54 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2018
with implications for future NASA space mis-
sions as well as other research efforts.
Army-led Effort Demos New Atomic Effect
for Potential Isotopic Battery E
A multinational research team, led by Army
scientists, successfully induced a controlled
release of stored isotopic energy using a physi-
cal effect involving atomic electrons. The pro-
cess was proposed more than 40 years ago but
never before demonstrated experimentally.
FTG Releases Full Year and Q4 2017
Financial Results E
"2017 was a year of transitioning work from
the acquired facilities in 2016 to FTG facilities.
There were many challenges in the transitions
and it took longer than expected but by year
end the transitions were complete," stated FTG
President and CEO Brad Bourne.
Designing Electronics for
Harsh Conditions E
We expect a lot from our products, especially
our electronic products. Think about it: cell-
phones, wearables, medical devices—for some
reason we think they should still work after
being immersed in liquid, left outdoors in
freezing temperatures or dropped on concrete
from a standing position.
Beyond Design: Signal Flight Time
Variance in Multilayer PCBs E
A transmission line does not carry the digital
signal itself but rather guides electromagnetic
energy from one point to another. Signals travel
at the same speed, given the same medium.
However, the microstrip (outer layer) traces are
embedded in a mélange of dielectric material,
solder mask, and air.
Merlin Flex Achieves AS9100 Rev D E
Merlin Flex Ltd, Hartlepool UK, has success-
fully made the transition from AS9100 Rev C
to the latest Rev D. In January 2018, Merlin
Flex also maintained their SC21 Bronze award
for the 6th year running and is working with
Thales UK, the companies SC21 sponsor, in
achieving Silver by June 2018.
Improving Military Communications with
Digital Phased-Arrays at Millimeter Wave E
There is increasing interest in making broader
use of the millimeter wave frequency band for
communications on small mobile platforms
where narrow antenna beams from small radi-
ating apertures provide enhanced communica-
tion security.
Pioneer Circuits' Solutions Used in
NASA's PUFFER Collapsible Bot E
The PUFFER collapsible micro-rover is a part
of NASA's "Game Changing Development Pro-
gram." It is a compact rover that rides on board
with future space vehicles to land on space
bodies such as planets and asteroids for photo-
graphs and microanalysis.
Flights Show Promising Technologies from
Industry and Academic Partnerships E
The technologies ranged from proposed new
space suits to cryogenic propellant research,
MilAero Highlights
