This paper examines the possibility of implementing matrix operations on an array with reconfigurable optical buses (AROB). The AROB combines some of the advantages and characteristics of reconfigurable meshes and meshes with optical pipelined buses. This model is extremely flexible, as demonstrated by its ability to efficiently simulate CREW PRAMs and reconfigurable networks. A number of applications arc investigated and it is shown that many matrix operations can be implemented efficiently, reducing the time complexity and/or the cost of existing algorithms which are given for other models of parallel computation.