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From: durr@fys.ruu.nl (Eugene Durr)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Pneumatic computers (yes, air-pressure powered)
Keywords: Van Alyn,ancient
Message-ID: <1991May27.132204.10232@fys.ruu.nl>
Date: 27 May 91 13:22:04 GMT
References: <1991May24.231620.15367@digi.lonestar.org> <_1KBHZB@xds13.ferranti.com>
Organization: Physics Department, University of Utrecht
Lines: 23

In <_1KBHZB@xds13.ferranti.com> peter@ficc.ferranti.com (peter da silva) writes:

>In article <1991May24.231620.15367@digi.lonestar.org>, crichmon@digi.lonestar.org (Charles Richmond) writes:
>> Fifteen or so years ago I heard that in the '60's there were
>> computers constructed that ran from air pressure.

>Sure, fluidic computers had a lot of advantages over electronics. Apart from
>the EMI resistence, they're quite rugged in other ways. Plus, there's a
>major savings on transducers: you can often feed a signal in mechanically,
>from pressure and position sensors. I visited an old WWII-era sub once, the
>HMAS ocvens, and navigation was supported by fluidic hardware.

>> I would like to learn about the construction and technology
>> involved with these pneumatic machines.

>There was a Scientific American article on it 10 or so years ago. Check your
>local library. Pre-'80s Scientific Americans are fun to read anyway.
In the late 70's a company named Atlas Copco from Sweden had an entire
product range with pneumatic logic components especially for control
applications. They did some simple calculations with them.
Maybe they can help you on much more information.
Their main office is in Stockholm, but they have representatives in many
countries. I know, because my father was an employee there.