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Mechanical Computing

Posted by timothy on from the meccano-punk dept.

FTL writes "Tim Robinson has built a computer capable of solving polynomial equations -- using Meccano. His difference engine (mirror) uses a similar approach to Babbage's design. He's also created a differential analyzer (mirror) complete with a GUI. Both could be scaled up indefinitely to handle larger problems. 'Computing by steam' is possible."

6 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Strange by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Strange. I thought Mechanical Computing was in the past

  2. Beautiful! by tyroneking · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No really - this is art...

  3. Re:Next project? by temojen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think perhaps a (finite) turing machine would be much easier. It would be simpler due to not needing random access memory.

  4. Re:Next project? by mark-t · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Approximately one year ago, there was a lot of discussion on the pneumatics newsgroup for lugnet, and some interesting ideas on how to make assorted digital computing elements using LEGO were worked out. AND, OR, XOR, Adders, and even a mechanism for binary-based memory storage were designed.

    The costs of purchasing enough LEGO elements to actually make a simple and an even remotely usable computer, however, was well into the thousands of dollars.... kind of hard to justify for something that ultimately, is... well... rather useless.

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    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  5. Re:1835 Called by AceJohnny · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually no, they didn't really care, then.

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  6. blimey! by snellgrove2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    um... yah, he's cleverer than me i'd say :)