“Automatically Programmed Tools” (1959) — Science Reporter TV Series

In this 1959 MIT Science Reporter television program, researchers John Francis Reintjes and Douglas Taylor Ross present the APT project, a novel system for the computerization of numerical control being developed at the new MIT Electronic Systems Laboratory. Reintjes and Ross discuss their work using the WHIRLWIND I computer to develop an automatic programming system for numerical control in two dimensions known as APT (automatically programmed tool). The APT project was MIT’s first joint government, industry and university effort achieved in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and the Aerospace Industries Association. Program hosted by Robert S. Woodbury. MIT Museum Collections.