Burtsevka

Burtsevka refers to a family of experimental multi-processor computer systems developed in the Soviet Union, primarily at the Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering (ITMVT) under the leadership of Sergei Alekseyevich Lebedev. These systems were notable for their use of micro-program control and their innovative architectural features. The most significant examples of Burtsevka machines are the 5E92 and the AS-6.

The 5E92, developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, was designed for use in the Soviet anti-ballistic missile defense system. Its architecture was characterized by its use of multiple processors operating in parallel to achieve high reliability and computational throughput. It utilized a micro-program control system which allowed for flexible instruction set modification. This was a pioneering effort in parallel processing and real-time computing for its time.

The AS-6, a later Burtsevka machine, was designed as a general-purpose computer, while still retaining design principles of high reliability and computational power. Like the 5E92, it used micro-program control. These systems represent a significant chapter in the history of Soviet computer engineering, demonstrating advanced design concepts and contributing to important applications in defense and scientific computing. Information on the Burtsevka project can be difficult to find in English due to its historical context and the limited availability of documentation outside of Russian.