Electrical & Wire Harness Design Blog

Keeping connected cars secure

Posted Apr 17, 2012, by John Day

As connected vehicle technology evolves, security is an increasing concern. Franz Walkembach, senior product manager for automotive solutions at Wind River, addresses the issue in an article worth reading (http://johndayautomotivelectronics.com/?p=9809). “The message is clear,” he writes. “Consumers want access to their important data at all times,” which means continuous connectivity and optimum integration … Read More

Tags: embedded virtualization, hypervisors, connected vehicle, Wind River, IVI (in-vehicle infotainment), malware

Gigabit Ethernet is coming to cars

Posted Apr 10, 2012, by John Day

The ubiquitous CAN bus – a staple of automotive electronics for a long time now – runs at a snail’s pace by today’s standards. Automakers are already using much faster Ethernet for diagnostics and would like to use it for in-vehicle applications, but not with four pairs of wires, which would be required to achieve Gigabit Ethernet networking speeds via 1000BASE-T. Reducing the number of wire pairs – … Read More

Tags: reduced twisted pair gigabit Ethernet, 802.3, CAN bus, 1000BASE-T, IEEE, PHY, Gigabit Ethernet, High Speed Design Inc.

The Birth of Boeing

Posted Mar 31, 2012, by J VanDomelen

Virtually everyone knows of Boeing, but how many are aware of its history? This geek finds it fascinating. In 1916, Yale University Alumnus William E. Boeing formed The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. Why Seattle? Seattle’s booming wood industry included a wealth of Spruce, a wood deemed to be perfect for manufacturing airplanes. Interestingly enough, Boeing began his career in the timber industry … Read More

Tags: Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, Mil-Aero, Aviation, Seattle, B&W, William H. Boeing, Yale University, Aerospace, Milaero, George Conrad Westervelt, Navy, Mentor, Pacific Aero Product Co., Boeing, Seaplane, Geek

Airbus Evolution

Posted Mar 30, 2012, by J VanDomelen

Airbus aircraft, in stark contrast to some Boeing airliners, are largely manufactured in Europe. The company’s origin as a consortium of European aerospace companies no doubt is a contributing factor; yet, the company is not entirely immune to outsourcing. In fact, Airbus opened a plant in China, one of the fastest-growing consumers of air travel, in 2009. The name “Airbus”, interestingly enough, was … Read More

Tags: Mentor Graphics, Mentor, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Airbus, A300, Mil-Aero, Boeing, Milaero, Geek, Aviation, Outsourcing, Aviation History

Driverless cars?

Posted Mar 30, 2012, by John Day

How close are we to the reality of autonomous driving? Is it closer than we might think, still years away and dependent  on the widespread deployment of V2X technology, or both? Tier one supplier Continental completed a two-week, 6,000-mile automated driving endurance test on public roads in Nevada. It credited knowledge gained from the car that won the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007 and from HAVEit, … Read More

Tags: V2X, MK 100 electronically controlled braking system, Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, 2013 Cadillac XTS, GM, HAVEit, DARPA Urban Challenge, electric power steering (EPS)

Birth of a Behemoth, the Airbus A380

Posted Mar 29, 2012, by J VanDomelen

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

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

Mercedes opts for Autonet in-vehicle entertainment

Posted Mar 27, 2012, by John Day

You may have noticed that Mercedes-Benz dealers can now install the new Mercedes-Benz In-Vehicle Hot Spot powered by Autonet Mobile, so folks riding in cars equipped with Autonet’s Wi-Fi router can not only bring connectable devices into those cars but actually use those devices (up to four) – inside the car when it’s moving or outside when it’s stopped. The in-vehicle Wi-Fi connection supports laptops, … Read More

Tags: DVD player, in-vehicle hot spot, Autonet Mobile, Wi-Fi router, iPad, Mercedes-Benz

How do they do it?

Posted Mar 27, 2012, by J VanDomelen

Airbus and Boeing have held a duopoly on the worldwide large commercial aircraft (LCA) market, which includes narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, and jumbo jets, since the 1990s. Both companies have effectively used outsourcing, government loans/contract/subsidies, technology, currency, tax breaks, and even the selection of engine manufacturers to gain a competitive advantage. Many of the world’s … Read More

Tags: Mentor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mentor Graphics, Airbus, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Boeing, Aerospace, Japan, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Jim Albaugh, duopoly, Milaero, Military, Geek

Airbus vs. Boeing: The Battle Rages on as Both Sides Claim Victory…Again.

Posted Mar 26, 2012, by J VanDomelen

The rivalry between large civil aircraft (LCA) manufacturers Airbus in Toulouse, France, and The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, spans three decades—only now, though, is it getting particularly heated (and even ugly). The latest conflict centers on the legality of government subsidies and loans enjoyed by both parties. On 12 March 2012, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body released … Read More

Tags: Geek, European Union, Mentor, A350, Military, Aerospace, World Trade Organization, WTO, 787, Mentor Graphics, Boeing, Mentor.com, EU, Mil-Aero, Airbus, Milaero, Aviation

Collaborating on automotive software development tools

Posted Mar 19, 2012, by John Day

Last July the Eclipse Foundation announced an open source initiative to define and implement a standard platform for software development tools used in the automotive industry. BMW, Bosch, Continental, and itemis AG were founding members of the Eclipse Automotive Industry Working Group, the results of which will be made available under the open source Eclipse Public License (EPL). Validas AG and the … Read More

Tags: Virtual Vehicle Competence Center, Eclipse Foundation, Eclipse Public License (EPL), Eclipse Automotive Industry Working Group, software development tools, Validas AG, itemis AG, open source initiatve