AVIDAC

The AVIDAC (Argonne Version of the Institute's Digital Automatic Computer) was an early electronic digital computer built by Argonne National Laboratory. It was based on the IAS architecture developed by John von Neumann at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. The AVIDAC, along with its sister machine ORACLE at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was one of several computers constructed in the early 1950s that closely followed the IAS design.

The machine utilized vacuum tubes as its primary active components. It employed a parallel architecture with a word length of 40 bits. AVIDAC's memory was based on Williams tubes, a type of cathode-ray tube used for storing binary data. The instruction set was relatively small, reflecting the technological constraints of the time.

AVIDAC was primarily used for scientific calculations, particularly in the fields of nuclear physics and reactor design. Argonne National Laboratory's research programs benefitted significantly from the computing power provided by AVIDAC during its operational lifespan. The computer was in operation from 1953 until 1963.

Like other first-generation computers, the AVIDAC was a large and complex machine that required significant maintenance and specialized staff to operate effectively. Its development and deployment represented an important step in the advancement of computing technology and its application to scientific research.