Mechanical computers are returning.
Everything new is, they say, a well-forgotten old. Including in the world of computer technology, where almost everything also develops in a spiral. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that anyone could have imagined that a mechanical invention created almost 200 years ago would become the prototype of an ultramodern computer. So let's forget briefly about Moore's law and recall the good name of Charles Babbage.
This English mathematician is famous for having invented a differential machine at the beginning of the 19th century - a sort of entirely mechanical and extremely complex calculator weighing 13 tons, with which it was possible to calculate the values of polynomials up to the sixth degree with an accuracy of 18th. Strangely enough, it was this complex arithmometer with a two hundred year history that served as the prototype of a new nanochip developed by American scientists.
The structure of the unique chips, the dimensions of which will be in thousandths of a millimeter, will be similar to the Babbage machine, which will allow you to create completely mechanical, but at the same time quite powerful computing devices. "Of course, nanomechanical chips will not compete with high-performance silicon chips in the field of powerful computing, but they can compete with them where relatively slow and cheap processors are needed," said Robert Blick, one of the authors of the project.
The construction of a mechanical nanocomputer, the researchers decided to start with the creation of transistors - the main elements of the subtraction machine. They, like all subsequent parts, will be made of superhard materials such as diamond. To demonstrate the first results on the example of commercially available devices, scientists are planning in a couple of years.
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By the way, the US Army has already become extremely interested in the invention, since mechanical devices, unlike conventional microcircuits, are not subject to electromagnetic impulses.
Steampunk Nanopunk comes into our lives, gentlemen.
via BBC
This English mathematician is famous for having invented a differential machine at the beginning of the 19th century - a sort of entirely mechanical and extremely complex calculator weighing 13 tons, with which it was possible to calculate the values of polynomials up to the sixth degree with an accuracy of 18th. Strangely enough, it was this complex arithmometer with a two hundred year history that served as the prototype of a new nanochip developed by American scientists.
The structure of the unique chips, the dimensions of which will be in thousandths of a millimeter, will be similar to the Babbage machine, which will allow you to create completely mechanical, but at the same time quite powerful computing devices. "Of course, nanomechanical chips will not compete with high-performance silicon chips in the field of powerful computing, but they can compete with them where relatively slow and cheap processors are needed," said Robert Blick, one of the authors of the project.
The construction of a mechanical nanocomputer, the researchers decided to start with the creation of transistors - the main elements of the subtraction machine. They, like all subsequent parts, will be made of superhard materials such as diamond. To demonstrate the first results on the example of commercially available devices, scientists are planning in a couple of years.
')
By the way, the US Army has already become extremely interested in the invention, since mechanical devices, unlike conventional microcircuits, are not subject to electromagnetic impulses.
via BBC
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/12569/
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