Re:Gears of war: When mechanical analog computers ruled the ...
by spingsprong on Tuesday March 18, 2014 @04:02AM
(#7420704)
Some of these analogue computers are pretty amazing things.
I can kinda get my head around slow moving ships being tracked by a mechanical computer, but the Russian ZSU-23-4 Shilka self propelled anti-aircraft artillery vehicle used an electro mechanical gun aiming computer in the 60s and 70s.
A mechanical computer that can track a supersonic rapidly manoeuvring jet aircraft by radar, and adjust the aim of its guns quickly enough and accurately enough to score hits. It's amazing what can be achieved.
I can kinda get my head around slow moving ships being tracked by a mechanical computer, but the Russian ZSU-23-4 Shilka self propelled anti-aircraft artillery vehicle used an electro mechanical gun aiming computer in the 60s and 70s.
A mechanical computer that can track a supersonic rapidly manoeuvring jet aircraft by radar, and adjust the aim of its guns quickly enough and accurately enough to score hits. It's amazing what can be achieved.