The electromechanical angle computer inside the B-52 bomber's star tracker
Summary
Ken Shirriff's post explores the electromechanical Angle Computer inside the B-52 Astro Compass, detailing how a physical half-sphere model and synchronized mechanisms solved the navigational triangle using star data. It covers data sources like the Air Almanac, the navigational geometry, and the mechanical outputs that feed azimuth and altitude readings, highlighting a hybrid of mechanical, electrical, and control-system engineering. The piece serves as a case study in early automation and the trade-offs between analog mechanical computation and digital methods.