Analog Computer Bouncing Ball

From the MAKE: Flickr pool

Honorary professor of electronic awesomeness Mr. Eric “ALH84001” Archer demonstrates the results of his experimentation within the world of analog physics modelling –

I designed the circuit as an excercise in understanding analog computer techniques. I found that almost all textbook descriptions of analog integrators are incomplete, lacking adequate description of how to set the initial conditions of the integrator and reset it at the end of each computation.

An obvious application of this particular circuit is to generate nonlinear rhythms for electronic music… check out Aphex Twin’s track “Bucephalus Bouncing Ball” for a good example of this effect.

Alas, no schematic as of yet – but more insight into the theory and development process at work is provided Analog computer bouncing ball.