Analog Computer Bouncing Ball

In this video I'm demonstrating an analog computer that models a bouncing ball, with control voltage and trigger outputs that could be interesting with synthesizers, sequencers, etc.

I designed the circuit as an excercise in understanding analog computer techniques. I found that almost all textbook descriptions of analog integrators are incomplete, lacking adequate description of how to set the initial conditions of the integrator and reset it at the end of each computation.

An obvious application of this particular circuit is to generate nonlinear rhythms for electronic music... check out Aphex Twin's track "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" for a good example of this effect.

more info:
http://ericarcher.net/devices/analog-computer-bouncing-ball/

Many thanks to Matthew Thies for filming and editing this video.

-Eric Archer
2009

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• analog
• computer
• bouncing
• ball
• physical
• model
• electronic
• oscilloscope
• rhythm

[cookie123456789012]

Wow! That's Awesome. Please can you send me the circuit diagram as I would love to build it. Cheers.

[EA78751]

@cookie123456789012 My solution is my secret. If I gave you the schematic, that's all you'd have. But if you study and attempt your own solution, you'll have so much more.

[v1o]

That's a really neat simulation actually. Kinda reminds me of Pong but more advanced.

Would it be possible to make a desktop PC (with GUI), with completely analog ciruits?

[EA78751]

yes!

I mean, no... Actually I dont know. But if somebody puts up some prize money maybe we'll find out.

[sourblud]

is there a place to buy one of these? i know its probly a stupid question but i think its cool

[EA78751]

not yet.  its been used as a challenge for engineering students at UCSB though.

[macthornberg]

@MrNightLifeLover I used one back in the early 70's. Analogue Computers were generally modular and offered a patch-bay and a box of leads! Two of the most common elements in an AC were the integrator and differentiator and with these you could emulate a wide range of time dependent problems, very very quickly. They were useful for designing control systems.

I miss them, they were fun, useful and DIDN'T HAVE BLOODY WINDOWS!!!!!

[MrOkoto]

Aphex twin bucephalus bouncing ball

[ccubsfan94]

is it hard to make one of these.

[ccubsfan94]

@macthornberg for a second i was like what the hell do you mean by windows. thinking of a literal window and was like why is this guy frustrated by the fact of a little viewport on the side of a computer then realized how stupid i was not realizing you meant the operating system.

[ccubsfan94]

gravity all the way up it sounded like a four joke huhuruuuruuuuhhm i mean four stroke dirt bike.

[SnifflyWhale]

This is beautiful!

[lyokoboy0]

Really nice to see someone show what a simple analog computer can do. Thanks.

[Firetaffer]

Damn, love that bounce sound :D

[wildrider100]

did i just see this...AMAZING

[rorschachstiffocate]

So impressed right now.

[fucdemas]

for photography geeks: up vote if the first thing you thought was "chromatic aberration"

what ever camera was used is crazy with it.

[douro20]

Analog computing- taking a complex differential equation and building an electronic model. Very good way of learning engineering math.