Bouchon’s loom and programmable logic controller: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Bouchon’s loom — evolved into — Jacquard loom. Jacquard combined and refined the ideas of Bouchon, Falcon and Vaucanson.
2. Step 2. Jacquard loom — inspired — Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Babbage borrowed Jacquard’s punched cards directly for entering operations and data; Ada Lovelace compared the machine to the Jacquard loom.
3. Step 3. Babbage’s Analytical Engine — inspired — Harvard Mark I. Howard Aiken named Babbage’s work as the source of his idea.
4. Step 4. Harvard Mark I — has part — Relay. The Mark I was electromechanical, built from relays.
5. Step 5. Relay — evolved into — Programmable logic controller. It replaced relay cabinets.

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