Differential analyzer
E1
The Differential Analyzer is an early analog mechanical computer designed to solve differential equations using interconnected rotating shafts and wheels.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Differential analyzer canonical | 1 |
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
analog computer
ⓘ
computing device ⓘ mechanical computer ⓘ |
| computes |
numerical approximations
ⓘ
solutions to ordinary differential equations ⓘ |
| hasInputType | continuous variables ⓘ |
| hasLimitation |
complex setup for each problem
ⓘ
limited precision ⓘ sensitivity to mechanical error ⓘ |
| hasNotableImplementationAt |
Osaka Imperial University
ⓘ
University of Manchester ⓘ University of Pennsylvania ⓘ |
| hasOutputType | continuous variables ⓘ |
| hasPrimaryFunction | solve differential equations ⓘ |
| hasRepresentationIn | science and technology museums ⓘ |
| influenced |
early digital computer design
ⓘ
later analog computers ⓘ |
| inspiredBy | mechanical integrators of Lord Kelvin ⓘ |
| isAnalogOrDigital | analog ⓘ |
| isExampleOf | continuous-time computation ⓘ |
| isMechanicalOrElectronic | mechanical ⓘ |
| operatesBy | translating rotation into mathematical operations ⓘ |
| performsOperation |
addition
ⓘ
integration ⓘ |
| predecessor |
harmonic analyzer
ⓘ
planimeter ⓘ |
| requires |
calibration
ⓘ
manual configuration of shafts and gears ⓘ |
| solvesBy | physical modeling of mathematical relationships ⓘ |
| usedFor |
ballistics calculations
ⓘ
control systems analysis ⓘ electrical network analysis ⓘ engineering analysis ⓘ scientific computation ⓘ |
| usesComponent |
disk-and-wheel integrator
ⓘ
gear trains ⓘ integrator unit ⓘ interconnected rotating shafts ⓘ mechanical linkages ⓘ mechanical wheels ⓘ |
| usesComputationMethod | mechanical integration ⓘ |
| wasDevelopedAt | Massachusetts Institute of Technology ⓘ |
| wasDevelopedBy |
Harold Hazen
ⓘ
Vannevar Bush ⓘ |
| wasDevelopedInCountry |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| wasDevelopedInPeriod | early 20th century ⓘ |
| wasFirstBuiltInYear | 1930 ⓘ |
| wasImportantIn | history of computing ⓘ |
| wasSupersededBy | digital computers ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.