AUTOLOFT(ID:5290/aut022)

NC Library design and manipulation language 

from loft (to put things in storage)

NC Library design and manipulation language - designed to interact with APT (?). Permitted the creation and storage of standard "packages" of routines.

Dale Smith, Numerical Design Group, North American Aircraft, 1962

Note in the examples that the capital Os are drawn with a line through them, which was the earlier standard.
Related languages
APT => AUTOLOFT   Influence
Sketchpad => AUTOLOFT   Influence

Samples:
References:
  • Maier, R. A. "Radome Analysis by AUTOLOFT" Tech Report NA-62-449 North American view details
  • NAA "AUTOLOFT SYSTEMS MANUAL" Tech Report NA-63-675 North American view details
  • Oviatt, K. F. "Secondary Surface Deisgn by AUTOLOFT" Tech Report NA-62-1054 North American view details
  • Smith, O. D. "AUTOLOFT - A Problem Oriented Approach to Design Geometry" Tech Report NA-62-88 North American view details
  • Smith, O. D. "Perspective Plotting by AUTOLOFT" Tech Report NA-63-134, North American view details
  • Maier, R. "The AUTOLOFT geometric processor" view details Abstract: I'm going to talk about one phase of the design automation problem, that of the geometric computer processor, using as an example North American's AUTOLOFT system. Any design automation system requires a modicum of geometric ability, both in the analytic definition and manipulation areas. In the APT (Automatic Programmed Tool) system, both areas are well-developed, with many automatic features provided such as the continuous guiding of the tool - a geometric object - along the part and driving surfaces in response to a single initiating command, suitably interpreted. In common with other interpretive systems, the effective on-going program of such a processor is, so-to- speak, “thrown together” at execution time while the affective or meta-program consists of special command-and-control instructions never required to be organized into a complete, closed, or unified body at input time. Extract: Anecdote
    As Dale Smith, the originator of the AUTOLOFT system, recently pointed out to me, the SKETCHPAD processor is eminently interpretive in nature, the driving or meta-program in this case consisting of the orderly - or perhaps not so orderly - real-time sequence of buttons depressed, toggle switches thrown, and light pen patterns traced out on a cathode ray tube.

    An immediate consequence of all this for a geometric processor is the need for storing and structuring large amounts of generated data, and the need for access to a large number of routines; all on a random, dynamic basis. AUTOLOFT was designed to meet these needs and thus provide the means for grappling with the real-life problems presented by the demands of analytical aerospace component description, organization, and analysis.

    The idea of AUTOLOFT as a problem-oriented language and processor system was conceived some 3-1/2 years ago as an answer to the question plaguing every engineering department concerned with dimensional definitions of complex structural and streamline shapes: how to solve the wealth of mathematical description and design problems constantly arising without the need for constantly reformulating old procedures, revising old computer programs, and thus merely re-solvlng old problems in a new context.
          in [ACM/IEEE] Proceedings of the SHARE design automation workshop 1964 view details
  • Morrill, Charles B. "Three dimensional graphical display system" view details
          in [ACM/IEEE] Proceedings of the SHARE design automation workshop 1964 view details
  • Smith, Christopher F. "Graphic Data Processing" view details Extract: Anecdote
    In the area of programming, a great deal of effort is currently being expended in industry on the development of programs for utilizing drafting machines. Some of the work is directed at specialized software to solve problems of one company or one specific area of a company, while other efforts are being directed at developing generalized languages, such as the AUTOLOFT language developed by the Los Angeles Division of North American Aviation. Many companies have purchased and are currently using drafting machines in conjunction with Design Automation and other computer systems, and the interest shown by engineers and scientists in this field is at an all time high.
          in [ACM/IEEE] Proceedings of the SHARE design automation workshop 1964 view details