As wireless mobile devices grow in capability and complexity, the associated growth in power demand is driving new approaches to battery utilization and power efficiency. One of the single largest power consumers in a wireless handset is the RF Power Amplifier (PA) and as such, improved efficiency techniques like Envelope Tracking (ET) and Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) are being increasingly utilized. The key implication for test engineers — whether in design, characterization, or manufacturing test — is that testing these devices with this additional capability can potentially drive up both test cost and overall test time. This article discusses various approaches to maximizing test equipment utilization and reducing test times for such component RF PAs and front-end modules.

Reliance on old-fashioned radio contact by pilots and vulnerable tracking systems is still high, but satellites are set to change sky safety, thanks to international collaboration. The European Space Agency’s Iris program is looking to satellites to make aviation safer through modern communications. Worldwide digital data links via satellite, offering much higher capacity, will become the standard for cockpit crews, with voice communications kept as backup.

Thales
Paris La Défense Cedex, France
+33 (0)1 57 77 86 26
www.thalesgroup.com

Thales was recently selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation to have its state-of-the-art Flight Management System software, i-FMS200, embedded in the avionics mission equipment package that Northrop Grumman will provide to upgrade the US Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The upgraded version of the Black Hawk helicopter will be known as UH-60V.

North Atlantic Industries
Bohemia, NY
631-567-1100
www.naii.com

North Atlantic Industries (NAI) recently received an initial contract from L-3 Maritime Systems for Custom-on-Standard Architecture™ (COSA™) COTS rugged systems for the Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) Data Acquisition Unit. The advanced, rugged intelligent I/O and communications subsystem delivers significant advantages for data acquisition and control solutions for the U.S. Navy’s new SSC program. The SSC is the successor to the Navy’s versatile Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicle, which is nearing its expected service life. Prime contractor for the detail design and construction of the Ship to Shore Connector, awarded under Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Contract N00024-12-C-2401, is Textron Systems.

GE Intelligent Platforms
Huntsville, AL
1-800-433-2682
www.geautomation.com

GE’s Intelligent Platforms division recently secured orders from General Dynamics UK valued at £64 million (~$100 million) to provide a range of embedded computing subsystems that will be deployed onboard the British Army’s SCOUT Specialist Vehicle (SV) platforms. The scalable, open architecture subsystems – which include Ethernet switches, gateway processors, data servers and video servers – will allow SCOUT SV platforms to be easily upgraded during their lifetime as new requirements and technologies emerge.

McMurdo Group
Lanham, MD
240-790-0600
www.mcmurdogroup.com

McMurdo Group, a company that specializes in end-to-end search and rescue (SAR) and maritime domain awareness (MDA) solutions, was recently selected by Embraer to provide complete Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) shipsets for its E Jets second generation of aircraft, known as the E Jets E2. The contract will include McMurdo Group’s Kannad Integra ELTs with its new ARINC GPS Interface fitted on the aircraft, and Kannad 406 MHz Survival ELTs for use by crewmembers in the cabin.

More powerful. Lighter. Cooler. These are the key criteria for the design of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) in next-generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms, which continue to grow in importance to military organizations worldwide. The ability of these platforms to provide persistent surveillance of targets while eliminating the need to put warfighters in harm’s way makes them indispensable assets to commanders. The effectiveness of these platforms in the field is governed by their sensor payload and their processing systems. Next-generation UAS designs, such as the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D), require high levels of processing power for multiple onboard sensors, and all that power must be delivered in a lighter, cooler configuration that minimizes the size, weight and power (SWaP) envelope of onboard electronics subsystems.