Veit is right: if you want a general-purpose computer, you need nonlinear elements. But if you want a special-purpose computer for solving a restricted class of problems, linear elements might suffice. Jim On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 11:27 AM, Veit Elser <ve10@cornell.edu> wrote:
On Jan 29, 2018, at 8:09 AM, James Propp <jamespropp@gmail.com> wrote:
Anyone know of any good designs for an easy-to-make analogue computer based on springs, masses, and dashpots? Jim, you have to go beyond linear components to make a computer. For example, static friction that breaks down at some force threshold might help you make a diode.
-Veit
That is, we want a supply of easily-interconnectable components that we can combine in ways that correspond to a prescribed differential equation, so that the behavior of the system will be a solution of the equation.
As I recall, there’s also a way to get hydraulic analogues of LRC networks (though I forget what the three sorts of components are called); is there a good design for a hydraulic computer?
Jim Propp
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