Autonetics
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Avionics, Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | North American Aviation Technical Research Laboratory |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Anaheim, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Inertial navigation systems, radar systems, military computers (RECOMP series, D-17B, D-37 series, D200) |
Number of employees | 36,000 |
| Parent | North American Aviation (later Boeing) |
Autonetics operated as a branch of North American Aviation, specializing in avionics with a focus on inertial navigation systems designed for submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its expansive 188-acre plant located in Anaheim, California was the largest employer in the city, with a workforce of 36,000. Following corporate consolidations, Autonetics was integrated into Boeing.
Origin
The origins of Autonetics trace back to 1945 when it was established as North American Aviation's Technical Research Laboratory. After obtaining a contract from the Army Air Forces in 1946 to develop a glide missile, the laboratory expanded and centralized operations in Downey, California by 1948. The development of the Navaho missile program prompted Autonetics to form its own division in 1955, initially based in Downey before moving to Anaheim in 1963.
Divisions
The Navigation Systems division was responsible for creating inertial and stellar-inertial navigation technologies applied to ships, submarines, missiles, aircraft, and spacecraft. Among its significant products were the N-6 (NAVAN) system used on the Navaho missile and later adopted for the AGM-28 Hound Dog, along with alignment instruments and attitude reference units serving various defense platforms.
The Electro Sensor Systems division engineered multifunction radar systems, armament control computers, data display units, and sensors tailored for high-speed aircraft. Prominent radar models included the R-14 and F-15, part of the NASARR radar family. The R-14 system equipped the USAF F-105 Thunderchief, whereas the advanced F-15 radar featuring terrain-following capability was utilized on the USAF F-104 Starfighter as well as NATO forces. Both radars facilitated accurate Time On Target (ToT) strike coordination and were developed at facilities in Downey and Anaheim.
The Data Systems division concentrated on data processing equipment, digital computing systems, ground support apparatus, control mechanisms, and telemetry solutions. Autonetics developed the RECOMP series of office computers and created guidance and control systems for Boeing-manufactured Minuteman missiles. Their portfolio included the Monica microcomputer family, the D-17B computer for Minuteman I, along with the D-37B and D-37C computers for Minuteman II—these featured micro-miniaturization techniques reducing weight by approximately two-thirds. Additionally, flight software was developed for the D37D computer used in Minuteman III.
In 1966, Autonetics launched the DDA integrator—the pioneering MOS large scale array (LSA) employing four-phase logic. This breakthrough paved the way for designing a versatile MOS LSA computer optimized for navigation tasks: the Autonetics D200.
Milestones
- Achieved first airplane flight with an inertial autonavigator (XN-1) in 1950.
- Completed initial flight of an all-solid-state computer system (Navaho guidance) in 1955.
- Provided navigation technology enabling the first submerged transit of the North Pole aboard the submarine in 1958.
Products
- N-6 NAVAN (North American Vehicle Auto Navigation)
- Autonetics RECOMP I military computer, introduced in 1957
- Autonetics Recomp II office computer released in 1958
- Autonetics RECOMP III office computing system
- VERDAN (Versatile Digital Analyzer), a general-purpose military computer from 1959 deployed on Polaris submarines, USS Enterprise, A-5 Vigilante aircraft, and GAM-77 Hounddog missile
- MARDAN (Marine Digital Analyzer; VERDAN II), integral to Ship's Inertial Navigation System (SINS), launched in 1961
- D-17B flight computer
- D-37C flight computer
- D-37D flight computer
- Autonetics D200 flight computer
References