Amino: the Next-Generation Solution for Secure, Reliable and Cost-Effective Sharing of Computing Power
Amino is a decentralised infrastructure based on Blockchain technology for sharing computing power while providing a unique compensation model for contributors of idle computing resources.
Providers of distributed computing power, such as traditional, centralised cloud-based solutions have become too expensive, with high-security risks and low reliability, while old-generation Blockchain-based solutions have proven to be unstable, still placing too much reliance on centralised cloud networks, and implementing unfair compensation models for contributors of computing power.
Amino is a next-generation solution, encouraging owners of high-performance computer hardware to offer on-demand, commercial grade computing power to nearby users who are in need of powerful computing resources to execute various tasks.
The platform is able to provide a significantly improved experience for both contributors and consumers through the unique Amino OS system architecture that allows for stable and efficient sharing of computing resources via a decentralised and distributed computing network.
Developed by a distinguished team of researchers and experts from top universities in New Zealand and Australia who combines extensive backgrounds in AI, Big Data, distributed systems, information security, risk governance, economics and Blockchain, with real-world business and entrepreneurial experience, Amino is not just a theoretical concept.
It is fully supported by The New Zealand Digital Economy Development Trust and at the end of 2017, over 3,000 Amino OS have already been installed on high-performance computing terminals in over 20 locations across the Asia-Pacific region.
The rising demand for distributed computing
Mobile phone internet user penetration worldwide is expected to pass 61% by the end of 2018, and twice as much internet searches are expected to come from mobile devices, versus static desktops and computers.
Fifth-generation wireless mobile technology (or 5G) will be vital for time-effective data transfer between devices. By 2023, around 20% of all mobile data traffic will be on 5G-enabled networks, with 1 billion network subscribers.
The 5G business potential is also estimated to reach $619 billion by 2026. Startups providing resource-intensive services will need powerful computer processing capabilities but might not have the necessary capital to buy powerful hardware systems.
A next-generation distributed computing network is a cost-effective answer, yet powerful enough to render these services efficiently.
To realise the full potential of 5G technology, its not just about buying a new handset. New kinds of computing networks — ones that are highly secure, resilient, cost-effective, fast and scalable — are needed to provide a distributed environment where businesses can thrive on a fully utilized 5G network.
Limitations of current distributed computing networks
Most distributed computing networks are provided by centralised cloud technology, which tend to be monopolistic, with low market competition that drives up consumer prices.
Running, cooling and maintaining vast hardware infrastructures requires large amounts of energy consumption which further adds to high consumer prices.
To minimise disturbance, centralised cloud computing centres are also often built in non-urban areas. But large distances between computing resources and consumers cause significant data transfer delays (high latency).
Distributed computing networks also suffer from low reliability, network congestion and limited scalability.
The Internet of Things (IoT) means more and more devices require access to the internet, with over 27 billion devices expected to connect to IP networks by 2021. To relieve the pressure, computing networks need to drastically scale up, with large amounts of bandwidth needed to cope with the traffic.
However, low expansion rates of network bandwidth and high cost of centralised computing, combined with high latency, means the scalability of these networks are severely limited.
Finally, centralised networks do not provide adequate data security.
Centralised computing servers provide a single point of weakness that, when breached, can give fraudsters unauthorised access to a plethora of personal information, with potentially devastating consequences.
Blockchain is a step in the right direction but old-generation solutions are not up to the task
There are generally two types of architecture for distributed computing networks.
1 The first is the implementation of multiple, separate cloud computing centres to cover more areas. Resources are still centralised but it does relieve some of the bottlenecks of single-centre cloud computing solutions. Centres can be closer to consumers, mitigating the issue of high-latency, while network congestion is reduced by placing more data centres. It doesn’t, however, resolve the inherent high-cost, low reliability and limited scalability of these networks.
2 The second is Blockchain technology, which provides the ideal foundation for distributed, decentralised and trustless computing network. Many Blockchain applications have, however, become too reliant on centralised cloud systems, reducing the overall benefit of the technology. DApps (decentralised applications) are still deployed on centralised cloud infrastructure (although core data and transactions run on decentralised Blockchains), while transaction mining has increasingly become centralised through large-scale operations.
Stability of resources is also not guaranteed. If resources fail during the execution of a specific task, consumers have to look for more stable contributors, meaning precious time has been wasted. Contributors also suffer in this scenario — they don’t get paid for the resources they have already provided up to the time of failure.
The absence of a fair compensation model for contributors and unguaranteed stability for consumers leads to the conclusion that current Blockchain-based solutions are built on top of the right sharing architecture but the economic models are wrong.
The Amino solution is unique in its approach
Amino is a next-generation Blockcha in infrastructure for sharing computing power where rewards are based on contribution, not results, providing an economic model that ensures benefits to both contributors and consumers.
In its unique approach, individual nodes (contributors) provide computing resources to the platform, while the platform takes responsibility for consumer tasks.
Contributors are then rewarded for rendering their idle computer resources, irrespective of any task being completed. This method also allows Amino to give performance guarantees to consumers as the platform will always distribute sufficient computing resources to make sure that tasks get completed.
This is fundamentally different from other distributed computing solutions, where individual contributors are responsible for individual consumer tasks, hence the lack of reliability and unsuitable economic model.
Amino’s infrastructure will be able to self-learn and evolve to ensure continuous performance and price stability
In order to understand demand for computing resources and how to distribute these resources for successful task completion, Amino will measure the arrival of task requests and completions on its Blockchain.
These records can then be used for AI and machine learning inputs to build an accurate prediction model for future tasks, ensuring the network maintains its robustness and high-performance at all times.
By being able to adapt how computing resources are distributed, Amino also ensures price stability. Incentivising the provision of computer resources creates vital competition within the ecosystem.
An overview of Amino’s methodology and technology
Amino is a three-tier computing network with a two-level token system.
The three-tier computing system is made up of:
1 Super Nodes: Controls the entire Amino network deploying blockchain, and are responsible for allocating requests for computing tasks to Amino.
2 Master Nodes: Responsible for providing reliable computer resources to customers and scheduling the associated slave nodes.
3 Slave Nodes: Individual [idle] computers that provide computing resources to the Amino network.
The two-level token system consists of:
- GAS: Used as a measure of computational effort it will take to execute individual tasks and as a method of compensation to nodes for that computational effort.
- AMO Token: Provides decentralised governance on the Amino network by representing voting rights.
In an effective computer resource sharing economy, both the needs of contributors and consumers of computing resources have to be satisfied.
Contributors need to know that their normal computing use will remain unaffected while their idle resources are being used and their data needs to remain secure. Consumers would also place a high priority on data security while having access to easy-to-use, reliable computing resources.
Amino perfectly meets these needs through its Amino OS, a stable and reliable computer sharing architecture, while embedded intelligent modules will streamline Amino’s performance, giving the network the ability to learn, adapt and evolve over time.
