Present at the discussion: (NSA) Joseph J. Eachus, Howard Campaigne, Roger Moulton, C. R. Blair, Douglas Hogan, A. E. SladeNSA in Washington submitted to Philco a purchase description for a computer, SOLO, to be built with an
SBT control and arithmetic unit and a 4O96 register ferrite core memory. NSA and Group 63 agreed to maintain close contact regarding their respective transistor computer projects

Eckl, D. J.

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FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY Memorandum 6M-3U95 Page of 2 Division 6 - Lincoln Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lexington 73 • Massachusetts Subject: TRIP TO NSA, WASHINGTON, D. C. To: J, W, Forrester From: D, J. Eckl Date: 30 March 1955 Approveds trnssm Abstract: NSA in Washington has submitted to Philco a purchase description for a computer, SOLO, to be built with an SBT control and arithmetic unit and a L1O96 register ferrite core memory, NSA and Group 63 have agreed to maintain close contact regarding their respective transistor computer projects. On 15 March 1955 D, R. Brown and I visited NSA in Washington, D, C,, to discuss the Philco surface-barrier transistor with J, J, Eachus, Assistant Director for Development, Present at the discussion were the following people from NSA: Joseph J, Eachus, Howard Campaigne, Roger Moulton, C, R, Blair, Douglas Hogan, and A. E, Slade, NSA has submitted to Philco a purchase description for a digital computer called SOLO which is to use a surface-barrier control and arithmetic unit and a ferrite-core memory. It has been suggested that Philco call on MIT as a consultant for writing the memory specifica-tions and for choosing the subcontractor to do the memory work, NSA requested that they be kept informed of the transistor work at Lincoln and we agreed. Copies of the Philco Subcontract No. U9 reports will be sent to NSA. A brief description of some of the principal requirements for the SOLO computer follow. These aspects will be stressed in the order given. 1, Reliability, 2, Compactness, 3, Design for convenience and minimum distraction, h. Low power consumption and heat dissipation, 5, Complexity of order code, 6. Speed of operation. TbU documnl i i leaned for internal d u t n t o t i o . and uee oedy by ankd lor Lin-cola Laboratory pereeanel tt ehould not a* given or ahowa to any otter m-dletdtMl. or gronpe wi tbct eaprrea ant.oriB.Ueni tt may trot to repreoraced an wfcola or in part « tnont permlaeio. i . «riti»g from Lincoln Laboratory Tto r t l M r c k report . , i . tbia document w n aupported jointly by tk« Department of til* Army, tto Depart meat of tto Navy, and tto Department nt the Air Force adder Air Force Contract No AF l«(lZ«)-45e APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. CASE 06-1104.FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY Memorandum 6M-3k95 Page 2 of 2 The control and arithmetic element are to be constructed of surface-barrier transistors„ The memory is to consist of ferrite magnetic-core elements. Three versions of successively reduced complexity have been proposed. It is desired that the most complex version consistent with compactness, reliability, and power consumption be constructed. All three have a U096-word memory. The word length is 36, 28, and 2\x bits for versions one to three, respectively. The order code is correspond-ingly reduced in complexity. The reliability criterion requires that the probability of a detected error in $0 hours of scheduled operation be less than 20 percent, Preventative maintenance procedures should not be scheduled more often than once every hO hours of operation. Exclusive of terminal equipment but including the core memory SOLO must fit within a floor space of 1*0 x 60 inches with a maximum height of 72 inches. A working area 20 x kO inches must be available at the 30-inch level. The weight must not exceed 1500 pounds. The unit should be portable. Power consumption should not exceed 25 amperes of 80 percent power factor at 125 volts, 60 cycles. Cooling is to be by air. entering room at 75 F, with exhaust air limited to a maximum rise of 15 F. Input air temperature variations of + 15 F and relative humidity values up to 60 percent should be toleratedT ^_^^ Signed; _Xl/tf>l^C^ Donald J. Eckl DJE/md R.R. Everett D.R. Brown D.A. Buck W.N. Papian T.H. Meisling K.H. Olsen APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. CASE 06-1104.

Trip to NSA, Washington, D. C.

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Trip to NSA, Washington, D. C.

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