Jean-Daniel Nicoud received his PhD in 1970 and was appointed professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne in 1973. In 1974, he organized the first "International Conference on Microprocessors," with 700 participants and coordinated 10 other conferences over the years. Nicoud published the "MicroScope" journal from 1975 to 1982, wrote many papers and four books.
He developed the Logidules; the Smaky family of personal computers (nine different machines between 1975 and 1994 produced by Epsitec System); the Crocus; the Dauphin; the Scrib; the Depraz Mouse, initially sold by Logitech; and more recently the Cyclope and Khepera robots.
Nicoud was very concerned (but unsuccessful) with microcomputer standards, proposing the CALM, the Mubus, and the P1011 standards. From 1980-82, he served as vice-chairman of the P896 committee.
Miniaturization and human interaction has always held an attraction for him, and he continues to develop small mobile robots
