Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Servomechanisms Laboratory

Scope and Contents of the Collection World War IIThe Servomechanisms Laboratory’s beginning years, 1940-1945, coincide with World War II and are partially documented in Series 1, files collected by staff member Robert Everett. Memos, graphs, drawings, and final reports relating to research about and application of feedback control to automate navy and army gun control systems, and development of servo-controls for advanced radar systems are the focus of the series. Also included in...

Abstract The Whirlwind I computer was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology between 1945 and 1952 in a project directed by Jay Forrester. The project was first carried out in the Servomechanisms Laboratory. Later it separated to become the Digital Computer Laboratory and Lincoln Laboratory, Division 6, and testing continued through 1958. Jay Forrester served as director of both laboratories until 1956, and Robert Everett as associate director, then director. A key part of the...