RAE came up with the MADGE concept, I believe, and constructed initial breadboard equipment for research trials. IIRC, the research vessel "Colonel Templar" was used along with kit orginally flown on the Bedford Wessex (?). (This was a little bit before my time).
Once shown to be promising, the concept was passed to Industry to develop to a production standard, as was common in the era of the non-nuclear research establishments.
I expect someone will be along in a minute who was involved in the initial Bedford trials of MADGE to confirm or deny; that seems to be the way with PPRuNe.
