Hybrid Computers

A hybrid computer is a combination in hardware and software of one or more analog and digital computers. It aims at providing faster, more efficient, and more economical computational power than is available with computers of either type alone. The results depend to a large extent on the exchange of information between the analog and the digital computers and on the compatibility in operations and mutual interactions between the two parts. A hybrid computer provides for the rapid exchange of information between the parallel and simultaneous computations and simulations within the analog computer and the serial and sequential operations of the digital computer. This information exchange links the two computational domains and offers the combined advantages of the fast and flexible analog computer with the precise and logic-controllable digital computer. The extent of the information exchange between the two parts and the sophistication of the control structures and instruction repertoires determine the capability and the capacity of the hybrid computer. Best results are obtained when both computers are designed and developed with hybrid applications as the major purpose. If a hybrid computer is made up of general-purpose analog and digital computers, with an interface tailored to these, the resulting hybrid computer often posessevere limitations in equipment complement and operational features.