
<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 5.1

                       ATER WYNNE HEWITT DODSON & SKERRITT, LLP
                             222 SW Columbia, Suite 1800
                               Portland, Oregon  97201
                              Telephone:  (503) 226-1191
                              FAX:        (503) 226-0079


                                  December 11, 1997


Board of Directors
Adaptive Solutions, Inc.
1400 N.W. Compton Drive, Suite 340
Beaverton, OR    97006


Gentlemen:

    In connection with the registration of 274,443 shares (the "Shares") of 
common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of Adaptive Solutions, Inc., 
an Oregon corporation (the "Company"), under the Registration Statement on 
Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 
3, 1997 (the "Registration Statement"), and the proposed offer and sale of 
the Common Stock pursuant to the Registration Statement, we have examined 
such corporate records, certificates of public officials and officers of the 
Company and other documents as we have considered necessary or proper for the 
purpose of this opinion.  The Shares were issued by the Company to Eastman 
Kodak Company (the "Selling Shareholder") in a private placement in 
connection with a purchase of certain assets by the Company from the Selling 
Shareholder.

    Based on the foregoing and having regard to legal issues which we deem 
relevant, it is our opinion that the Shares are validly issued, fully paid 
and nonassessable.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
above-mentioned Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm 
under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of 
the Registration Statement.  This consent shall not be construed to cause 
this firm to be in the category of persons whose consent is required to be 
filed pursuant to Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the 
rules thereunder.

                        Very truly yours,


                        /s/ Ater Wynne Hewitt Dodson & Skerritt, LLP


                        ATER WYNNE HEWITT DODSON & SKERRITT, LLP
