The History of Development of Mobile Computing Devices for "Maneuver" Automated Front Troop Control System

The paper covers the period from 1966 to 1987 when the Research Institute of Electronic Machines (NIEM) - the Research Centre of Electronic Computational Equipment (NICEVT) - "Argon" NII" carried out works for providing mobile computer devices for "Maneuver" automated front troop control system. The author, being the primary constructor of "Beta-2" and "Beta-3M" electronic computer complexes and 1V529 on-board digital computer complex, shows development of the main technical characteristics and capabilities created by hardware-software tools in the above period: from hybrid integral circuits and data storage devices on magnetic drums and tapes to integral circuits with medium scale integration and LSI memory. Advantages of architecture and software compatibility of on-board computing equipment with general-purpose computers, particularly, models of the Unified System of electronic computing machines- "Ryad-1" are substantiated. Possibility of using pre-existing system software when changing hardware platform of computer tools in automated control system is justified with the case of "Beta-3M" hardware / software emulation of "Ritm-20" command systems from "Beta-2" in A-40 on-board computer, basic for "Beta-3M", with "Ryad-1" command system.