The advantages of Open VPX in military systems will be highlighted in one of the main talks at the upcoming MAE military and aerospace electronics conference. To be held in Reading on 22 May 2012, MAE is the UK's only dedicated event on embedded computing and integrated electronics for military, defence and aerospace applications.

The Future World Symposium has announced the complete line up of its panel debate on the future of mobile devices. The session brings together leading authorities on human interfaces, application processors, location technology, wireless standards, graphic cores, and device design to determine how the mobile device will change during the next five years.

When it comes to high reliability applications such as radar, and advanced wireless and satellite communications, accurate and high quality test instrumentation is essential. The roll out of new high performance digital wireless systems has been rapid, and we are increasingly reliant on their reliable and continuous operation, as much today in commercial applications, as we have always been in the traditional hi-rel medical, military, avionics and space sectors.

This year’s DSEI takes place at a time when world military expenditure is under growing pressure, especially among the leading military powers who are confronting budgetary restraints and an extended period of austerity. But it is also a time in which military matters seem to be dominating the news from the ongoing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and the air campaign by NATO to oust Colonel Gaddafi in Libya to the reshaping and future funding of military forces.

Designers of today's military and aerospace systems face many similar challenges to their colleagues working in communications infrastructure, or in IT systems; while the components and subsystems available to them enable them to build ever-more capable systems, there remain a host of critical problems to solve. High-end, latest generation microprocessors deliver massive processing power, but consume equally large amounts of electrical power at increasingly inconvenient voltage and current levels.

Jake Moir, the MD of Gresham Power, looks back at the changes in defence procurement over the past 25 years and explains to CIE how small businesses that have adapted in order to survive have emerged stronger as a result.

News that UK manufacturing is growing at a 16-year high is an indication of an industry hitting its stride once more and building on this renewed sense of optimism this year’s Southern Electronics Show (FIVE, Farnborough, February 16th and 17th) has seen a strong increase in exhibitors.

The ‘ElectroTestExpo’ consortium has announced a new free-to-attend event that will combine exhibition displays with presentations from industry experts. The inaugural event is set for April 29th 2010 at Bletchley Park Mansion, the former home of the famous code breakers from World War Two.

Research projects into the superconducting material niobium carbonitride, thermoelectric temperature sensors and the use of Porphyrin-DNA, have been finalised as the winners of this year’s Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Awards for Young Scientists.

The National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) has presented its 2009 Contribution to Industry Award to Indro Mukerjee, CEO of C-MAC MicroTechnology and Chair of the Semta Electronics Sector Strategy Group.

Day One

Session One

David Lynch- Selex-Galileo

How to define an appropriate obsolescence strategy given differentiation between project risks, resources, culture and performance expectations- this will be illustrated by reference to current military support platforms.