Military & Aerospace
AWG touts 50 GS/s sample rate for high-speed test apps, advanced research
March 20, 2013 6:24 pm | Tektronix | Product Releases | CommentsTektronix unveiled its next generation of arbitrary waveform generators that offer up to 50 GS/s sample rate performance. The new AWG70000 Series supports a range of demanding signal generation requirements in defense electronics, high-speed serial, optical networking and advanced research
Large asteroid heading to Earth? Pray, says NASA
March 20, 2013 10:41 am | by Irene Klotz, Reuters | News | CommentsNASA chief Charles Bolden has advice on how to handle a large asteroid headed toward New York City: Pray. That's about all the United States - or anyone for that matter - could do at this point about unknown asteroids and meteors that may be on a collision course with Earth....
Astronomer gets grant to better measure mysterious black holes
March 18, 2013 4:20 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsBlack holes, the high-gravity phenomena of galaxies from which no light can escape, will be better measured thanks to a $862,769 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to a Georgia State University astronomer. Misty Bentz, assistant professor of astronomy at Georgia State, received the five-year grant to help untangle the uncertainties that exist when trying to measure black holes.
A fireside chat: Counterfeit components in the military
March 15, 2013 1:16 pm | by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director | Articles | CommentsDriven by financial gain and opportunism, counterfeiting is not new, or uncommon. Recently, counterfeited products have been appearing in the military and aeronautics marketplace as counterfeiters take advantage of profitable components. PD&D caught up with Mark Bollinger, Vice President of Marketing at Smith & Associates, to learn more about this trend....
Holt Integrated Circuits announces validation of world’s smallest MIL-STD-1553 remote terminal
March 15, 2013 11:07 am | Holt Integrated Circuits | Product Releases | CommentsHolt Integrated Circuits announced formal MIL-STD-1553 RT validation of HI-6130/31, the world’s smallest BC/MT/ RT multi-terminal solution. Validation was performed at Test Systems, Inc., an independent Air Force approved testing service for MIL-STD-1553 remote terminals.
Engineering Update #6: Spidey's new suit, robotic cheetahs and stretchable power supplies
March 14, 2013 10:03 am | Videos | CommentsECN's Engineering Update, brought to you by Mouser Electronics, takes a look at: a Spidey Sense suit. Researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago have found a way to replicate Spider-Man's superhuman powers of perception with a Spider Sense suit. Modeled after the Marvel comic book hero...
Stereotyping prime obstacle to women in commercial science
March 13, 2013 9:14 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsFemale professors are almost 50 percent less likely than their male counterparts to be invited to join corporate scientific advisory boards (SABs) and start new companies mainly because of gender stereotyping, says University of Maryland researcher Waverly Ding, an assistant professor of management at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Europe gets 1st fix from its own satnav system
March 13, 2013 9:02 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe European Space Agency says it has received the first location fix from its own satellite navigation system. The Galileo system is seen as Europe's rival to the American-built Global Positioning System. ESA says technicians at a control center in the Dutch city of Noordwijk received a longitude, latitude and altitude reading early Tuesday from the four satellites already in orbit.
Drone pilots don’t need a “participation trophy”
March 12, 2013 4:31 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsSometimes — and I stress sometimes — the government does work for the people. Case in point: The new Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has halted production of the new Distinguished Warfare Medal — awarded to drone operators — in response to veterans' complaints that the "participation trophy" ranks above combat medals like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Space weather research to look at energy distribution
March 12, 2013 9:33 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsA University of Texas at Arlington physicist has been awarded more than $400,000 in NASA funding to develop a 3D look at how electrodynamic energy from solar winds enters and moves throughout the Earth's upper atmosphere.
The closest star system found in a century
March 11, 2013 3:46 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsA pair of newly discovered stars is the third-closest star system to the Sun, according to a paper that will be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The duo is the closest star system discovered since 1916. The discovery was made by Kevin Luhman, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University....
Solving the counterfeit crisis, engineers weigh in
March 11, 2013 9:57 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsHow would you stop counterfeiting? One of the hottest topics in electronic components--and basically every other industry-- is how to deal with the issue of counterfeiting. So we put it to the readers to come up with the best solutions for the counterfeiting crisis.
Earth gets a rush of weekend asteroid visitors
March 11, 2013 9:21 am | by Irene Klotz, Reuters | News | CommentsAn asteroid as big as a city block shot relatively close by the Earth on Saturday, the latest in a series of visiting celestial objects including an asteroid the size of a bus that exploded over Russia last month, injuring 1,500.
Flat cables ideal for guided missile and fire control systems
March 7, 2013 5:01 pm | Cicoil Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsCicoil’s highly durable flat cables are designed for guided missile and fire control systems, where unparalleled performance is critical and cable failure is not an option. Their compact, silicone encased flat cable solutions are engineered to provide consistent electrical characteristics, space & weight savings, optimum cable flexibility...
Subrack enclosure family offered in EMC, compact, and mobile rugged styles
March 7, 2013 4:51 pm | Product Releases | CommentsPixus Technologies offers Eurocard subracks for 3U and 6U boards in multiple configurations. The subrack enclosures can house backplanes or special modules for industrial, mil/aero, communications, medical, energy, and test/measurement industries.
A bug in the drone wars
March 7, 2013 12:52 pm | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | Blogs | CommentsA new element is being added to the drone wars: Micro Drones. You can watch a five-minute video by the Air Force that looks at the development of M.A.V - Micro Killer Drones. Done in the usual dominating voice that the people promoting superior military technology seem to like for their videos.
German flight set to take off with comet tourists
March 5, 2013 12:35 pm | News | CommentsA German travel agency is selling tickets for a flight to give 88 astronomy buffs a close-up view of one of two rare comets expected to pass Earth this year. Eclipse Travel, based in Bonn, has joined charter agency Air Partner and airline Air Berlin to organize flight AB1000 on March 16 as comet Pan-STARRS passes through the solar system, 100 million miles from Earth.
Agita over 3D printed guns is absurd
March 1, 2013 4:26 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsHobbyists, tinkers, and DIYers are the unsung heroes of our industry — "hackers" in the original sense of the word. But conflating "hobbyists" with "guns" causes fits of hysteria. And it’s entirely unwarranted. The handwringing over the imagined capability to print 3D guns and the associated moral implications is absolutely absurd and betrays a basic misunderstanding of firearms and physics.
Top 10 must-read posts from February
March 1, 2013 3:12 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com and follow us on Twitter @ecnonline for our most up-to-date articles.
CBS shields designed for mission-critical environments
March 1, 2013 11:01 am | Leader Tech Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsWhen selecting electronic components for a mission-critical environment, engineers look for extreme durability, reliability and proven performance. Many times the design specifications for these projects are satisfied at the expense of project budgets. The balance between performance and budget is no longer a battle if you choose one of Leader Tech's CBS board-level shields.
The economic impact of a war between Japan & China
March 1, 2013 9:01 am | Videos | CommentsA major conflict between the region's two largest economies would not only impose a harsh dilemma on U.S. diplomats, but also have a significant impact on the entire global economy. It is in every nation's best interest that the Chinese and Japanese settle their territorial dispute peacefully.
Mini planet found far beyond Earth's solar system
February 27, 2013 1:31 pm | by Irene Klotz, Reuters | News | CommentsAstronomers have found a mini planet beyond our solar system that is the smallest of more than 800 extra-solar planets discovered, scientists said on Wednesday. The planet, known as Kepler-37b, is one of three circling a yellow star similar to the sun that is located in the constellation Lyra, about 210 light years away.
Seals take scientists to Antarctic's ocean floor
February 26, 2013 9:11 am | by Pauline Askin, Reuters | News | CommentsElephant seals wearing head sensors and swimming deep beneath Antarctic ice have helped scientists better understand how the ocean's coldest, deepest waters are formed, providing vital clues to understanding its role in the world's climate.
Chinese hackers seen as increasingly professional, methodical, as they plunder Web for secrets
February 26, 2013 9:09 am | by CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press | News | CommentsBeijing hotly denies accusations of official involvement in massive cyberattacks against foreign targets, insinuating such activity is the work of rogues. But at least one piece of evidence cited by experts points to professional cyberspies: China's hackers don't work weekends.
Analysis: The near impossible battle against hackers everywhere
February 25, 2013 8:49 am | by Joseph Menn, Reuters | News | CommentsDire warnings from Washington about a "cyber Pearl Harbor" envision a single surprise strike from a formidable enemy that could destroy power plants nationwide, disable the financial system or cripple the U.S. government. But those on the front lines say it isn't all about protecting U.S. government and corporate networks from a single sudden attack. They report fending off many intrusions at once from perhaps dozens of countries, plus well-funded electronic guerrillas and skilled criminals.
