Mentor Blogs

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

STEM jobs are essential to growth in America, says United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in his blog (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/14/stem-jobs-help-america-win-future). “Unfortunately, many U.S. businesses have frequently voiced concerns over the supply and availability of STEM workers. Companies operating on the forefront of technological innovation need more of them.” Major players … Read More

Mentor, Math, Mentor Graphics, COTS, science, STEM, Technology, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Gary Locke, Mil-Aero, Hardware, Milaero, Embedded Systems, Military, engineering

This geek is excitedly gearing up for the Mentor Graphics Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) for mil/aero design engineers, managers, and executives. Thank you to those who have written with questions. I would like to allay any concerns, such as those of professionals whom have previously been burned by or are skeptical of the value of free, vendor-hosted events. Fear not! Yet, I can understand … Read More

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

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

Prices keep rising and rising. Virtually everything costs more today than even just a couple months ago. In fact, a quick glance at the inflation rate (http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-inflation-rates/) reveals that it doubled between Jan. 2011 and April 2011—and the upward trend continues. Times are tough. Budgets are tight. Yet, mil/aero professionals still want and need … Read More

Mentor, IESF, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation, Aerospace, Engineer, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Geek, electrical, Milaero, Embedded Systems, Military

Much has changed, including the roles of embedded systems engineers and the overall development process. At the same time, regulations and requirements have grown—and, in no industry is this more true and more critical than in the mil/aero (military and aerospace) market. Modern systems, whether hardware or software in nature, that are employed in military and aerospace applications and environments … Read More

Geek, Engineer, Hardware, Computer, Milaero, Military, Software, Aerospace, Mentor, electrical, Mentor Graphics, Embedded Systems, Mentor.com, Design Automation, Mil-Aero

Embedded systems and software engineers lag information technology (IT) professionals in the use of formal requirements management tools across the development cycle, according to VDC Research Group in Natick, Mass. VDC Research Group’s new report on requirements management and definition tools reveals that more than 40 percent of the embedded engineers surveyed do not use formal tools for various … Read More

IT, Information Technology, Mentor, Software, VDC Research Group, Design Automation, Aerospace, Mentor Graphics, Engineer, Mentor.com, Geek, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Embedded Systems

“The [aerospace] industry is changing in fundamental ways,” reveals the Washington Council on Aerospace’s (WCA’s) 2010 report to the Washington State governor and legislature. “Some of these changes, such as globalization and the shift among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) towards a more systems integration model, are beyond the influence of Washington state policy. These exogenous changes challenge … Read More

Military, Milaero, Washington, Embedded Systems, Geek, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Washington Aerospace Partnership, Washington Council on Aerospace, Mil-Aero, Gov. Chris Gregoire, WCA, Mentor Graphics, Workforce Investment Act

The week of April 28th, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) highlighted its supercomputers in what they call “Supercomputing Week 2011” (ECHO, Echo, echo). NNSA’s three national laboratories house some of the world’s fastest supercomputers: Roadrunner, Cielo, BlueGene/L, Dawn/Sequoia, and RedStorm. I was intrigued when I came across an article on a recent project preformed … Read More

Sandia National Laboratory, Roadrunner, Military, Cielo, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, RedStorm, Aerospace, Geek, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, IBM, Mil-Aero, Electronic, Milaero, Embedded Systems, LLNL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Mentor, Sequoia, Testbed for Space Situational Awareness (TESSA), SNL, TESSA

Perhaps it is not surprising that mil/aero industry news in April, which included both Earth Day and Arbor Day, had an environmental focus. In particular, news coming out of organizations within the U.S. Federal Government, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), centered on recent environmental efforts to lessen the carbon footprint and environmental … Read More

Milaero, Apple iPad, Mentor.com, Geek, FAA, Mentor Graphics, Arbor Day, Mentor, U.S. Department of Defense, DoD, Hardware, Earth Day, Jeppesen, Mil-Aero, Federal Aviation Administration, Apple, Jeppesen Mobile TC App, iPad, Embedded Systems, Military

Embedded systems and software engineers lag information technology (IT) professionals in the use of formal requirements-management tools across the development cycle, VDC Research Group in Natick, Mass., reveals in its new report on requirements management and definition tools. More than 40 percent of embedded engineers surveyed do not use formal tools for various requirements engineering tasks. Enterprise/IT … Read More

Mil-Aero, PDM, Software, BridgePoint, Military, Milaero, VDC Research Group, ERP, Mentor, Embedded Systems, Mentor.com, IT, Geek, Engineer, Mentor Graphics, Earth, Design Automation, Chris Rommel, PLM, ReqTracer

The mil/aero community, especially those members working in the aviation and avionics segment, is increasingly consumed with learning more and ensuring compliance with current standards and regulations. For many, regulatory compliance and all that it entails are terribly stressful and wrought with bureaucracy, various “hoops” through which to jump, and threats of excessive fines and jail time. Not … Read More

Military, Milaero, Mentor, Aerospace, Altec Inc., Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, 787, Design Automation, Embedded Systems, Engineer, DO-178, FAA, Boeing, Geek, DO-254 Compliance Overview Training, DO-254, Dreamliner, Software, Tammy Reeve, Wilsonville

The Northrop Grumman-built U.S. Navy X-47B, an Unmanned Combat Air System–Demonstration (UCAS-D) Next-gen Unmanned Fighter, took its maiden flight on a hazy California morning, Feb. 4, 2011 at Edwards Air Force Base. The flight began at 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted for 29 minutes. The goal of the program is to create a tailless, fighter-sized unmanned system capable of safely landing and taking off from … Read More

NAVAIR, Northrup Grumman, Parker Aerospace, Computer, Pratt & Whitney, robot, Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Skynet, Design Automation, Software, Terminator, COTS, Dell, U.S. Navy, Eaton, DoD, Edwards Air Force Base, Vetronics, Warfighters, UAV, Wind River, X-47B, Hamilton Sundstrand, Goodrich, Engineer, Geek, General Electric, GKN Aerospace, Electric, electrical, Electronic, Embedded Systems, Moog, Hardware, Milaero, Military, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin

Intel recently announced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the introduction of the anticipated 2nd generation of the Intel Core series of processors. The chips are made on Intel’s 32nm manufacturing process on the company’s second-generation high-k metal gate transistors. These build technologies boost performance, reduce power consumption, and enable smaller designs at a lower … Read More

Mentor Graphics, Mentor, i5, CES, Computer, i7, intel, Intel Quick Sync Video, Centrino, Embedded Systems, Design Automation, Engineer, Core, Geek, COTS, i3, electrical, Electric, Electronic, WiMax, Mentor.com, WiDi, WiFi, Vetronics, Warfighters, Military, quad-core, Mil-Aero, Milaero