Pilot ACE
ACE Pilot Model
This “pilot” machine, simpler than Turing’s full ACE (Automatic Computing Engine) design, was completed at NPL in 1950. Although built as a test machine, it remained in useful operation for five years.
Pilot ACE
After his wartime triumphs in code-breaking, Alan Turing joined Britain’s National Physical Laboratory in 1945 to develop electronic computers.
Turing created seven designs. Six remained, as intended, just experimental concepts. Design #5 was built in 1950 as Pilot ACE (Automatic Computing Engine), a precursor to the later full-scale ACE.
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
Turing was a brilliant mathematician, wrote influential papers on logic and artificial intelligence. He committed suicide following a criminal prosecution on charges of homosexuality.
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DEUCE arithmetic logic element
The engineering firm English Electric built a commercial version of the Pilot ACE, called DEUCE—the Digital Electronic Universal Computing Engine. It was used mostly for science and engineering problems, and a few commercial applications. Over 30 were completed.
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