Aspects of Real-Time Simulation

Present day digital computers are too slow for the comprehensive real-time simulation of complex electronic systems such as those involving guided missiles. Computers appearing 2-3 years hence will be sufficiently fast for these applications. There is and will continue to be fertile application fields for analog-digital computer combinations. An existing large-scale (Univac Scientific 1103A-Epsco converter¿Electronic Associates) analog-digital system is described. System design and specifications are discussed which relate to real-time speeds, necessary accuracies, digital computer programming, and synchronizing the digital computer with the remaining system components. Techniques for exploiting each computer´s advantages are mentioned. Applications in the guided missile field and in other fields are discussed.