Analog computer AVK-31 or as parallelism seen in the past ...

Regular readers of this blog already know that parallel computing is associated with multi-core processors and multiprocessor systems. This is hard to believe, but more recently (by the standards of history) for parallel computing, people used ... analog computers. Why? Yes, because analog computers allow parallel computing without OpenMP, MPI and other "programmer things." The main thing is to properly connect the wiring. How it was?

Analog Computer AVK-31 appointment and main technical characteristics

AVK-31 is designed for machine modeling of dynamic objects and systems, as well as for solving problems described by linear and nonlinear differential equations up to the 6th order. It is used both in standalone mode of operation, and as part of the corresponding analog-digital computing systems using additional interfaces. The car AVK-31 belongs to the class AVM of low power. It allows you to carry out in parallel: up to six total integration operations; up to six summation and invert operations; setting up to 34 coefficients manually; up to two operations of multiplying two variables, or squaring, or dividing, or taking a square root; Up to two operations of playing nonlinear functions from one variable.

To perform logical and auxiliary operations in the AVM there are 45 logical and special elements, among which there are 16 logical (2 triggers, 2 NOT elements, 4 NAND elements, 4 relays, 2 comparators, 2 display elements). It is possible to reproduce typical non-linearities (one element for reproducing the deadband and diode elements for reproducing 8 operations of the type of two-sided limitation). Errors in the execution of basic linear operations range from 0.03 to 0.1%, non-linear - up to 0.5%.
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The design and composition of the machine

The car AVK-31 has a desktop design. All components are placed in a single frame.
The machine includes a rectifier, three stabilizers, a control unit BU-31, a control panel and seven operating units.

For interfacing the AVK-31 machine with other computers (analog and digital) and with various external devices, the inputs and outputs of the control system are routed to the sockets on the front panel and to the connectors for connecting external equipment.

An example of a switching circuit is shown in the figure.


For those who do not understand, the switching circuit is a program :-). And the process of developing a program involves connecting different wiring sockets.

Conclusion

Jokes jokes, but analog computers were quite actively used, for example, to solve differential equations. True, there are no such tools as Intel Parallel Studio or PVS-Studio, perhaps that is why analog machines are now causing newcomers to smile and nostalgia for programmers "aged."