Design of the ESIAC® Algebraic Computer

The concept of a pair of potential-plane ``factor analogs,'' in which voltage measurements at the zeros and poles of a function are used for the calculation, is employed in the design of a general-purpose computer for algebraic functions of a complex variable. The logarithmic complex plane is used in order to represent a wide range of zeros and poles with uniform accuracy. Plotting facilities provide direct graphical output for applications such as frequency response plots and root-locus plots.