Mentor Blogs

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 U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, begun in 2003, carried with it the promise of a brand new fleet of manned ground vehicles; yet, due to economic and logistical difficulties and setbacks, FCS was cancelled in 2009. In the spring of 2009, Pentagon and Army officials announced the cancellation of the FCS vehicle-development effort. Rather than providing new, future-proof vehicles able … Read More

Mentor, Humvee, Mentor Graphics, electrical, Pentagon, U.S. Army, Electronic, Electric, Mentor.com, Geek, Mil-Aero, Hardware, Milaero, Embedded Systems, Military, FCS

Militaries the world over are increasingly relying upon advanced, multifunctional electronics systems to help ensure not only their safety, but also mission success. The growing use of and reliance on electronics does not come without a cost, however. Power-hungry devices require sufficient and reliable power. Yet, power can be hard to come by, especially in remote battlefield locales, such as both … Read More

Hardware, Geek, Mentor, U.S. Department of Defense, DoD, Military, Electric, network-centric battlefield, Army, U.S. Army, Mentor Graphics, Embedded Systems, Mentor.com, Engineer, Mil-Aero, electrical, Milaero, Electronic

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

It’s the last thing I think about when I board a plane; yet, it’s first of mind when I see that we’re approaching pavement at a high rate of speed upon reaching our destination. You guessed it: I’m talking about brakes. This aircraft element gains little consumer attention (unless it fails to work, of course), but the critical system component is garnering considerable attention from the technology … Read More

Milaero, Mil-Aero, Mentor Graphics, Aerospace, Boeing, Mentor Graphics Capitol, Mentor.com, Mike Shaw, 787, Dreamliner, Embedded Systems, Geek, Goodrich, Mentor, Design Automation, electrical, Electric, Electronic, Software

This geek loves the modern space race, as it is being called by many. I speak of the resurgence of interest in rockets, spacecraft, and virtually all things space-related. I enjoy all facets of it—whether private, public, international, or domestic. I love it all, as my fellow geeks likely already know. The recent decommissioning of the U.S. Space Shuttle program, after many decades of successful service, … Read More

Space Launch System, SLS, Mil-Aero, Asteroid, Electric, Milaero, Military, nasa, Aerospace, Embedded Systems, Mars. Moon, Mentor, Engineer, Mentor Graphics, electrical, Mentor.com, Electronic, LEO, Geek, Low Earth Orbit, Space Race, Space Shuttle, U.S. Space Shuttle program

Mentor Graphics’ free, must-attend mil/aero event is less than one month away. The company has announced the event’s agenda, which includes an impressive 23 sessions. The beauty of it is that attendees, of which I am one, can essentially build their own event, tailoring the day to their exact individual needs. To simplify things, however, Mentor Graphics officials have devised three breakout tracks … Read More

Geek, Engineer, Hardware, Computer, Mentor.com, COTS, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Aerospace, Military, IESF, Electronic, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Embedded Systems, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation

Mentor Graphics has just revealed the program for its upcoming Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) 2011. If you’re not familiar with IESF, it’s one of the world’s leading events for design engineers, engineering management, and executives in the military and aerospace (mil/aero) industry. Even better, it’s free and in a great summer locale: the Marriott Long Beach hotel, in Long Beach, Calif. … Read More

ASIC, Long Beach, electrical, Milaero, Mentor, Aerospace, Marriot, Military, Embedded Systems, Geek, Engineer, Electronic, Mil-Aero, FPGA, EWIS, DO-254, IESF, Hardware, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Mentor.com, ARP 475A, Mentor Graphics

Wanted: Engineers. Military and aerospace are among many industries concerned about the future availability of skilled workers. This challenge of ensuring a skilled workforce well into the future of the U.S. is ever-present in the minds of many people—heads of technology firms (especially in the mil/aero realm), higher-education faculty, scientists and researchers, economists, patriots, heads of state, … Read More

Mentor, Hardware, Mentor Graphics, Technology, Electric, Obama, electrical, President Obama, science, and math, STEM, Mentor.com, engineering, Mil-Aero, Geek, Milaero, Electronic, Military, Engineer

The aerospace industry was born more than 100 years ago, when the internal combustion engine was joined to the balloon and the glider, reads a NASA Web page. “America’s contribution to it is vast, ranging from the first airplane and the first modern rocket to the latest in avionics.” Is the U.S. the losing its status on the world stage as a leader in aerospace innovation? On the state level, … Read More

Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, Mil-Aero, Boeing, Aerospace, Gov. Chris Gregoire, Milaero, Military, Mentor, Electronic, nasa, Geek, Ray Conner