerant system, (HOS).

1981

Ported my HEART program to my HOS, multi-tasking operating system.

1982

Developed a digitally automated audio mixing console.
I designed, built and tested 13 circuit boards using 960 integrated
circuits. The completed console uses 43 of these circuit boards.
The hardware took 11 months to complete and the real-time software
took 31 months to complete. The hardware was completed in 1987 and the
software was completed in 1992.

1990

Developed and wrote a front-end network server for use in a local
area data center. The program ran on a PC based platform and took
14 months to complete, test and install. Again in assembly.

1991

Developed, wrote, tested and installed a 22 module Unix accounting
system for real-time account processing. Written and compiled in C.

1993

Developed, wrote, tested the RASI stamp inventory control Database
system. Written and compiled in C. 11 months to write and test the
programs and six months of database data entry.

1995

Developed, wrote, tested and installed a 5 module Web server auditing
system. Written and compiled in C.

1996

Developed and built a computer controlled stage lighting controller.
The project took 6 months.

1997

Rebuild the Nibor Recording studio mixing console.
The project took 5 months.

1998

Digitally remastered 1,176 audio recording for the Nibor Record Company.
The project took 5 months.

1999

Finished my 2,000th web page. Sign of the times.

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