Military/Aerospace Electronics

UK firm’s APC HiRel and QinetiQ have worked together to create PSU modules for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The Lander, a test bed for future space missions, has VPT SV series isolated power supplies and filters. VPT dc-dc PSUs were also supplied for the lander’s UHF transceiver and will be fitted to the 2018 mission Rover. “It was critical that ...

Whilst management of the supply chain is essential to every manufacturing operation, it is how that process is managed that will make a difference to the outcome in the long term, writes David Maddison of Plexus. The application of lean six sigma principles to the production process as we know it today started with the development of the Toyota Production ...

Cambridgeshire-based design house 42 Technology  is highlighting the importance of product development in the UK for the transport and infrastructure sector. The consultancy is creating a new design activity in areas such as: vehicle tracking and real-time sensing, logging and communication; electric vehicle power electronics and charging systems; gas vehicle fuelling and operation detection systems; and intelligent signage and signalling ...

Eye-tracking techniques are being used by a UK firm to analyse how helicopter pilots use their instrument panels during flight. The aim is to maintain safety levels by improving the training and tools provided to offshore crews. HeliOffshore has commissioned Jarvis Bagshaw to carry out the research, which has seen 26 pilots participate in the first phase of observational study. ...

GCHQ’s information security arm and the UK’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance has appointed an accredited laboratory in the UK to perform Tempest first-of-type platform testing. In addition to performing first-of-type platform testing, the laboratory run by TÜV SÜD will perform in-service Tempest testing to Ministry of Defence (MoD) requirements. Tempest testing is used to measure the level of ...

Arrow Electronics has created a development kit based on a group of Microsemi ICs. It is designed for sensor-based system design. The SF2+ development kit incorporates Microsemi’s SmartFusion 2 system-on-a-chip FPGA, a Timberwolf audio processor and a number of LX series power devices. The FPGA is used for the PCIe Gen2 control plane, image processing, I/O expansion and bridging and its security features are increasingly ...

A large scale control system for fast and accurate switching of 1,800 solenoid valves with millisecond precision is at the heart of an innovative new research tool that has recently been developed by Aircraft Research Association (ARA) in Bedford, writes Tolga Aydemir A wind gust generator at the Aircraft Research Association (ARA) facility in Bedford is the first of its ...

Military grade electronic components such as FIFO, non-volatile memory, data converters, DRAM and processors can be offered over an extended temperature range or for particular environmental conditions using specialist device packaging, writes Sébastien Frasse-Sombet. As a specialist semiconductor manufacturer, e2v has worked with semiconductor companies such as Maxim, Micron, Everspin and Freescale Semiconductor to supply components with extended operating conditions ...

PXI-based test systems are replacing VXI-based systems in the aerospace and defence markets. This is the message from test system supplier Astronics Test Systems which has teamed up with National Instruments to bring a number of PXI-based automated test systems to aerospace and defence markets. Jim Mulato, president of Astronics Test Systems believes a move to PXI-based instruments will improve the long-term ...

UK companies are being given the opportunity to capitalise on the commercial opportunities in the aerospace sector at Aerodays 2015. European research in aeronautics and air transport is being showcased at Aerodays 2015 being held in London this week. The event features companies being funded by Innovate UK to develop technology enablers which will allow for the implementation of technologies and ...