Lincoln Laboratory. Division 6

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo M-2790. The Transition Systems inputs, duplex operation concepts, weapons control capabilities, phone line transmission requirements were discussed at a recent conference with Air Force and ADES representatives. The display selection frame has been eliminated in favor of having the necessary hardware in each console. Consoles in the operations areas will be wired as a single group and therefore all will receive display information from the same computer. Construction...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2797. Memorandum on the Group 62 Section Leaders Meeting of April 26, 1954.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-3002. Concurrence with IBM is scheduled for display system and MRI specifications. MTC has been reassembled and will be fully operational by September 1. Components of the 13 most frequently used circuits are to be released for ordering (for 2 Production Systems) in September. First floor equipment layout for production systems is being finalized. Requirements for Power System for production system has been released through the Production Coordination Office.

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo M-2574. SDV demodulator circuitry has been reviewed and accepted. Phone line transmission characteristics are being determined in conjunction with Bell Laboratories Project ADES personnel. Simplification of equipment to handle inputs having a relatively slow data rate is under study. Coordination of output system and equipment development is to be done by a joint IBM--Div. 6--Div 2 committee. Formalizing of the release for design completion and for construction of the...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2595. Specifications for the display system, the power system and the internal memory will be prepared. Output system work will be coordinated by a joint MIT-IBM committee. The Order Code for FSQ-7 has been agreed upon by MIT and IBM programmers.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2691. Arrangements to have prime responsibility for certain engineering work placed with MIT have been made in the interest of insuring adherence to July '55 date for system operation. Regular air transportation between Poughkeepsie and Cambridge is expected to start approximately March 1, 1954. Consideration is being given to possible alternate sources for Charactron tubes.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2696. MIT has started an increased program of assistance in connection with memory design. All future core testing is to be done at IBM. Charactron tubes are to be secured from Convair for XD-1 and XD-2.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2665. MTC will go on two shift operation next week due to heavy demand for test time. The computer will be moved to Building B late in April.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2608. Joint review of plans for power supply system take place this week. A meeting to develop specifications for telephone "data" circuits is scheduled for January 13. Engineering work on the various switching schemes required in a duplex central is underway. XD-1 will include these features if no delay in completion of engineering and construction of the prototype will result.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2620. It is very likely that the MTC computer will be moved to Lexington in May or June of this year. Installation of the drum and memory for MTC is expected to start the week of January 18. A preliminary description of the procedure for obtaining Lincoln approval on equipment design is included.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2639. Program for development of phone line specifications for reliable data transmission to be carried out by joint Bell System--Lincoln committee. For XD-1, 300 µsec maximum delay in a triad of lines will be used as design basis. Display system specs are currently being circulated for comments.

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo M-2938. Effective use of Lincoln manpower contemplates the use of small groups in certain areas and reinforcement of personnel in other areas of activity; namely the Systems Office, Frame Testing, and Duplex Planning. Marginal checking system to be reviewed to determine if degree to which the philosophy has been carried out has not resulted in too elaborate a system. Electronic circuits for display consoles are to be processed through EDO-SO for concurrence and...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2859. The contract for construction of Building B started June 7th. A study group is being set up to investigate a smaller and faster computer for air defense at advanced locations. IBM is now back scheduled an average of six weeks on XD-1.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2878. A conference reached agreement on the display specifications. They are presently being written up for formal concurrence action. SDV demodulator circuits are being reviewed. Initial memory planes for XD-1 System, made at IBM, are now being tested at MIT. Discussions regarding the duplex central planning (IBM Report IM-91) are continuing.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2705. Test of IBM mapper with WWI have been completed. An enlarged display section will handle development of display generation and selection frames. IBM will subsequently construct these units. Planning for tests of XD-1 at Poughkeepsie and later at Lexington is being started. Arrangements for installation of XD-1 are being definitized. Typotron demonstration in DID application is to be held March 16.

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo M-2717. IBM has requested manpower from MIT for XD-1 testing. A procurement procedure for components designed at MIT is outlined in M-2710. IBM air transportation between Bedford and Poughkeepsie is now available. GE will ship XD-2 power equipment to IBM soon. Olsen is working on simplification of FSQ-7 drawings. The display section is formulating time schedules and investigating core circuitry. Circuits transmitted to Vestal should go through R. Best. Decision on use...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2731. Planning for manpower needs of the testing program for XD-1 after installation at Lexington has begun. Release of engineering information for procurement purposes will start in May 1954 for the initial two duplex centrals. Demonstration of Typotron tubes for DID application will be held March 16. IBM have indicated that they do not wish to furnish power and cooling equipment for duplex centrals.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2745. Agreement was reached to use the Typotron for DID in the XD-1 and subsequent systems. Plans to secure and train additional personnel for system testing and maintenance are under way. A floor layout for the operations areas of the XD-1 system has been proposed by Group 61.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2806. The IBM designed light gun has been installed and tested on Cape Cod. Evaluation of sources of prime power and the problem of power interruption is under way. Studies will be under taken concerning the use of transistors in various parts of Duplex Central.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2821. Memorandum on the Group 62 Section Leaders Meeting of April 26, 1954.

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo M-2496. Operation of the core memory of the WWI--Cape Cod System has resulted in several changes in the electronics to improve operating margins. Decision was reached to base drum circuit design on a maximum memory cycle time of 8 μsec. Additional storage capacity for radar input data has been achieved by reallocation of and use of previously unassigned drum fields. Primary power variations are to be studied. A proposal covering the amount of drum storage for output...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2518. Considerable attention was given to a review of the power equipment. The Charactron display system has been selected for AN/FSQ-7. The schedule for the MTC construction work is outlined.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2546. A proposal for change in the plan for actual construction of the prototype models has been made by IBM. Circuit modifications and changes in equipment arrangement have resulted in significant reductions in the number of cathodes in the central machine and drums. Study of power equipment indicates some savings in cost can be achieved through modifications of certain operational features which do not appear to affect system use or reliability significantly.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2557. Study is underway to reduce the cost of the prototypes to keep within the Project High budget. Items to receive top priority in the next few weeks are listed.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2547. Discussions at Poughkeepsie this week should resolve open questions on order code, input equipment, display system, cost estimates, specifications, equipment constructions, and other less significant points. Arrangements are being made to use transformers now held by Lincoln to provide 120v power during early period at Lexington to eliminate the need to have low voltage taps on power transformers on order for XD-1.

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Project Whirlwind Memo 6M-3098. Central display equipment for production systems will be engineered by Ralph Mork at IBM Vestal. Plans for manufacture of certain portions of the system by IBM will be crystallized this week. Technical discussions regarding DDR and DDT are continuing.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2468. A study of possibilities for reducing tube count has been underway during the past week. This has led to an examination of cathode followers and the drum system. Additional decisions have been reached about the maintenance console.

Scope and Contents Project Whirlwind Memo 6M-3125. Reorganization is placing magnetic work in Group 63. Questions regarding XD-1 operation are leading to consideration of change of delivery date. MRI specifications to be completed in approximately 2 weeks. Procedure for coordinating engineering design changes between XD-1 and production systems has become an urgent matter. Detailed planning for operation of XD-1 and production systems after installation has been started. Engineering for the central display...

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-2479. The 4 digit arithmetic element will be rebuilt by Project High. Study of drums to permit savings in the number of vacuum tubes is underway. The Charactron display tube will be demonstrated later in the week.

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Project Whirlwind Memo M-3064. Portions of Project High have been reorganized. Assembly and test of XD-1 is progressing very well. The Charactron is being tested with MTC.