History of Computers - Lukyanov's Water Computer

Created by Cyrus Lee

Built by the soviet Vladimir Lukyanov in 1936, Lukyanov’s water computer was a revolutionary analog computer and revealed some of the true potential of computers.[1] His water computer was the first computer that could solve partial differential equations. [2]

Overview

The water computer functioned as a hydraulics computer, similar to the Phillips machine, running water through clear pipes in order to mimic variables.[3] The computer was originally designed for solving the problem of cracks in concrete which Lukyanov’s employer, who worked on railways, needed to find out. Inventing the water computer, Lukyanov was able to solve the problem by formatting it into a partial differential equation.[4] In 1936, Lukyanov built his computer to solve this partial differential equation and others through the water system and thus his water computer became the first computer able to solve partial differential equations.

Significance

The water computer is essential to the history of computers because it was the first computer that could solve partial differential equations, which requires immense effort from mathematicians to solve and generates real world applications such as solving the problem of cracks in concrete. [5]