Analog computing

Do you know of a very basic introduction to analog computing system?

Have you tried 420chan's /tesla/ board?

Bump of interest.

Here's pretty basic introduction to mechanical computer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4

Arstechnica had a whole article on it, quite well written actually https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/03/gears-of-war-when-mechanical-analog-computers-ruled-the-waves/

Can universal analog computers exist? Like, we have universal digital computers, so why we wouldn't have universal analog computers...

>>1171 You mean analog computers that are Turing complete? Other than practicality, there's nothing stopping one. I'm sure there's plans that exist for one, or there's one that's actually been built, it's just that you'd probably need the area of the US to build an analog computer that's as capable as a modern desktop CPU.

>>469 The image in the sticky has a few diagrams of analog computing devices, which you may find interesting. It's from ``Calculating Space'' by Konrad Zuse. >>1171 >>1468 The Turing machine is designed to work on finite and discrete symbols. An analog machine can arguably fit this description, depending on how you want to define it, but would a machine that only uses analog machinery for, say, two states truly be very analog, by your thinking? However, I recommend you look into Charles Babbage's analytical engine, which has actually been built in recent times, as an example of an analog computing machine. It accepts punched card input and can provide punched card output, along with plots, and a bell. There is certainly an allure of having a little physical construction that one can twist and turn to deliver a result in its configuration; it seems more personal than a rectangle with buttons that a pocket calculator is.

>>1121 At 30min and till the end (diff and multipy) it was very cool.

>>469 Well, do you mean mechanical computations or analog electronics computation? I probably have some interesting material lying about regarding the latter. You should already know you can simulate most linear transformations with op-amps, but there are also really interesting methods of simulating non-linear functions with diodes, if I could remember how they're called

The Optigan was an optical rival to the Hammond organ, with loops encoded in interference patterns on celluloid disks. Not exactly computing, but probably of interest to anyone researching these technologies. http://optigan.com/

>>1670 When the apocalypse comes I'll be a wandering mad technowizard building analog cogitators for technobarbarians so they can calculate they artillery settings. Will be good times. Besides: there are still modern ships around that use analog machines to calculate their artillery, indeed.

Just found this, thought I'd share it here https://anthony-zhang.me/blog/rod-logic/ makes me wonder how far cound one go in making a Turing Complete analog device.

>>2921 Whoops, here's something else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X_Ft4YR_wU

>>469 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluidics Fluidics is going to get big in nanotech

>>2922 >LEGO Logic Gates It's digital computing, isn't it?