The electromechanical angle computer inside the B-52 bomber's star tracker (righto.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the electromechanical angle computer used in the B-52 bomber's star tracker, which was used for celestial navigation before the advent of GPS. The system used a complex mechanism to track stars and compute navigation information, and was part of the Astro Compass system that provided highly accurate headings. The article explains how the system worked, including the use of a gyroscope to determine vertical and a spiral search mechanism to find and track stars. The system was able to provide accurate navigation information even in cloudy conditions, but required manual input of celestial data from an almanac.

Main themes

• Celestial navigation
• Electromechanical computing
• B-52 bomber technology
• Analog computing
• Aviation history
• Navigation systems

What commenters say

• The star tracker was able to automatically track stars without manual intervention, using a spiral search mechanism to find and lock onto a star.
• The system's accuracy was impressive, but it was not without its limitations, including the need for manual input of celestial data and potential interference from aurora borealis.
• The development of celestial navigation systems like the Astro Compass was a significant achievement, but it is also important to consider the historical context and the use of such technology in military applications.
• The discussion of celestial navigation and analog computing highlights the ingenuity and complexity of older technologies, but also raises questions about the ethics of developing and using such technologies for military purposes.
• Some commenters drew parallels between the development of celestial navigation and the current state of technology, including the militarization of Silicon Valley and the potential risks and consequences of such developments.
• The article and comments sparked a discussion about the importance of considering the historical and social context of technological developments, and the need for engineers and developers to be aware of the potential impact of their work.