50 Years of Army Computing From ENIAC to MSRC

Abstract

Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. In November 1996, a symposium was held to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the dedication of the ENIAC. The commemoration also marked another important milestone in the history of Army computing, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Army Research Laboratory Major Shared Resource Center (MSRC). This large high-performance computing facility features heterogeneous supercomputing systems, massive near-line storage, robust high-speed networking, and scientifi c visualization with video production capabilities.The symposium provided a wonderful opportunity to recognize the contributions and dedication of the Army computing pioneers and to trace the growth of an industry and its impact on the Army over 50 years. The accomplishments of the early computing pioneers, many of whom participated in the proceedings, are an indelible part of the legacy of the Army research.As the successor to the organizations described in this book, the ARL Computational and Information Sciences Directorate proudly carries forward the tradition of its distinguished predecessors. On behalf of our Directorate and the ARL MSRC, I am pleased to present this volume as a historical perspective on the Army's role in the birth of the computer age.Dr. N. Radhakrishnan Chief, Computational and Information Sciences Directorate U.S. Army Research Laboratory v A symposium and celebration was held at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland, in November 1996, to recognize and commemorate seminal Army contributions to the birth and development of modern computing. Primarily inspired by the 50th anniversary of the invention of the world's fi rst generalpurpose electronic computer (the ENIAC), this two-day event also celebrated the dedication at APG of signifi cant new computational resources provided by the Offi ce of Secretary of Defense. On this occasion, scores of "computing pioneers" gathered at APG to reminisce about the accomplishments that stemmed from the Army's computation needs during World War II-in particular, the need for the fi ring and bombing tables that were essential for accurate targeting of groundand air-delivered ordnance.How did this grand celebration happen? Pretty much by accident! In August of 1995, a letter arrived at my h...

John von Neumann's Analysis of Gaussian Elimination and the Origins of Modern Numerical Analysis

“…The hypothesis gave an 80% chance that A 2 A −1 2 in (3.12) could be replaced by 100n 2 , so, as before, 27) which is the same conclusion reached in (3.25). John Todd's Counterexample.…”

“…It isn't that Von Neumann wanted us not to have patents, but that nothing could interest him less than patents." 27 The reports are [42,120,121,122]. Mention of their importance is made by Aspray [7, p. 356], Knuth [163, p. 202], and Macrae [181, pp.…”

The department of defense high performance computing modernization program

“…The Army Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL) designed custom computers beginning with the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) in 1946 and continued into the 1960s. 2 Harold Breaux was Chief of the BRL Advanced Computer Projects Branch, which became the High-Performance Computing Division, including Tony Pressley, Bob Reschly, Phil Dykstra, Charles Nietubicz, Rodger Johnson, Valerie Miller (nee Thomas), and others you will meet later in this story.…”

Frontiers in Anisotropic Shock-Wave Modeling

“…Computational methods, as proposed by von Neumann (Clippinger [174]) came to the forefront with the advent of computers, beginning with the ENIAC, designed and built by the University of Pennsylvania (dedicated 1946) and installed at the United States Ballistic Research Laboratory in 1947 for the calculation of projectile trajectories (Bergin [175]). By the mid 1950s, newer generations of computers were fully engaged in computational fluid dynamics, e.g., the particle-in-cell method (Evans and Harlow [176]).…”