Mentor Blogs

Hundreds of military and aerospace (mil/aero) design engineers, engineering managers, and executives flocked to Dallas last week to attend Mentor Graphics’ annual Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) focused on mil/aero applications, trends, and technologies. Mentor Graphics Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wally Rhines opened the annual event with an interesting keynote address on: Meeting … Read More

Hardware, Geek, IESF, Wally Rhines, Technology, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Military, Aerospace, Software, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, electrical, Mentor, Electronic, Mentor Graphics, Electric, Mentor.com, Electric Aircraft

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the U.S., investigating the cause of a fire on a Boeing Dreamliner 787 parked at Boston Logan Airport in January, transitioned its work from a macroscopic study to a microscopic examination, including chemical and elemental analysis of the areas of internal short circuiting and thermal damage. Soon after launching a microscopic investigation, NTSB officials … Read More

Massport Fire Rescue, Japan Airlines, Engineer, Aerospace, APU, Geek, Hardware, JAL, 787, Dreamliner, Boeing, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Electric, electrical, auxiliary power unit, Electronic, Boston Fire Department, Design Automation, Mentor, Military, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com

The aerospace industry has been a hotbed of activity this year—and we’re only two months into 2013. The hottest news (no pun intended) has been and continues to be related to the grounding of the entire fleet of Boeing Dreamliner 787 commercial airliners. Just last month, the Transport Ministry within the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) closed its investigation of Kyoto, Japan-based battery manufacturer … Read More

JTM, Japan Airlines, Geek, Aerospace, All Nippon Airways, GS Yuasa Corp, Hardware, JAL, 787, electrical, Boeing, Electronic, ANA, Engineer, APU, FAA, EASA, Dreamliner, Electric, NTSB, Li-ion, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Lithium Ion, Logan Airport

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner tale has it all: mystery, suspense, and now controversy. On the same day, Japan’s Transport Ministry closed its investigation of Kyoto, Japan-based battery manufacturer GS Yuasa, and U.S. safety officials asked Boeing for its operating history of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery use on 787 aircraft. The Transport Ministry, part of the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB), found … Read More

JTM, Japan Airlines, Geek, Aerospace, All Nippon Airways, GS Yuasa Corp, Hardware, JAL, 787, electrical, Boeing, Electronic, ANA, Engineer, APU, FAA, EASA, Dreamliner, Electric, NTSB, Li-ion, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Lithium Ion, Logan Airport

Just as an avalanche of events occurred this month related to the Boeing Dreamliner 787, with one issue after another rearing its ugly head, a seeming chain reaction of investigations has also resulted. Boeing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration, Japan’s Transport Ministry and Civil Aviation Bureau launched investigations; and, the European Aviation Safety … Read More

JTM, Japan Airlines, Geek, Aerospace, All Nippon Airways, GS Yuasa Corp, Hardware, JAL, 787, electrical, Boeing, Electronic, ANA, Engineer, APU, FAA, EASA, Dreamliner, Electric, NTSB, Li-ion, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Lithium Ion, Logan Airport

What can only be described as a series of unfortunate events (to borrow from Lemony Snicket) with prompted organizations dedicated to safety to launch investigations into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s safety and potential for additional problems, as well as to ground 787s until its safety is proven. While some problems are expected in the release of new design into service the quick succession of these … Read More

Li-ion, JTM, Geek, Aerospace, All Nippon Airways, Hardware, JAL, Japan Airlines, 787, electrical, Boeing, Electronic, ANA, Engineer, APU, FAA, EASA, Dreamliner, Electric, Lithium Ion, Military, NTSB, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Logan Airport, Mentor

When we last left off, the auxiliary power unit (APU) of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner parked at Boston’s Logan Airport had caught fire, purportedly melting a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery module. It would not be the last of the commercial airliner’s—or even Japan Airlines’—problems, however. The very next day (Jan. 8), in fact, a second Japan Airlines (JAL) 787 suffered a fuel leak, and its flight out of … Read More

Mentor, Logan Airport, JAL, Aerospace, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Li-ion, Lithium Ion, 787, Electronic, Boeing, Engineer, Geek, ANA, Hardware, APU, Electric, Dreamliner, electrical, Mentor Graphics, Narita International Airport, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero

Aerospace professionals the world over are focused on three little words: Lithium ion batteries. Even the collective interest of the defense community (more on that later) is piqued about potential power problems. Alliteration aside, Boeing’s 787 battery has captured the attention of aerospace geeks, government agencies, and the traveling public. In case you haven’t heard about the latest trouble with … Read More

Massport Fire Rescue, Japan Airlines, Engineer, Aerospace, APU, Geek, Hardware, JAL, 787, Dreamliner, Boeing, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Electric, electrical, auxiliary power unit, Electronic, Boston Fire Department, Design Automation, Mentor, Military, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com

Forty-three years ago, on 20 July 1969, the United States Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to the moon. Were you aware, however, that it the first space vehicle to reach the vicinity of the moon was not manned at all? Intrigued? This geek hopes so. Fun fact: Unmanned spacecraft reached the vicinity of the moon a decade before the first manned mission landed on the lunar surface. The Soviet … Read More

Moon, Milaero, Mentor, Apollo, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Aerospace, Electric, Geek, electrical, Hardware, Luna, Computer, Luna 1, COTS, Embedded Systems, Electronic, Engineer, nasa, spacecraft, unmanned, Sally Ride, Soviet Union

Forty-three years ago this month, astronauts made history. The Apollo 11 mission, a milestone in human history, continues to be celebrated worldwide decades later. The first words spoken on the moon by Neil Armstrong, the first to step onto the lunar surface, remain among the most famous and inspirational in the world: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Nearly 500 million … Read More

Neil Armstrong, nasa, Mentor.com, Apollo 11, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Moon, Aerospace, COTS, Geek, Hardware, Electric, Mentor, Buzz Aldrin, Mentor Graphics, Cold War, Electronic, electrical, Engineer, Soviet Union, Technology

A popular children’s toy has been named the first domestic robot, the first robotic toy, and a threat to national security in the U.S. Can you guess which toy? It was the cute, lovable, and interactive Furby! The Furby was produced by Tiger Electronics from 1998 to 2001, and again by Hasbro between 2005 and 2007. In fact, it has just been announced that the Furby will again line store shelves; it will … Read More

Furby, Engineer, Geek, Tiger Electronics, COTS, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Computer, NSA, Hardware, Electronic, Hasbro, Embedded Systems, Mentor, Electric, Mentor Graphics, electrical

Unmanned vehicles, especially the aerial variety, as the subject of much attention in the military & aerospace industry; public opinion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) appears to be split, as concerns over safety, security, and privacy grow. The UAV’s history is nonetheless intriguing. In 1915, famous scientist and visionary Nikola Tesla first described a fleet of unmanned aerial combat vehicles. … Read More

Milaero, Mil-Aero, Lawrence Sperry, cruise missile, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Electric, Flying Bomb, Geek, electrical, Hardware, Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane, Design Automation, Elmer Sperry, Electronic, Engineer, Military, Peter Hewitt

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) continue to grow in use and popularity; yet, little attention is paid to UAV history, which contains some valuable, if not shocking (pun intended), insights. On November 8, 1898, Nikola Tesla was granted U.S. Patent Number 613809 for what was likely the first remote control and unmanned vehicle ever envisioned. The patent, entitled “Method of and Apparatus for Controlling … Read More

teleautomaton, remote-controlled robot, Milaero, Military, mind control, Nikola Tesla, Aerospace, electrical, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Electronic, Mentor.com, Design Automation, Mil-Aero, Electric, Geek, Embedded Systems, Hardware, UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The military and aerospace (mil/aero) market is currently a hotbed of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activity. UAV platforms, technologies, challenges, and even mishaps are making news headlines and drawing a great deal of attention of late. Whereas the UAV is likely the hottest topic in mil/aero today, a much smaller industry segment know well the UAV’s rich and interesting history. The geek wants … Read More

Military, Milaero, Mentor, Aerospace, alternating current, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, AC, Electronic, Engineer, Design Automation, Geek, Hardware, DC, Electric, Direct Current, electrical, Nikola Tesla, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Thomas Edison, UAV

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