An Incomprehensibly Cool Analog Computer
By James Grahame
Analog computers are irresistibly technical. Take the recently discontinued Comdyna GP-6, for instance. Its front panel is strewn with a baffling array of summer integrators, coefficient potentiometers and even a couple of inverters. Perhaps the crew of the Starship Enterprise was right after all - a dash of well-timed phase inversion can work wonders on a bunged-up control system.
The GP-6 debuted in 1968 and remained on the market until 2004 - quite a feat for any piece of technology more sophisticated than a gas BBQ. According to the Comdyna site, "Each GP-6 is a self-contained unit capable of simulating linear and non-linear systems of up to four state variables. Over 2000 GP-6 analog computers have been installed in over 400 university, government and commercial research laboratories."
A GP-6 recently showed up on eBay, although it quickly sold for the "buy it now" price. Pity. It would make one hell of a case mod.
The Comdyna GP-6 Analog Computer [via Matrixsynth]
related:
The Harmonium: Amazing Analog Computer
Vintage analog computer kits
