crichmon@digi.lonestar.org (Charles Richmond) (05/25/91)
Fifteen or so years ago I heard that in the '60's there were
computers constructed that ran from air pressure. No electronics,
just air pressure. These were constructed to fly through the
high-radiation van Alyn (sp?) belt that surrounds the earth.
Electronic computers were driven mad by the radiation, so the
pneumatic computers (although much slower) were used.
Does anybody know about this? Are any such computers in
existence today? (Hey, even if you only HEARD about it, that
would indicate that I did not dream it . . .)
I would like to learn about the construction and technology
involved with these pneumatic machines.
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Charles Richmond crichmon@digi.lonestar.orgdaugher@cs.tamu.edu (Walter C. Daugherity) (05/28/91)
In article <1991May24.231620.15367@digi.lonestar.org> crichmon@digi.lonestar.org (Charles Richmond) writes: |Fifteen or so years ago I heard that in the '60's there were |computers constructed that ran from air pressure. No electronics, |just air pressure. These were constructed to fly through the |high-radiation van Alyn (sp?) belt that surrounds the earth. |Electronic computers were driven mad by the radiation, so the |pneumatic computers (although much slower) were used. | |Does anybody know about this? Are any such computers in |existence today? (Hey, even if you only HEARD about it, that |would indicate that I did not dream it . . .) | |I would like to learn about the construction and technology |involved with these pneumatic machines. | |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | | Charles Richmond crichmon@digi.lonestar.org Yes, pneumatic computers are still around and under development by military contractors. One model can even be operated by blowing into it (i.e., the human lung is the backup compressor). They're slow due to mechanical moving parts, but miniturization should help. As important as the ability to function under radiation is the ability to survive the electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear explosion, which will render conventional computers inoperable. P.S. It's "Van Allen" as in "James Alfred Van Allen," who would be around 77 if he's still alive. Walter C. Daugherity Internet, NeXTmail: daugher@cs.tamu.edu Texas A & M University uucp: uunet!cs.tamu.edu!daugher College Station, TX 77843-3112 BITNET: DAUGHER@TAMVENUS ---Not an official document of Texas A&M--- -- Walter C. Daugherity Internet, NeXTmail: daugher@cs.tamu.edu Texas A & M University uucp: uunet!cs.tamu.edu!daugher College Station, TX 77843-3112 BITNET: DAUGHER@TAMVENUS ---Not an official document of Texas A&M---