Mentor Blogs

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, housing the unmanned Curiosity rover, set upon a monumental, 9-month, 352-million-mile journey to its final destination–Gale Crater near the base of Mount Sharp on Mars–with help from a powerful Atlas V 541 launch vehicle. In fact, this November 2011 mission marked the first launch of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V 541 configuration. Roughly … Read More

Military, Milaero, Mentor, Atlas V, aviation, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Aerospace, Gale Crater, EDA, electrical, Geek, Hardware, Curiosity, design, Mars, Embedded Systems, Electronic, Engineer, Mount Sharp, Technology, zapping, rover, Software, MSL, nasa

Curiosity (cu·ri·os·i·ty, noun) is defined as: 1. a desire to know or learn; 2. an object that arouses interest, as by being novel or extraordinary; and 3. from the Latin “curiosus” meaning careful, diligent, thoughtful, devoted; elaborate, complicated; meddlesome, officious, prying, interfering, curious, inquisitive; and a spy or scout, informer. Certainly, the Curiosity rover and its mission—dedicated … Read More

Mars Science Laboratory, Mars, Mentor, Cape Canaveral, Military, MSL, nasa, Aerospace, Technology, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Mentor.com, Hardware, Mil-Aero, Engineer, Milaero, Fla.

By the time Neil Armstrong had reached his 30s, he had already logged an impressive career as an aerospace engineer, U.S. Navy officer, veteran of the Korean War, and test pilot. He retired from the Navy in 1960 and, just two years later, joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He didn’t retire from aerospace, however, and kept reach for the stars. Four years later, in 1966, … Read More

Mentor, Gemini 8, Mentor Graphics, Apollo 11, nasa, Neil Armstrong, President Barack Obama, Aerospace, Technology, Mentor.com, Engineer, Mil-Aero, Geek, Milaero, Buzz Aldrin, Military, Charles Bolden

On Saturday, 25 August 2012, the worldwide aerospace community lost one of its greatest heroes. “Neil Armstrong was a hero not just of his time, but of all time,” describes President Barack Obama in a statement released the day of Armstrong’s death. “Thank you, Neil, for showing us the power of one small step.” Neil Armstrong, commander of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 mission, … Read More

Mentor Graphics, Mentor, Mentor.com, USC, U.S. Navy, Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Perdue University, President Barack Obama, Aerospace, Technology, Mil-Aero, Geek, Milaero, Gemini 8, Military, Embedded Systems, nasa, Engineer

By World War II, remote-controlled aerial torpedoes, flying bombs, and pilotless planes (unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, as we know them today) were taking shape and undergoing testing by U.S. military forces. In early 1941, the conversion of popular military aircraft of the time, including Martin/Great Lakes Aircraft Company’s TG-2 torpedo bomber and Great Lakes’ BG-1 dive bomber, into remote-controlled … Read More

pilotless plane, Military, Mentor Graphics, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, aerial torpedoes, Great Lakes Aircraft Company, Embedded Systems, Engineer, Hardware, Martin, BG-1, Mentor, flying bombs, flight by television, Geek, remote controlled, WWII, Warfighters, WWI, TG-2, UAV

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

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

Airbus and The Boeing Company might appear to have little in common, but they certainly share a fascinating, and even intertwined, history. Both aviation firms are pioneers, having contributed numerous innovations in the field throughout the years. As technology advancements, new aircraft models, and litigations continue in the years that follow, so too does the competition between the two airframe … Read More

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

Airbus delayed the availability of the A350-1000, intended to compete with The Boeing Company’s enhanced 777 twinjet; yet, customers continue to cancel early orders for the upcoming Airbus wide-body jet. This delay is giving Boeing the chance it needs to push its 777 successor (being called the Boeing 777X) forward, while utilizing all the lessons learned from its infamously delayed 787 Dreamliner. … Read More

Engineer, Embedded Systems, Geek, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Airbus, 777, Hardware, DoD, Jet, electrical, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Boeing

The Boeing Company, perhaps contrary to popular belief, did not quickly or easily skyrocket to top of the aviation market; in fact, the company suffered several significant setbacks that would have caused many to throw up their hands and close their doors. Founder William Boeing would not be dissuaded or deterred, however. In 1923, The Boeing Company started to turn around and began its transformation … Read More

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The Boeing Company was struggling after World War I, but Founder William Boeing and his management team pressed on, encouraging and funding the proactive research and development of many different commercial biplane designs. As it turns out, none of the new biplane designs ever made it into production. Not to be dissuaded by this unfortunate fact, Boeing continued to innovate and make history. On 3 … Read More

Mentor, Geek, Mentor Graphics, U.S. Navy, B-1, Warfighters, William H. Boeing, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Eddie Hibbard, Mil-Aero, Engineer, Milaero, Boeing, Military, C-700

The Boeing 747 was the pinnacle of success in aviation. The jumbo jet became the symbol for aviation and opened up the world to global travelers. Boeing was reaping the rewards and reveling in the success that was the 747. Airbus wasn’t resting on its laurels, however, and had set its sights on the popular jet. In 1988, Airbus lead engineer Jean Roeder and a team of engineers began to develop … Read More

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