Military & Aerospace
Connectors for Soldier Technology
May 21, 2010 12:12 pm | by Ted Worroll, David Impett, and Barry Cambeilh, ITT Interconnect Solutions | Articles | CommentsThe “future” dismounted soldier sector is increasingly using advanced technology to equip its infantry, and sophisticated command, control, communications, computer and intelligence (C41) systems are being deployed that require increasingly sophisticated interconnection.
SMPS Caps Receive Military QPL Approval
May 21, 2010 10:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsSpectrum Advanced Specialty Products announced the addition of MIL-PRF-49470 approval for Switch Mode Power Supply capacitors to its military QPL offerings. Spectrum’s SMP capacitors are asserted to
U.K. Reapers surpass 10,000 hours over Afghanistan
May 21, 2010 8:03 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsOur cousins across the pond have achieved an historic milestone: the RAF’s Reaper program logged more than 10,000 hours over Afghanistan. In-theater since October 2007, the Reaper is the only Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) operated by the U.K.
Non-magnetic Resistors Include EIA Standard Chip Sizes From 0402 to 2512
May 21, 2010 7:44 am | Product Releases | CommentsStackpole Electronics expanded its NMCR and NMCF Series of non-magnetic thick film chip resistors to include all EIA standard chip sizes from 0402 to 2512. This expansion allows
EOD system fires pencil-sized rockets at IEDs
May 18, 2010 6:45 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsImagine how much cooler “The Hurt Locker” would’ve been if they had this: Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has developed an EOD system that fires ‘pencil-size’ rockets at suspected IEDs. You read that right—it fires rockets at improvised explosive devices; this would’ve made for quite the different movie.
Linear Servo Accelerometers Tout 4-20 mA Output
May 17, 2010 5:11 am | Product Releases | CommentsSherborne Sensors has announced the debut of its A323 ‘L’ Series, a range of rugged, ultra-low range gravity referenced linear servo accelerometers with 4-20 mA (closed loop) output, designed for
PS3 firmware update could cripple Air Force research program
May 13, 2010 12:03 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsLast month, Sony essentially neutered the PlayStation 3 by removing its “Install Other OS” functionality. This precipitated a huge customer backlash (and, as of this writing, at least two class-action lawsuits), but there’s one foe Sony hadn’t anticipated—the United States Air Force.
Xaver 400 Through-wall Radar
May 11, 2010 9:43 am | Videos | CommentsA demonstration of Camero's Xaver 400 through-wall radar.
NASA catapults new Orion capsule into NM desert
May 7, 2010 5:28 am | News | CommentsNASA engineers successfully catapulted the new Orion crew capsule about a mile into the air Thursday morning as part of a test of a launch-abort system. The launch-abort system hurtled the capsule from a desert launch pad at 7 a.m. and reached speeds of about 450 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Wireless energy transfer for UAVs
May 5, 2010 8:34 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsLasers have been described as the “holy grail” of weapons—who wouldn't want to be like Luke Skywalker? But while researchers have pondered everything from “pain rays” to the “Zeus” anti-IED system, the folks over at LaserMotive are pushing something else entirely—power beaming for UAVs.
Retainer Clip for CompactFlash Provides Reliable Retention
May 5, 2010 7:26 am | 3M Electronics Solutions Division | Product Releases | CommentsA new device from the 3M Electronic Solutions Division provides reliable retention of CompactFlash Type I (CF I) and Type II (CF II) removable memory cards mated with 3M CF II card headers, helping to
Future Design Needs for Next-Generation Radar and EW Systems
May 5, 2010 4:54 am | Articles | CommentsNext-generation FPGA-based processing platforms for radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems provide a substantial increase in computational resources, as well as greatly easing the implementation effort in a floating-point datapath.
Through-wall radar aids in urban operations
May 4, 2010 6:05 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsIn 2007, SSG David Bellavia released the most poignant memoir of the Iraq War, “House to House.” The title is significant, because house-to-house fighting is among the most dangerous forms of urban warfare. Camero may have a solution with the Xaver 400, a compact through-wall radar.
PXI, cPCI Backplanes Suit Embedded Test and Control Apps
May 3, 2010 7:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsNational Instruments offers board-level backplanes from all of its PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express chassis for OEMs to use in applications ranging from aerospace/defense to industrial embedded control. Engineers and scientists can use the PXI/CompactPCI backplanes to create
Connectors Meet Soldiers’ Protection, Secure Connection Requirements
April 30, 2010 7:35 am | by Elizabeth Rubbo, Fischer Connectors, www.fischerconnectors.com | Articles | CommentsAround the world, Future Soldier Programs are focused primarily on development of technologies to reduce the soldiers fighting load and power requirements, improve the soldier’s protection, lethality, and environmental and situational awareness.
New FMC Standard Drives Performance in Aerospace and Defense Signal Processing Systems
April 30, 2010 7:09 am | by Jeremy Banks, Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing | Articles | CommentsNew generations of FPGAs present developers with a level of processing performance and potential I/O bandwidth that cannot easily be matched by conventional CPU configurations. While many COTS solutions enable developers to readily make use of FPGAs for processing, the real challenge to an application is often measured in terms of I/O bandwidth, latency and connectivity.
Planck highlights the complexity of star formation
April 26, 2010 6:44 am | News | CommentsNew images from ESA’s Planck space observatory reveal the forces driving star formation and give astronomers a way to understand the complex physics that shape the dust and gas in our Galaxy. Star formation takes place hidden behind veils of dust but that doesn’t mean we can’t see through them.
DC-DC Converter Series Adds Output Voltages for Avionics, Military
April 23, 2010 11:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsVPT, Inc. added several modules to the DVFL, DVTR, and DVHF Series DC-DC power converter product lines. The new output voltages on these modules address the reliability requirements and varying output voltage needs of the newest avionics and military electronics.The new modules include
Air Force launches unmanned orbital test vehicle
April 23, 2010 8:02 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsLast night, at 7:52 PM, the Air Force launched its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) on a classified mission that could last up to nine months. The unmanned orbiter is designed to be reusable, though exact details remain classified. Launched atop an Atlas V rocket, the X-37B resembles a mini Space Shuttle.
NASA shows 1st images from solar observatory
April 22, 2010 9:00 am | News | CommentsNASA has unveiled the first images from a new satellite designed to predict disruptive solar storms, and scientists say they're already learning new things. Researchers showed off brightly colored images and short movie clips of the sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory in a webcast Wednesday.
Whither thou goest, Space Shuttle?
April 21, 2010 12:29 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsOh Space Shuttle, thou noblest of space-faring, low-Earth-orbiting vehicles, we hardly knew ye. Compared to the Apollo program, you were but a minor diversion—a minor, 30 year diversion. Proponents claimed you’d make space travel “routine and economical,” though you proved to be neither. And yet, your long-overdue retirement leaves a major void.
Space shuttle safely home after one of last missions
April 21, 2010 5:23 am | News | CommentsThe U.S. space shuttle Discovery landed safely at its home base in Florida on Tuesday, wrapping up one of NASA's last cargo runs and servicing missions to the International Space Station. After 15 days in space and a journey of 6.2 million miles (9.9 million km), the shuttle touched down at the Kennedy Space Center's runway at 9:08 a.m. EDT (1308 GMT)...
800-W AC-to-DC Converter Drives Amps in IFF Systems
April 16, 2010 8:26 am | Product Releases | CommentsBC Systems introduced the BC-751, an 800 W AC/DC converter with eight outputs to provide power for solid-state RF amplifiers in airborne Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) applications. The converter accepts a three-phase 155 VAC, 400 Hz input with a power factor of
Senators: Move carefully on Pentagon Cyber Command
April 16, 2010 6:08 am | News | CommentsSenators said Thursday they will move cautiously on a new military command to tackle cyberthreats, citing questions about how the U.S. would conduct electronic warfare. The U.S. hasn't fully developed policies on how to respond to cyberattacks that are routed through neutral countries or the computers of innocent Americans...
VPT Adds New Modules to DC-DC Power Converter Series
April 15, 2010 11:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsVPT, Inc. announced that several new modules are available for the DVFL, DVTR, and DVHF Series DC-DC power converter product lines. The new output voltages on these modules satisfy the reliability requirements and varying output voltage needs of the newest avionics and military electronics.
