Six-channel adaptive computer

The paper discusses the design and operation of a self-adjusting analogue computer. It is shown theoretically that a simple hill-climbing technique should be applicable to systems in which many variables are adjusted simultaneously. In the system discussed, six variables are simultaneously adjusted according to some optimising criterion. The self-adjusting computer has been applied to optimisation studies involving up to six variable parameters, process identification, and the solution of linear and nonlinear simultaneous algebraic equations.