Digital Differential Analyzer 'Navigator' (Tsifrovoi Differentsialnyi Analizator 'Navigator')

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Digital Differential Analyzer 'Navigator' (Tsifrovoi Differentsialnyi Analizator 'Navigator')

A. A. Gurakov / Y. N. Kamaev / E. T. Kochurskii / V. N. Semenov

A navigational digital differential analyzer for use in aircraft is described. Such an instrument is particularly suitable for airborne applications because of its simplicity and the possibility of direct hookup with many sensors and transducers used for flight control: accelerometers, gyros, doppler velocity and angle detectors, position coordinate calculators, and various feedback devices from aircraft control mechanisms. The digital differential analyzer can be used as on-board computer if the flight trajectory is predetermined or programmed before takeoff. If the flight path is subject to in-flight variations (piloted aircraft), the DDA should be supplemented by a computer which adds considerable flexibility to the system. For instance, in a transport aircraft, the DDA can continuously compute the navigational data, while the computer, in intervals of 30-40 minutes can correct the navigational data and determine flight conditions for minimum fuel consumption. The DDA consists of a numerical information memory, increment memory, integration unit, data input unit, and an output unit. All logic is based on ferrite core transistor elements. Each functional block is described in detail and design and performance data are given.