Fielding reliable weapons more quickly

Article Abstract:

Fielding times and reliability problems are plaguing the military weapons industry. New weapon development cycles are stretching to 10 and 15 years and finishing with products of poor quality and erratic performance. A 1986 government commission found that these cycles could be cut in half by instituting reforms. Fielding delays also make the weapon obsolete by the time it becomes available. The development cycle takes just as long in the Soviet Union, but the Soviets bring out new models two to three times more often than the US. Part of the problem is too many choices in technology and the inability of military planners to decide which are the best. Layers of reviews and audits are established to ensure a measure of security about the choices made, but this only adds to the long delays. The Pentagon is starting to push advanced technologies already developed under defense funding. The optimum development time for a reliable new system is five years.

Weapons industry, Purchasing Systems, Military, Field Testing

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Digital scopes: 1972

Article Abstract:

The digital oscilloscope was developed in 1972 by Robert Schumann and Gary Wells of Nicolet Instruments Corp. Digital sales are expected to double analog oscilloscope sales by 1992. Several major advances enabled the realization of the first unit: analog-to-digital converters that eliminated conversion delays and circuitry for error detection and elimination, flash conversion of more than one bit at a time, circuitry to store successive signal segments, and a horizontal cursor to pinpoint areas of interest in a signal so as to take advantage of the greater resolution offered by the digital system. Nicolet was selling 2,000 units annually by 1975. TRW entered the market in the late 1970s and now has a 35 percent share. Hewlett-Packard entered in 1981 and has a 20 percent share. There is a continuous trend to easier use and higher bandwidth, now reaching 20GHz.

Instruments to measure electricity, Research, Systems analysis, Industrial research, Research and Development, System Design, Digital Signals, Applications, Manufacturers, Oscilloscope, Schumann, Robert, Nicolet Instruments Corp., NIC

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Self-help for defective boards

Article Abstract:

A method for repairing the copper interconnections on printed-circuit boards and ceramic modules is described. The electroplating process was discovered and patented by a researcher at IBM Corp. More development work has to be done before the process becomes practical.

Printed circuit boards, IBM, Repair, Tutorial, Boards/Cards, Methods, Circuit Printing

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