Mentor Blogs

“The delays are not caused by bungling or production glitches,” EADS CEO Louis Gallois is quoted as saying at the 2011 International Paris-Le Bourget Air Show (http://www.paris-air-show.com/). “The A350 is the best-managed program at Airbus by far and the program is under control. This is not about delays but about improvements in the program.” Airbus executives decided to delay by one year the new … Read More

Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, A350-1000, Aerospace, 700-300ER, Mentor.com, Boeing, Milaero, Airbus, Technology

Airbus and The Boeing Company have been the subjects of much criticism when it comes to production delays. While one company works to rationalize a delay in entering new aircraft into service, the rival often uses the other’s delay to its own advantage; in both cases, the public is often entertained by the sometimes creative “spins” on an unfortunate happenstance. In mid-2011, Airbus executives reluctantly … Read More

Mentor, Hardware, Mentor Graphics, Airbus, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Geek, Boeing, Milaero, Design Automation, Technology

It has become more and more challenging to deliver products–especially complex and intricate components, systems, and platforms–on time in this day and age. For many, the global economic recession brought with it reductions in personnel; and yet, military and aerospace (mil/aero) were still expected to (and needed to) deliver novel, high-tech products on time and on budget without the advent … Read More

Recession, Military, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation, economic recession, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Aerospace, Electronic, global, Globalization, electronic design automation, Hardware, Mentor, electrical, Engineer, Embedded Systems, Geek, Software

Military and aerospace (mil/aero) program performance, efficiency, and contract fulfillment—as well as the deliverables they provide—are of paramount importance not only to the customer running the program and awarding the contracts, but also the end user, who is often eagerly awaiting the innovation, technologies, and capabilities. Expenses are up, schedules are tight, and programs get cancelled, but … Read More

John Garrison, Geek, Mentor, Bell Helicopter, Military, One Bell, Aerospace, Mentor Graphics, Embedded Systems, Mentor.com, Engineer, Mil-Aero, Design Automation, Milaero

The military and aerospace (mil/aero) market relies on efficiency. This is true of myriad industries during a down economy, which requires organizations—including the U.S. Department of Defense and other military organizations, as well as prime contractors and subcontractors—to do more with less. Not only do engineering and manufacturing personnel need to be efficient, but also the tools they employ … Read More

Mentor, Hardware, Fort Worth, air, Bell Helicopter, Future Combat Systems, Geek, ground, Aerospace, Electronic, Design Automation, DoD, Embedded Systems, Engineer, Computer, FCS, Electric, electrical, Mentor Graphics, sea, Software, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero

System interoperability is a major issue and continual challenge in military and aerospace (mil/aero) applications. Electronic components and solutions from various vendors must all work together. The same is true of legacy versus modern systems. Many industry pundits in the mil/aero community have long compared the challenge to trying to have a 50-year-old communicate effectively with a newborn—they … Read More

electrical, Electric, Electronic, Software, Mentor Graphics, Computer, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Aerospace, Milaero, Engineer, Design Automation, Geek, Hardware, COTS, Mentor

Systems integration is no small feat. Ensuring disparate parts and systems—standalone solutions from multiple vendors—talk and work together seamlessly and reliably is a challenge. In fact, the systems integrator, not to mention the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) specialist charged with keeping systems in good working order over decades of deployment, has been given many nicknames reflective … Read More

systems whisperer, Military, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, COTS, electrical, hardware wrangler, HDMI, Electronic, High-Definition Multimedia Interface, Mentor, Electric, Geek, Embedded Systems, Hardware, Technology

Gone, in large part, are the days of military and aerospace (mil/aero) organizations buying a complete, comprehensive, end-to-end turnkey system from a single, solitary vendor. Rather, a vast majority of today’s mil/aero systems combine the technologies, components, and capabilities of myriad technology vendors. Integrating parts from various vendors in a single system, like most things, has its pros … Read More

Sony, Software, Mentor.com, Computer, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Military, Aerospace, Electric, Hardware, HDMI, electrical, Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, Embedded Systems, Electronic, Geek, Yamaha

Just this month, PKC Eesti AS, a supplier of electrical wiring harnesses to European truck makers and a subsidiary of Finland’s PKC Group Oyj, announced that it is deploying the latest technology from the Mentor Graphics Capital suite of tools at its factory in Estonia. Among the tools adopted is the Capital HarnessXC product, which is designed to enable harness engineers to create detailed, validated, … Read More

Electronic, electrical, Embedded Systems, PKC Group, Military, Computer, Mentor Graphics, COTS, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Capital HarnessXC, Milaero, Engineer, Geek, Electric, Hardware, Mentor, Design Automation

Future Combat Systems (FCS) is but a distant memory, but the need to stay on the bleeding edge of technology in military and aerospace (mil/aero) environments remains unchanged. Today’s missions in harsh and challenging environments call for the latest and greatest technological advances. FCS, the program created to deliver manned and unmanned advanced network-centric warfare and new combat vehicles … Read More

Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, FCS, BCT, Geek, Hardware, Mentor, Aerospace, electrical, Design Automation, Electronic, Embedded Systems, Brigade Combat Team Modernization Program, Engineer, Computer, DoD, Electric, Mil-Aero, U.S. Army, Warfighters, Milaero, Military

The availability of sufficient power to drive myriad electronics in ground combat vehicles is a major concern in the military and aerospace (mil/aero) market. Current military ground vehicle platforms are outfitted with a wealth of electronics—including command and control, communications, radar and radar jamming, weaponry, counter-IED/countermeasures, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance … Read More

Electronic, electrical, Geek, Stryker, Military, battlefield, Mentor Graphics Capitol, COTS, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Aerospace, Milaero, Hardware, HMMWV, Electric, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation

The good news: The aerospace market is alive, active, and growing in number and strength. The bad news: The mil/aero market seeks new, cutting-edge solutions (from individual components to comprehensive systems) that are not only well designed, but thoroughly tested and verified. (And if this geek had his say, they would be designed, tested, and verified using trusted, high-end, industry-proven software … Read More

Mentor, Aerospace, new, Electronic, Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, bleeding edge, space, Hardware, Embedded Systems, Design Automation, Electric, Mil-Aero, electrical, cutting edge, Geek, Engineer, Milaero, Military

“[Skydrol] is very unpleasant to work with. It stings. It forms a very fine mist and gets everywhere,” reveals an anonymous aircraft maintenance engineer of the widely used hydraulic fluid. “When you have a pinhole leak somewhere, and are trying to find it, you will get it all over you and itch for ages afterwards. It really should be banned as a health hazard to mechanics.” Sounds like lovely stuff, … Read More

Milaero, Mil-Aero, IESF, Capital, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Mentor, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Engineer, Geek, Electric, Goodrich, Hardware, Design Automation, Electronic, electrical, Embedded Systems, Software

Hydraulic systems have for decades been the go-to technology in airplanes, both commercial and military, because of their high power density and proven reliability. Yet, hydraulic systems can be difficult to control, given that sensors are often located far from the brake piston; can require more maintenance, given the propensity for leaks or contamination in the hydraulic lines and the fluid contained … Read More

Mil-Aero, Mentor.com, IESF, Computer, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Aerospace, Engineer, Electric, Geek, Hardware, Hydraulic, Design Automation, Electronic, electrical, Embedded Systems, Milaero, Software, Solutia Inc., Military, Skydrol

Goodrich Corp. engineers used electronic design automation (EDA) software to design, verify, and test the company’s latest innovative electronic brake automation avionics. The company’s electric brake system is being employed on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane; in fact, a majority of 787 customers to date have selected the Goodrich electric brake system. Goodrich executives announced in March 2011 … Read More

Mil-Aero, Mentor.com, Goodrich, Aerospace, Hardware, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, 787, electrical, Electronic, Design Automation, Engineer, Boeing, Geek, Computer, Dreamliner, Electric, Milaero