Military & Aerospace
SIM-Micro SD Socket Combo Suits High Vibration Environments
March 4, 2010 12:25 pm | Product Releases | CommentsGlobal Connector Technology’s MES3055 hinged connector allows full retention of both the SIM and uSD cards in handheld and mobile applications. The connector also allows engineers to design more reliably for dust-laden or damp environments because
Raytheon Improves GPS Accuracy
March 2, 2010 9:47 am | Videos | CommentsRaytheon has been chosen by the U.S. Air Force to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System (GPS), called the Advanced Control Segment (OCX), which will improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites.
Programmable Synthesizer Withstands Shock, Vibration
March 2, 2010 5:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe UPN-7500 from EM Research is an SMT synthesizer operating from 5500 to 7500 MHz. The unit is designed to withstand up to 9.26 Grms random vibration and 30 G’s peak pulse of shock, tested in accordance with MIL-STD-202G. The synthesizer features
Rochester Electronics reconstructs discontinued semiconductor devices
March 1, 2010 9:48 am | News | CommentsRochester Electronics, the world's largest authorized manufacturer of discontinued semiconductors, provides authorized reverse-engineering services to re-create, manufacture and distribute pin-for-pin replacement parts with matched cycle for cycle timing for aftermarket semiconductor devices. Through its unique Rochester Semiconductor Replication Process, customers can avoid system re-qualification steps as the Rochester-designed and manufactured parts deliver the same specifications and performance characteristics as the original products. Rochester engineers deconstruct and electrically analyze the critically needed semiconductor device, re-design the part using scope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and re-engineer it onto a matched mature foundry process to replicate the original components.
Military allows Twitter, other social media
March 1, 2010 8:54 am | News | CommentsThe Pentagon announced on Friday it has authorized the use Twitter, Facebook and other so-called "Web 2.0" sites across the U.S. military, saying the benefits of social media outweighed security concerns. The decision, which comes at a time of growing concern over cyber-security, applies only to the military's non-classified network.
High-performance SBC Fits on PC-104-sized Card
March 1, 2010 4:55 am | Product Releases | CommentsVersaLogic announced the Wildcat high-performance single board computer (SBC). Built around an Intel second-generation Core 2 Duo processor (SP9300), the entire SBC fits on a single 4.2” x 3.8” (107 mm x 96 mm) board. The SBC is designed for
Utah company conducts final test on shuttle rocket
February 26, 2010 7:02 am | News | CommentsWith the U.S. space shuttle program fading, a Utah company that makes powerful booster rockets for space travel conducted its final ground test Thursday.
Senators to NASA chief: Go somewhere specific
February 24, 2010 11:49 am | News | CommentsSkeptical senators are telling NASA's chief that the space agency lacks a goal and destination. Earlier this month, the White House killed the previous administration's plan to back to the moon. The space shuttles will soon be retired.
IMAPS Gives Details of MicroTech Conference
February 23, 2010 9:10 am | News | CommentsThe International Microelectronics And Packaging Society is pleased to announce details of the forthcoming MicroTech-2010 Conference featuring “Disruptive Technologies” APM featuring “Advanced Polymer, Organic & Inorganic Materials” being held at the well known Cambridge University Møller Centre. The location is ideally placed near many of the forward thrusting new and established companies as well as at a great historic city.
Officers warned about UAV vulnerabilities in 2004
February 19, 2010 4:12 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe revelation that insurgents had hacked US drones came as shocking news. What’s more, they did so using $26 off-the-shelf software (SkyGrabber). Now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that senior officers knew about the security risk five years ago. According to a report in the Journal, senior officers warned in 2004 of the drones’ vulnerabilities.
Air Force taps Space Micro to develop software defined radio for satellites
February 19, 2010 4:06 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsSpace Micro Inc. has been awarded $100,000 by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop a software-defined radio system for military satellites. The Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract is to develop space communications hardware that is resistant to radiation.
Outsourcing the ''final frontier''
February 18, 2010 12:31 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe proposed 2011 NASA Budget takes human spaceflight in a bold new direction. Along with scuttling the Constellation Program, and investing in heavy-lift rocket systems, the proposal leans heavily on the private sector. The International Space Station received clemency through at least 2020, and with the Space Shuttle retiring in 2010, the US will need reliable means of orbital transportation.
Military lifts ban on flash media
February 18, 2010 11:24 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsTwo years ago, DOD banned all “flash media” devices in an effort to contain the “Agent.btz” computer virus. In 2009, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, “I do not see the thumb drives going back here in the immediate future.” Yet a year later (nearly to the day), the ban has been lifted.
Power Modules Address Power Supply Challenges
February 12, 2010 9:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsIntersil Corporation announced the ISL8204M and ISL8206M, the newest members of its family of compact power modules. The ISL8204M and ISL8206M are complete switch-mode power supplies in a single compact surface-mount package. Included within the module is a
VME SBC Uses Freescale MPC8572E Processor
February 12, 2010 7:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsExtreme Engineering Solutions announced the availability of XCalibur1531, a 6U VME single board computer with Freescale Semiconductor’s dual-core MPC8572E PowerQUICC III processor. This SBC is appropriate for
Astronauts install space station's last hub
February 12, 2010 4:20 am | News | CommentsThe shuttle Endeavour crew bolted the last connecting module onto the International Space Station on Friday, completing more than a decade of major construction on the outpost. During the first of three spacewalks planned during Endeavour's 13-day mission, astronauts Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick prepared the 18-tonne module to be transferred from the shuttle's cargo bay to the station.
First Russian launch from French Guiana delayed-agency
February 12, 2010 4:18 am | News | CommentsThe first launch of a Russian space rocket from a site outside Moscow's control has been delayed while engineers test a service tower, Interfax news agency reported on Friday. A modified Soyuz cargo ship had been due to take off before the end of this year from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.
Quad Channel Clock Generator FMC Card Features Low Jitter
February 11, 2010 4:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsCurtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing has introduced an FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC/VITA 57) module, the FMC-XCLK2. The quad channel clock generator card features low jitter and phase matched outputs. It is available in both air-cooled and conduction-cooled rugged versions, and is said to
Pack mule robot could aid soldiers, marines
February 9, 2010 5:19 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe military is constantly seeking the right balance between preparedness and maneuverability. Theoretically, we could turn foot soldiers into walking arsenals with nearly-impenetrable armor, but they wouldn’t be very mobile. Boston Dynamics may have a solution...
Security chip that does encryption in PCs hacked
February 8, 2010 11:30 am | News | CommentsDeep inside millions of computers is a digital Fort Knox, a special chip with the locks to highly guarded secrets, including classified government reports and confidential business plans. Now a former U.S. Army computer-security specialist has devised a way to break those locks.
New Federal Climate Change Agency Forming
February 8, 2010 8:47 am | News | CommentsThe Obama administration on Monday proposed a new agency to study and report on the changing climate. Also known as global warming, climate change has drawn widespread concern in recent years as temperatures around the world rise, threatening to harm crops, spread disease, increase sea levels, change storm and drought patterns and cause polar melting.
Space Shuttle blasts off on last night flight
February 8, 2010 4:06 am | by MARCIA DUNN | News | CommentsEndeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit Monday on what's likely the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station.
Rugged Control Unit Features Natural Convection Cooling
February 5, 2010 1:15 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAitech Defense Systems now offers the NightHawk RCU, a rugged, compact Intel Atom-based, self-contained control unit that weighs 4.5 lbs. This light weight, combined with a slim profile and natural convection/radiation cooling that dissipates up to
Russian cargo ship docks at International Space Station
February 5, 2010 7:39 am | News | CommentsA Russian cargo ship delivered food, water, fuel and other supplies to the International Space Station on Friday, space officials said.
IBM to provide cloud computing solution for Air Force
February 5, 2010 6:21 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe Air Force has enlisted “Big Blue” itself, IBM, to develop a worldwide cloud computing infrastructure. The architecture would encompass nine major commands, nearly 100 bases, and 700,000 active military personnel around the world. Essentially, “cloud computing” refers to software applications and other functions that are “rented” online rather than hosted on company servers.
