Interesting arcticle on analog computers

I remember those being mentioned in here in various discussions, so though I'd throw it in here.

ArsTechnica: Gears of war: When mechanical analog computers ruled the waves

Its the electro part of the electro-mechanical that will prevent analog computers from being the same things on Safehold. It will be interesting to see what RFC comes up with instead.

iranuke wrote:Its the electro part of the electro-mechanical that will prevent analog computers from being the same things on Safehold.

from the page 2:

The machine could even be operated without electricity by turning a hand crank.

iranuke wrote:Its the electro part of the electro-mechanical that will prevent analog computers from being the same things on Safehold. It will be interesting to see what RFC comes up with instead.

No electricity imposes some limits - like no centralized fire control. How about a system that can account for some of the variables: bearing, relative speed, etc. and pass that information to the gunners. That could improve accuracy enough to enable ship-to-ship engagements of up to a couple miles instead of a thousand yards or so. Even on a ship like the KH VII, where one 8" HE shell could take a traditional galleon out of battle, it could greatly shorten a battle.

jms

jmseeley wrote:

iranuke wrote:Its the electro part of the electro-mechanical that will prevent analog computers from being the same things on Safehold. It will be interesting to see what RFC comes up with instead.

No electricity imposes some limits - like no centralized fire control. How about a system that can account for some of the variables: bearing, relative speed, etc. and pass that information to the gunners. That could improve accuracy enough to enable ship-to-ship engagements of up to a couple miles instead of a thousand yards or so. Even on a ship like the KH VII, where one 8" HE shell could take a traditional galleon out of battle, it could greatly shorten a battle.

jms

Electricity is required for rapid remote operation. If the gun turrets each have their own analog computer handling the gun stabilization (artificial horizon and gyro compass) then much slower hydraulic or pneumatic remote control is possible. As I have mentioned in the past, pneumatic three axis autopilots were used in the second world war and the exact same technology could be used to stabilize a gun platform (or control fins to stabilize an entire ship - if it doesn't roll then shooting accurately is much easier, and most passenger ships are fitted with similar systems now).

The analogue computer can also be powered by a small steam or pneumatic engine, and fire control orders relayed to the turrets via speaking tubes or other means. No electricity does not mean no computing (back in the Empire, computer "server farms" could be built using Babbage engines powered by a locomotive engine at the back of the hall, if so desired).

Back to ships, I remember reading that when the USN was refurbishing the battleships in the 1980's, it was discovered that it would be more cost effective to keep the mechanical fire control computers rather than rip them out and replace them with a digital computer.

Hi Thucydides,

It wasn't just the analog computers, it seemed like almost everything was preserved in or in a better state than had been thought possible, from the power tools in the repair rooms to servo motors, hoists etc.

Several sailors I've talked to, who served or were part of the commissioning crews were extremely impressed with the quality of the original machinery compared to the then current 'high tech' '80's stuff.

L

Thucydides wrote:The analogue computer can also be powered by a small steam or pneumatic engine, and fire control orders relayed to the turrets via speaking tubes or other means. No electricity does not mean no computing (back in the Empire, computer "server farms" could be built using Babbage engines powered by a locomotive engine at the back of the hall, if so desired).

Back to ships, I remember reading that when the USN was refurbishing the battleships in the 1980's, it was discovered that it would be more cost effective to keep the mechanical fire control computers rather than rip them out and replace them with a digital computer.

Thucydides wrote:The analogue computer can also be powered by a small steam or pneumatic engine, and fire control orders relayed to the turrets via speaking tubes or other means. No electricity does not mean no computing (back in the Empire, computer "server farms" could be built using Babbage engines powered by a locomotive engine at the back of the hall, if so desired).

Back to ships, I remember reading that when the USN was refurbishing the battleships in the 1980's, it was discovered that it would be more cost effective to keep the mechanical fire control computers rather than rip them out and replace them with a digital computer.

Another option would be a pneumatic or hydraulic analog computer, these were developed in parallel with electronic systems and until the 1990's were just as fast, reliable and capable (and could not cause fires in flammable atmospheres (really useful in gas facilities and refineries)). People forget serious automation predated the digital computer by almost one and half centuries (Look up the Jacquard loom some time). Numerically controlled machinery has a very deep history.
I can see hydraulic power distribution networks like most cities in the developed world had in the 1880's running lifts and machinery leading to a measure of civil automation.