Mentor Blogs

Believe it or not, summer is fast approaching. My daughter is looking forward to the summer break from school. My sons, being a bit older and each completing a couple of semesters of university studies, are facing a summer busy with research or employment. When they yearn for leisure days of summers past, I usually respond with “welcome to adulthood”. The SystemVision crew is preparing … Read More

AUTOSAR, IESF, Mechatronics

“[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

The business aviation market was the hardest hit of all the aerospace market segments, revealed Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group in Fairfax, Va. In fact, at Mentor’s mil/aero IESF, he described the business aircraft as “a cyclical market that is completely torn in half.” The top half of the market blazed ahead with a 2009/2010 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. At … Read More

Mil-Aero, Mentor.com, Milaero, business jet, Geek, Aerospace, Mentor, Military, Richard Aboulafia, Mentor Graphics, IESF, Teal Group, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Warfighters

The military and aerospace (mil/aero) market has recently suffered some fiscal setbacks. It may come as a surprise that the economy was not to blame; rather, it was design and production delays. This interesting, and somewhat jarring, tidbit comes from Richard L. Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group Corp., team of aerospace and defense industry analysts in Fairfax, Va. He shared several … Read More

Mentor, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Mentor Graphics, Richard L. Aboulafia, Electric, Teal Group Corp, Warfighters, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Hardware, Mil-Aero, IESF, Milaero, electrical, Military, Geek

We can all learn how to tell a great story, revealed Aaron Shin, senior director of the transition to products at Raytheon Company in Waltham, Mass., in his IESF keynote, “The Art of Storytelling.” Okay, admittedly, many of us geeks and nerds may not be the best speakers. But, so what? Don’t get me wrong, I strive toward and aspire to be a phenomenal, thought-provoking speaker and, as a result, an … Read More

Software, Raytheon, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Military, Aaron Shin, Electric, IESF, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, electrical, Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Engineer, Hardware, Technology, The Art of Storytelling

Developing a great story with which to “sell” our ideas is a facet of design work not all of us (we geek folk) are the best at pulling off; however, without a compelling and interesting story or pitch, many products and companies would not be where they are today. When it comes down to it, many successes can be attributed to a great storyteller. Aaron Shin, senior director of the transition … Read More

Software, Raytheon, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Military, Aaron Shin, Electric, IESF, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, electrical, Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Engineer, Hardware, Technology, The Art of Storytelling

Mentor Graphics’ Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) for the military/aerospace (mil/aero) industry—a free, one-day event that was just held in Long Beach, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2011—was fantastic this year, just as I had expected. The speakers were top-notch and I learned a wealth about not only the current status and future outlook of the mil/aero market, but also the many challenges mil/aero … Read More

Software, Raytheon, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Military, Aaron Shin, Electric, IESF, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, electrical, Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Engineer, Hardware, Technology, The Art of Storytelling

If you plan to be in Frankfurt, Germany on November 17, mark your calendars for Mentor Graphics’ Automotive and Commercial Vehicles Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF). You’ll enjoy 26 industry sessions planned specifically for E/E design engineers, engineering managers, and executives in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. This IESF event will be particularly interesting if your … Read More

AUTOSAR, IESF

Industry colleagues and I are anxiously awaiting IESF—Mentor Graphics’ electrical engineering conference for military and aerospace (mil/aero)—next week in Long Beach, Calif. A full day of speakers and events, which should prove to be both enlightening and entertaining, is planned. One session to which I am looking very forward is “Aircraft and Defense Markets: Outperforming the Economy,” with Richard … Read More

Milaero, Mil-Aero, Military, Geek, IESF, Aerospace, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, Mentor

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

Mentor Graphics’ Military & Aerospace Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) 2011 is coming up fast on the calendar – Tuesday, September 13 in Long Beach, California. This is a companion event to our Automotive IESF 2011 held in Detroit, Michigan in early June. And just like the June event, Military & Aerospace IESF will be chock-full of technical content. The September 13 event focuses … Read More

IESF, Military, Aerospace, System Design

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