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Hydraulic Analog Computer From 1949

Posted by Soulskill on from the upper-decker dept.

mbone writes "In the New York Times, there is an interesting story about a hydraulic analog computer from 1949 used to model the feedback loops in the economy. According to the article, 'copies of the 'Moniac,' as it became known in the United States, were built and sold to Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Ford Motor Company and the Central Bank of Guatemala, among others.' There is a cool video of the computer in operation at Cambridge University. I remember that the Instrumentation Lab at MIT still had an analog computer in its computer center in the mid-1970s. Even then, it seemed archaic, and now this form of computation is largely forgotten. With 14 machines built, it must have been one of the more successful analog computers — a supercomputer of its day. Of course, you have to wonder if it could have been used to predict our current economic difficulties."

4 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Explosives factories by flyingfsck · · Score: 4, Informative

    Some explosives factories still use hydraulics, steam or vacuum for process control. Although it tends to be digital now, with valves used as flip-flops.

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    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
    1. Re:Explosives factories by Keruo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Upgrade properly to what? Hydraulics is the most accurate way to control movement.
      If your application needs force with direction and accuracy, then your only real choice is to use hydraulics.

      Don't confuse modern hydraulic systems with something that just has few handvalves.
      Almost every system we deliver these days comes equipped with computer controlled digital valves which you can use to control pressures at 0.01 scale from 0 to 500+ bar(depending on customer specs naturally), and can be integrated into factory networks seamlessly.

      [disclaimer, I have bias on this subject since I work at one of the largest suppliers of hydraulic systems in the world]

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      There are no atheists when recovering from tape backup.
  2. Used in fighter planes by Maximum+Prophet · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hydraulic computers are used in some military aircraft because they are very reliable and can withstand EMP.

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    All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
  3. Not quite by DerekLyons · · Score: 4, Informative

    With 14 machines built, it must have been one of the more successful analog computers

     
    In the early 80's the USN had over 30 analog computers driving various submarine simulators. Heck, each of the original '41 SSBN's had an analog computer driving the hovering system. Then there was the 100+ analog installations of the CONALOG system.
     
    Etc... Etc...