Mil-Aero West keynote highlights the newest COTS threat: nanometer-scale devices

Oct. 1, 2002
Among the latest challenges to using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for high-reliability electronic systems for military and aerospace applications involves nanometer-scale semiconductor device feature sizes.

SAN DIEGO — Among the latest challenges to using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for high-reliability electronic systems for military and aerospace applications involves nanometer-scale semiconductor device feature sizes.

These devices can confront systems designers with early wear out, non-constant failure rates, increased susceptibility to atmospheric radiation, and uncontrolled device configuration changes.

The challenges of using nanometer-scale semiconductors in aviation electronic systems for commercial and military applications is the subject of a keynote address by Lloyd Condra, technical fellow at the Boeing Phantom Works in St. Louis, to open the 2002 Military & Aerospace Electronics Show–West Dec. 10 and 11 in San Diego.

The challenge of nanometer-scale semiconductors is a grave as any since the beginning of the solid-state electronics revolution half a century ago, Condra claims. Solutions, he says, must be strategic, not tactical, and he will present an integrated aerospace parts acquisition strategy to help illustrate his points.

Other highlights of the conference will be sessions with interactive discussion on topics such as managing obsolescence in the COTS environment, a comparison of obsolescence tools, cloning integrated circuits to solve obsolescence issues, an EMC/EMI update on MIL STD 461E, lessons learned from DO-178B, and the role of the Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute.

The Mil-Aero West show and exhibition also features panel discussions on the latest COTS procurement trends, and on implications of lead-free plating and soldering issues. During exhibit hours, industry trends theaters will include discussions and demonstrations on homeland security and counter-terrorism, as well as on mobile computing.

The Mil-Aero West 2002, which features COTScon, is for engineers, engineering managers, program managers, executive managers, prime contractors, subcontractors, platform integrators, and subsystems manufacturers.

The show will be entirely fresh, with new speakers and new topics, in the areas of COTS packaging and upscreening issues, COTS systems integration issues, COTS design lessons learned, the government perspective, and a new approach to COTS — the commercial market perspective.

The Mil-Aero West 2002 conference and exhibition will be December 10 and 11 at the San Diego Concourse and Civic Center in San Diego. For more information or for registering for Mil-Aero West 2002, contact PennWell's registration staff by phone at 603-891-9267, by fax at 603-891-9490, by e-mail at [email protected], or on the World Wide Web at http://www.maeshow.com/.

Those interested in exhibiting at Mil-Aero West 2002 may contact Maureen Kane by phone at 603-891-9423, by fax at 603-891-9490, or by e-mail at [email protected].

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