Victor Shestakov
Encyclopedia
Victor Ivanovich Shestakov (1907, Moscow
– 1987, Moscow) was a Russian
/Soviet logician and theoretician of electrical engineering
. In 1935 he discovered the possible interpretation of Boolean algebra of logic in electro-mechanical relay circuits. He graduated from Moscow State University
(1934) and worked there in the General Physics Department almost until his death.
Shestakov proposed a theory of electric switches based on Boolean logic
earlier than Claude Shannon (due to certification of prominent Soviet logicians and mathematicians S.A. Yanovskaya, M.G. Gaaze-Rapoport, R.L. Dobrushin
, O.B. Lupanov, Yu. A. Gastev, Yu. T. Medvedev, and V.A. Uspensky), though they defended Theses the same year (1938)) but the first publication of Shestakov's result took place only in 1941 (in Russian).
In the early 20th century, relay circuits began to be more widely used in automatics, defense of electric and communications systems. Every relay circuit schema for practical use was distinct invention, because the general principle of simulation of these systems was not known. Shestakov's credit (and independently later Claude Shannon) is the general theory of logical simulation inspired by rapidly increasing complexity of technical demands. Logical simulation require solid mathematical foundations. Namely these foundations were created by Shestakov.
Shestakov put forward logico-algebraic model of electrical two poles switchers (later three, and four poles switchers) with consecutive and parallel junctions of schemata elements (resistors, condensers, magnet, inductive coils, etc.). Resistance of these elements might take arbitrary values upon the real line, and upon the two elements set {0, ∞} degenerates into the bivalent Boolean algebra of logic.
Shestakov may be considered as a forerunner of continual logic and its application (and, hence, Boolean algebra of logic as well) in electric engineering, the 'language' of which is reach enough to simulate non-electrical objects of any conceivable physical nature. He was a pioneer of study of merged continual logico-algebraic (parametrical) and topological (structural) models.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
– 1987, Moscow) was a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
/Soviet logician and theoretician of electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. In 1935 he discovered the possible interpretation of Boolean algebra of logic in electro-mechanical relay circuits. He graduated from Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
(1934) and worked there in the General Physics Department almost until his death.
Shestakov proposed a theory of electric switches based on Boolean logic
Boolean logic
Boolean algebra is a logical calculus of truth values, developed by George Boole in the 1840s. It resembles the algebra of real numbers, but with the numeric operations of multiplication xy, addition x + y, and negation −x replaced by the respective logical operations of...
earlier than Claude Shannon (due to certification of prominent Soviet logicians and mathematicians S.A. Yanovskaya, M.G. Gaaze-Rapoport, R.L. Dobrushin
Dobrushin
Dobrushin is surname of:* Roland Lvovich Dobrushin , a Soviet* Dobrushin-Lanford-Ruelle equations...
, O.B. Lupanov, Yu. A. Gastev, Yu. T. Medvedev, and V.A. Uspensky), though they defended Theses the same year (1938)) but the first publication of Shestakov's result took place only in 1941 (in Russian).
In the early 20th century, relay circuits began to be more widely used in automatics, defense of electric and communications systems. Every relay circuit schema for practical use was distinct invention, because the general principle of simulation of these systems was not known. Shestakov's credit (and independently later Claude Shannon) is the general theory of logical simulation inspired by rapidly increasing complexity of technical demands. Logical simulation require solid mathematical foundations. Namely these foundations were created by Shestakov.
Shestakov put forward logico-algebraic model of electrical two poles switchers (later three, and four poles switchers) with consecutive and parallel junctions of schemata elements (resistors, condensers, magnet, inductive coils, etc.). Resistance of these elements might take arbitrary values upon the real line, and upon the two elements set {0, ∞} degenerates into the bivalent Boolean algebra of logic.
Shestakov may be considered as a forerunner of continual logic and its application (and, hence, Boolean algebra of logic as well) in electric engineering, the 'language' of which is reach enough to simulate non-electrical objects of any conceivable physical nature. He was a pioneer of study of merged continual logico-algebraic (parametrical) and topological (structural) models.