Hungarian Academy of Sciences Computer Science and Automation Research Institute

SZTAKI wanted to be the domestic base institute for technical development and research, as well as computer technology applications.

GD'71 – graphic display

WAMPBOX, TPS, HBOX and MBOX packet switches

Syster, Varyter, Primo computer

MULTIGATE router product line

The Automation Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA AKI) was founded in 1964 and already had a defining history when it was established, such as: the automation research group of the Department of Electrical Machines at the University of Technology, operating in the Academy's Measurement Technology Laboratory, led by Academician Károly Pál Kovács; the automation group established at the University of Technology department of Academician Ottó Benedikt and the Department of Automation at the University of Technology founded by Frigyes Csáki. Benedikt and Csáki, in addition to Vámos, also had a significant personal role in the founding of the Institute. The young talents working in the individual groups were pioneers in the introduction of automation theory in Hungary and in domestic automation element research. József Hatvany, the most significant domestic pioneer of computer-aided design and manufacturing, worked here from 1965 and then at SZTAKI. The economic management of the institute was under the jurisdiction of the National Technical Development Committee (OMFB) established at that time, and the results of this were outstandingly good salaries for the Hungarian average, extensive travel opportunities, exemplary journal supply and free information, modern instrumentation and flexible parts procurement. The rapidly developing institute primarily dealt with the topics of industrial automation, computer-aided design and process control.

The year 1973 was a significant milestone in the history of the MTA AKI: it merged with the MTA Computer Center (MTA SZK), where István Aczél was the director from 1960-1962, and was then named the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Computer and Automation Research Institute (MTA SZTAKI).

(SZTAKI's other predecessor institution, the Computer Science Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, was founded in 1960 and developed from the academy's Cybernetics Research Group. The first Hungarian computer (M3) was built here and, at the time of the merger, the country's largest computer (CDC-3300) was operated here.)

In 1986, the Information Infrastructure Development Program (IIF, later NIIFI) was established at the initiative of SZTAKI.

Several independent companies were established within the SZTAKI group, such as ITConsult-Pro Rt, which carried out further development of the Multigate product family.

As of August 1, 2019, the institute is part of the Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH).

The first director of SZTAKI was Tibor Vámos (1926), a Széchenyi Prize-winning electrical engineer, research professor, and academician who was a midwife at the birth and focused on managing the two-year process.

Within a short time, MTA SZTAKI became one of the basic institutions of technical development and research, as well as computer technology applications in Hungary. In the early days, research conducted at SZTAKI was mainly grouped around two profiles: one profile was industrial automation, computer-aided design and manufacturing, and the other was the large-scale task of process control.

The team, also seeking new paths, worked with KFKI, the domestic laser developer, on various application topics, all based on the acoustic-optical deflection of laser light. Artificial intelligence research has also begun (pattern recognition, industrial intelligent robots).

An early result of the research topic of computer-aided design and manufacturing was the GD'71 graphic display, the most important tool for the human-machine interface of computer-aided design. The practical and successful implementation of the results of the process control program took place at Péti Nitrogénművek. In addition, the process control software for domestic licensed small machines (VIDEOTON 1010 family) and the PROCESS system were also completed, which was used in Soviet and GDR plants.

Portrait of other notable people

Major research and theoretical works in the field of computer science:

• shape recognition, shape recognition robot control
• computer control systems
• Modeling, analysis and control of systems with uncertain parameters using H-infinite optimal control, filtering, and approximate identification for control purposes
• image analysis
• relational database model research
• operations research studies
• artificial intelligence research
• geometric modeling

Network applications/developments:

• Between 1986 and 1990, the development of X.25 network devices and a nationwide network
• development of applications based on the X.25 network: ELLA, PETRA, TRILLA
• In October 1991, the first international IP connection was established with the University of Linz
• management and operational activities in the launch of HBONE, the domestic research Internet backbone network (1993)

Network/Computer Services:

• maintaining databases (e.g.: SZTAKI dictionary)
• operation of mail systems and mail gateways (ELLA)
• root DNS server operation