Mentor Blogs

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

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

“The delays are not caused by bungling or production glitches,” EADS CEO Louis Gallois is quoted as saying at the 2011 International Paris-Le Bourget Air Show (http://www.paris-air-show.com/). “The A350 is the best-managed program at Airbus by far and the program is under control. This is not about delays but about improvements in the program.” Airbus executives decided to delay by one year the new … Read More

Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, A350-1000, Aerospace, 700-300ER, Mentor.com, Boeing, Milaero, Airbus, Technology

Airbus and The Boeing Company have been the subjects of much criticism when it comes to production delays. While one company works to rationalize a delay in entering new aircraft into service, the rival often uses the other’s delay to its own advantage; in both cases, the public is often entertained by the sometimes creative “spins” on an unfortunate happenstance. In mid-2011, Airbus executives reluctantly … Read More

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

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

Paris Air Show, Military, Mentor Graphics, A380, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, 747, Engineer, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, BAE Systems, Geek, Aérospatiale-Matra, Mentor, Airbus, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Boeing, EADS, Technology

“Mentor’s Capital toolset now encompasses electrical architecture definition, electrical system and wire harness design, harness manufacturing, and vehicle service and repair,” stated Martin O’Brien, general manager of the Mentor® Integrated Electrical Systems Division. “Capital HarnessXC is one of the core products within this tool suite. PKC is the latest in a long line of harness suppliers to standardize … Read More

Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, Mil-Aero, Vernor Vinge, Capital HarnessXC, Software, Capitol Harness, superintelligence, Technological Singularity, Aerospace, Technology, Milaero, Hardware, Military, Mentor, Ray Kurzweil, Engineer, Singularity, Geek

Systems integration is no small feat. Ensuring disparate parts and systems—standalone solutions from multiple vendors—talk and work together seamlessly and reliably is a challenge. In fact, the systems integrator, not to mention the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) specialist charged with keeping systems in good working order over decades of deployment, has been given many nicknames reflective … Read More

systems whisperer, Military, Mentor Graphics, Design Automation, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, COTS, electrical, hardware wrangler, HDMI, Electronic, High-Definition Multimedia Interface, Mentor, Electric, Geek, Embedded Systems, Hardware, Technology

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

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

Many big businesses, including those in the mil/aero market, are rallying behind government organizations to help advance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and to inspire current and future generations of students to pursue occupations in valuable STEM fields. The STEM Education Coalition (http://www.stemedcoalition.org/) is working “aggressively to raise awareness about the … Read More

Milaero, Mil-Aero, President Obama, engineering, Gary Locke, Aerospace, Mentor, science, STEM, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Technology, Math, United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

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

It is evident, based on recent news and talks with mil/aero industry vendors, that an ever-increasing number of U.S. owned and operated businesses are selling mechanical, electrical, and electronic components and systems to key Chinese corporations for use in commercial aircraft. BBC News has reported that some of the biggest names in aerospace—General Electric, Honeywell, and Rockwell Collins, to … Read More

ITAR, Honeywell, Military, pakistan, Farnborough International Airshow, Rockwell Collins, BBC News, Geek, Technology, General Electric, Aerospace, Hardware, COTS, electrical, Electronic, Chengdu, Embedded Systems, china, Engineer, Design Automation, Electric, Milaero, Jet, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, JF-17 Thunder, Mechanical, jetfighter, JF-17

The rate of technological advancement over the last 150 years has changed society beyond measure. Riding the crest of this wave has evolved us to speculate beyond the present, to accept that things will continue to change and to ready us for the acceptance of what the future will herald. However that was then. As the electronic future washes over us in an ever growing number of electronic devices and … Read More

speculative fiction, Technology, future