Autonetics

Autonetics was an aerospace and defense-electronics division of North American Aviation. It became particularly important during the Cold War for developing inertial navigation systems, guidance computers, radar, aircraft electronics, telemetry equipment, and digital computing systems for military and space applications. Although the organization originated in a small North American Aviation research laboratory in 1945, it was formally established as a separate division in 1955 as the Navaho missile program expanded. The division initially operated in Downey, California, and moved its principal facility to Anaheim in 1963. The company's central technical capability was autonomous navigation. Its Navigation Systems division designed inertial and stellar-inertial systems for submarines, surface ships, aircraft, missiles, launch platforms, and space vehicles. These systems enabled vehicles to determine position and attitude without continuously relying on external radio signals. Autonetics equipment was used in the Navaho missile program and in the AGM-28 Hound Dog, while its navigation work also supported the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet and strategic missile programs. The company supplied alignment equipment and attitude-reference systems for missile launchers, artillery, land-survey applications, aircraft, and missile-range ships. Autonetics also had substantial capabilities in radar and electronic control. Its Electro Sensor Systems division developed multifunction radar, armament-control computers, aircraft information displays, and other sensor equipment. The R-14 and F-15 radar systems formed part of the NASARR family of multimode monopulse radars. These systems were associated with aircraft including the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, with variants used by the United States, NATO-associated forces, and Canada. The systems supported accurate time-on-target control and, in the case of the more advanced F-15, terrain-following functions. The Data Systems division broadened Autonetics' activities into digital computing and control. It produced general-purpose computers, ground-support equipment, telemetry systems, control systems, and data-processing machines. Products included the RECOMP military and office computer family, the VERDAN and MARDAN military data analyzers, the D-17B computer for Minuteman I, and the D-37B, D-37C, and D-37D computers for later Minuteman systems. Autonetics also developed and tested flight programs for the Minuteman III D-37D computer. Micro-miniaturization reduced the size and weight of successive missile computers, a critical requirement for strategic weapons and aerospace vehicles. The division was also an early participant in large-scale MOS integrated-circuit development. Its 1966 DDA integrator used a four-phase MOS large-scale array, and related work led to the D200 general-purpose computer for navigation applications. Autonetics' achievements included the 1950 flight of the XN-1 inertial autonavigator, the 1955 flight of an all-solid-state computer in the Navaho guidance system, and navigation equipment used during the USS Nautilus's 1958 submerged crossing of the North Pole. At its peak, Autonetics operated a large Anaheim complex reported to cover approximately 188 acres and employ about 36,000 people, making it the largest employer in Anaheim at the time. The division later passed through the corporate succession associated with North American Aviation and its successors, ultimately becoming part of Boeing. As an independent operating identity, Autonetics is no longer active, but its historical contribution remains associated with inertial navigation, strategic missile guidance, military avionics, and early aerospace computing.

Autonetics traces its origins to North American Aviation's Technical Research Laboratory, a small unit within the engineering organization of the company's Los Angeles Division. In 1945, the laboratory began work that would lead to a major role in guided weapons and aerospace electronics. The following year it won an Army Air Forces contract for a glide missile with an intended range of approximately 175 to 500 miles. The contract expanded the laboratory's responsibilities and helped establish the technical base from which Autonetics developed. By June 1948, North American Aviation had consolidated its aerophysics work at Downey, California. The laboratory's projects increasingly involved autonomous flight, missile guidance, and navigation. The evolution of the Navaho missile program was especially important: it created demand for sophisticated inertial navigation, control, radar, and computing systems and ultimately led North American Aviation to establish Autonetics as a separate division in 1955. The new division was initially based in Downey and later moved to Anaheim in 1963. Navigation became Autonetics' most distinctive field. Its Navigation Systems division developed inertial and stellar-inertial equipment for ships, submarines, aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. The N-6, or NAVAN, system was associated with the Navaho missile and later with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. Other equipment supplied alignment and attitude-reference functions for missile launchers, artillery, survey operations, aircraft, and missile-range ships. These systems were valuable because they permitted vehicles to maintain a navigation solution from onboard measurements rather than depending entirely on external signals. Autonetics' early achievements demonstrated the practical significance of this work. In 1950, an XN-1 inertial autonavigator flew on an aircraft, representing an early airborne demonstration of autonomous inertial navigation. In 1955, an all-solid-state computer developed for the Navaho guidance system flew, showing that digital electronics could be integrated into demanding flight-control applications. In 1958, Autonetics navigation equipment was used aboard USS Nautilus during the submarine's first submerged crossing of the North Pole. The Electro Sensor Systems division expanded the business into aircraft radar, weapons control, and electronic displays. It developed the R-14 and F-15 radar systems, members of the NASARR family of multimode monopulse radars. The R-14 was installed in the U.S. Air Force F-105 Thunderchief, while the more advanced F-15 incorporated terrain-following capability and was developed for the F-104 Starfighter. F-104 operators included NATO-associated forces, the Canadian Air Force, and other military users. Both systems were designed to provide accurate range and targeting information and supported time-on-target impact control. Their development and testing took place at Autonetics facilities in Downey and Anaheim. The Data Systems division made Autonetics a significant producer of aerospace and military computers. It developed general-purpose digital computers, telemetry and control systems, ground-support equipment, and data-processing products. The RECOMP family included the RECOMP I military computer, the RECOMP II office computer, and RECOMP III. The VERDAN, or Versatile Digital Analyzer, served general-purpose military data-processing needs, while the MARDAN, or Marine Digital Analyzer, was used in connection with the Navy's Ship's Inertial Navigation System. Autonetics was also a major supplier of guidance and control computers for the Boeing-built Minuteman missiles. The D-17B served the Minuteman I, while the D-37B and D-37C were associated with Minuteman II. Later generations used the D-37D, and Autonetics developed and tested flight programs for the Minuteman III version. Increasing micro-miniaturization reduced the weight of the computers by roughly two-thirds, an important improvement for missile payload and vehicle performance. The division's research extended into semiconductor-based computing. In 1966, Autonetics produced the DDA integrator, described as the first MOS large-scale array using four-phase logic. Work on the DDA and related MOS-LSA circuits led engineers to design a general-purpose navigation computer, later identified as the D200. This effort illustrated Autonetics' movement from complete aerospace systems toward specialized microelectronics and compact digital architectures. At its height, Autonetics operated a major Anaheim installation covering about 188 acres and employing approximately 36,000 people. The facility was described as Anaheim's largest employer, reflecting the scale of Cold War defense production in Southern California. Autonetics remained part of the corporate lineage descended from North American Aviation as that business passed through later mergers and reorganizations. The organization ultimately became part of Boeing. The Autonetics name therefore survives primarily as a historical aerospace and defense-electronics identity rather than as an independent operating company.

• 1966

  DDA MOS large-scale-array integrator developed

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Autonetics developed the DDA integrator using four-phase MOS large-scale-array logic, contributing to later navigation-computer work.

• 1963

  Anaheim facility opened as the principal site

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Autonetics moved from Downey to Anaheim, where its large facility later became one of the city's most important employment centers.

• 1958

  Nautilus used Autonetics navigation equipment during North Pole crossing

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Autonetics navigation equipment was used aboard USS Nautilus during the first submerged crossing of the North Pole.

• 1957

  RECOMP I military computer introduced

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Autonetics produced the RECOMP I military computer as part of its expanding data-systems portfolio.

• 1955

  Autonetics formed as a separate division

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  North American Aviation established Autonetics as a separate division as the Navaho missile program expanded. An all-solid-state computer for the Navaho guidance system also flew during this period.

• 1950

  XN-1 inertial autonavigator flew

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  An XN-1 inertial autonavigator completed the first airplane flight of an inertial autonavigation system described in the reference account.

• 1948

  Aerophysics Laboratory consolidated at Downey

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  North American Aviation consolidated its aerophysics laboratory activities at Downey, California.

• 1946

  Glide-missile research contract awarded

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  The laboratory won an Army Air Forces contract to develop a glide missile with a stated range of approximately 175 to 500 miles.

• 1945

  Technical Research Laboratory established the organizational predecessor

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Autonetics originated in North American Aviation's Technical Research Laboratory within the Los Angeles Division's engineering organization.

• Autonetics ultimately became part of Boeing

  [1]Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org

  Through mergers and corporate succession involving North American Aviation and its successors, Autonetics ultimately became part of Boeing.

A high-technology aerospace and defense-electronics organization focused on autonomous navigation, strategic missile guidance, military avionics, radar, and ruggedized digital computing.

• Inertial navigation system

  N-6 NAVAN

  The N-6, known as NAVAN or North American Vehicle Auto Navigation, was an autonomous navigation system associated with the Navaho missile program and later the AGM-28 Hound Dog. It represented Autonetics' core capability in onboard inertial navigation for long-range guided vehicles.

• Military and office computers · 1957

  RECOMP computer family

  The RECOMP line included the RECOMP I military computer, RECOMP II office computer, and RECOMP III. The family reflected Autonetics' expansion from dedicated guidance electronics into more general data-processing systems for military and administrative applications.

• Military data-processing systems · 1959

  VERDAN and MARDAN

  VERDAN, short for Versatile Digital Analyzer, was a general-purpose military computer system. MARDAN, or Marine Digital Analyzer, was identified as VERDAN II and formed part of the Navy's Ship's Inertial Navigation System. Both products supported the division's work in digital analysis and naval navigation.

• Aircraft radar systems

  NASARR R-14 and F-15

  The R-14 and F-15 were multimode, monopulse radar systems in the NASARR family. The R-14 was installed in the F-105 Thunderchief, while the more advanced F-15 included terrain-following capability and was developed for the F-104 Starfighter. The systems supported ranging, targeting, and time-on-target functions.

• Strategic missile guidance computer

  D-17B flight computer

  The D-17B was a compact flight computer used in the Minuteman I missile guidance system. It formed part of Autonetics' strategic-weapons computing work and demonstrated the division's ability to package digital control functions for missile deployment.

• Strategic missile guidance computers

  D-37B and D-37C flight computers

  The D-37B and D-37C computers supported Minuteman II guidance and control. Their development reflected Autonetics' continuing miniaturization of digital missile electronics, reducing weight while preserving the processing functions required for strategic flight control.

• Strategic missile guidance computer

  D-37D flight computer

  The D-37D was associated with Minuteman III. Autonetics also developed and tested flight programs for this computer, extending the division's involvement from hardware production into operational missile software and guidance-program development.

• Navigation computer

  D200

  The D200 was a general-purpose computer designed for navigation applications. It grew out of Autonetics' work on MOS large-scale arrays and the DDA integrator, illustrating the division's efforts to use emerging semiconductor technology in compact aerospace computing systems.

• 1966

  Advance MOS large-scale-array computingProduct launch

  Background

  Autonetics sought to reduce the size and weight of aerospace computers while increasing their processing capability.

  Action taken

  The division developed the DDA integrator using four-phase MOS large-scale-array logic and subsequently pursued the D200 general-purpose navigation computer.

  Aftermath

  The work strengthened Autonetics' position in compact semiconductor-based aerospace computing.

  Source

• 1963

  Relocate the main operation to AnaheimStrategy

  Background

  Autonetics had outgrown its earlier Downey base as its defense-electronics and aerospace activities expanded.

  Action taken

  The division moved its principal facility to Anaheim, California, establishing a large integrated site for development, production, and testing.

  Aftermath

  The Anaheim complex became a major local employer and the best-known physical center of Autonetics' operations.

  Source

• 1955

  Create a dedicated Autonetics divisionStrategy

  Background

  The expanding Navaho missile program and related work in autonomous guidance, electronics, and aerophysics required a larger organizational structure than the original research laboratory.

  Action taken

  North American Aviation established Autonetics as a separate division, consolidating activities that had developed from its technical research and aerophysics operations.

  Aftermath

  The division grew into a major producer of navigation systems, radar, missile computers, and military data systems.

  Source

1. 1Autoneticsen.wikipedia.org