it is commonly remarked that the automatic transmission is a hydraulic computer. well, the old ones. the newer ones are hydraulic/electric computers. Ya want r

it is commonly remarked that the automatic transmission is a hydraulic computer. well, the old ones. the newer ones are hydraulic/electric computers. Ya want real fun go look at the balancing, multipoint valve manifold bodies on some construction equipment. stuff where they're switching 3 or 4 hydraulic cylinders that articulate an arm. each with 2 analog inputs that need attention to work together. and then the whole group has to coordinate smoothly so none of their power curves intersect badly (and wrench the joint apart instead of lifting the arm, for example) Feed that off a limited pool of power (and fluid!) and make it all controllable by one or two levers in such a way that a human can learn to use it as smoothly as they do any other stick. Humans are really good at "stick". One fellow I worked with had built his own (massive, huge monster) cable plow type deal for putting 6in drain pipe several feet under croplands without having to disturb the surface much. He showed me one of the custom control valves he'd fabricated; it resembled the cylinder from a revolver with the control stick coming out the top linking to these "shell" cylinders that went into each individual chamber as the joystick moved around and twisted. with like a dozen in and out hydraulic ports feeding from a large square base into this, machines such that little leverage could control high pressure, high volume fluid flows. mixer faucet x6. Lovely thing, massive block of metal. I dunno how much pressure that controlled in use but likely enough for a pinhole leak to cause serious injury. This machine was built on top of a Caterpillar D8 dozer and the thing grunted to lift the plow hanging off the back of it. As a control, it was at least as natural as the MS Sidewinder force joysticks were... i don't have a higher standard of comparison to offer.