I listened to the broadcast today: Great job; intriguing topic. Embedded designers aren't a single entity and their backgrounds in this area can be very different. Explanations of the basics never hurts.
I'm with naperlou. Software may make tasks easier (FEA, or even basic CAD or 3D modeling), but without skill and experience FEA packages can be used by a novice to give false good results, and a new hire can design something in Solidworks that simply cannot be manufactured.
From what I've seen as a reporter, the aerospace industry -- specifically Boeing -- led the shift to collaboration between internal disciplines as well as external vendors. I understand a lot of the groundbreaking work started with the Joint Strike Fighter.
I know this has shifted to other industries in recent years. What I'd like to know is whether this blending of disciplines is occurring now on a widespread basis or whether it's confined to bleeding edge companies.
This sounds like it is shaping up to be a very interesting conversation. I'm looking forward to hearing Pascal's opinion on the subject. See you tomorrow at 2!
The webinar should be interesting. I have many years in the aerospace industty (mostly spacecraft), and there is no business that uses more disciplines on a single project. What brought all this together was the systems engineering group. Frankly, it is important to have software engineers develop software, electrical engieers (and we had several groups) and mechanical engineers (several more) do their thing. At the companies I worked for we had significant methodologies and training around systems engineering. We also used many tools in doing our work (simulation at many levels, requirements traceabiity tools). Many of the issues I see being addressed in the commercial engineering worlds, such as automotive, were dealt with and "solved" in the aerospace industry. It seems to me that each industry needs its own take on basic issues, such as safety, which is very similar to others, but separate.
By experimenting with the photovoltaic reaction in solar cells, researchers at MIT have made a breakthrough in energy efficiency that significantly pushes the boundaries of current commercial cells on the market.
In a world that's going green, industrial operations have a problem: Their processes involve materials that are potentially toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. If improperly managed, this can precipitate dangerous health and environmental consequences.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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