YES THIS !
Whenever I see a post subject like this I get a little excited. Actually the whole computer gate thing got started by way of the time keeping technology, working with accuracy issues, and of course with miniaturation of construction!
Here is what I need:
How small could you build, I'm thinking around 0.4 mm diameter device. Having 72 moving parts...I've even purchased a 'toy' microscope in my exploration of the mechanical boundaries, (when not in some expensive lab).
My quest is very similar to existing functions, as in the magazine I've been reading, An August 2023 printing of 'WatchTime', a magazine covering high-end products.
While I've been contemplating just using electronics, it's a microprocessor subset, having a '6 bit' data BUS, and clock rate at.170,000 vbs,
the project would work perfectly well, in MECHANICAL FORM, at, say, 15 vps.
If I got that right, that means an oscillating wheel balance, at 7.5 complete motions per second. That's enough to have a decent response.
One problem is, the thing would need some infrared (or I.R.) sensing capabilities.
Any number of folks, here in this blog could help with the Computer Engineering portion, and (you) could do larger prototype builds, at first.
Mechanical Processor, basically,...(Don't let that part intimidate you!)
- - Rick B.