Early Microprocessors in Industrial Microcomputers

[Chuck Guzis]

  On 03/09/2016 09:28 AM, william degnan wrote:

> Not a lot is said about early use of microprocessors in industrial
> microcomputers.  Everything you read about is so home computing
> oriented, but I believe actual sales would have been greater in the
> industrial space

Do you count that 1-bit MC14500 dingus as a microprocessor? :)

PLCs have used all sorts of microprocessors from 8080 to the latest 
bleeding edge stuff.  If you're doing archeology of MPUs, the PLC market 
is a great place to start as the iron these things were attached to 
(anying from PCB drills, EDM setups, turret lathes, etc.) are still 
running.  I recall an ex-in-law who bought himself an IMSAI 8080 and 
used it to run his vacuum forming setup.

The NSC IMP16 was used in Sun Engine Analyzers, which must count as an 
early application.

I suspect that the nuclear power industry is one place that you'll find 
the oldest stuff, however, given the long regulatory approval process 
for change.

--Chuck