An analogue computer technique using magnetic amplifiers

THE foremost requirement to be met in the design of computers for operational use by the military services is that of providing adequate reliability of operation. Such equipment should have a mean life between failures of more than 6 months when operated under unfavorable environmental conditions. This degree of reliability is needed to insure that the equipment will inspire the user's confidence in its functional availability, and that the maintenance load under front-line conditions is kept within the capability of the services. If the designer adopts this precept, then he must limit the complexity of the equations solved in accordance with the inherent reliability of the computer components. Conventional computer elements such as servos, with their vacuum-tube amplifiers, moving parts, and potentiometers, have sufficiently low component reliability that only simple computers will meet the over-all reliability requirements. On the other hand, computers with this degree of simplicity will inadequately meet many job requirements. The best way out of this dilemma is to find new computing techniques which have a higher inherent reliability factor per unit computing operation performed.