National Technical Systems (NTS) recently acquired B & B Technologies, Inc. (BBT), a systems integration firm headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. BBT designs and integrates test, measurement, automation, data acquisition and control systems.
BBT handles projects ranging from LabVIEW instrument drivers to full-blown automated turnkey systems. Over the past 14 years, BBT has worked with […]

217Plus is the Reliability Information Analysis Center’s (RIAC) latest reliability prediction methodology intended to replace the outdated MIL-HDBK-217, Reliability Prediction of Electronic Equipment. The methodology doubles the number of models previously available from the Center. For the first time, the Center has published the complete mechodology and its supporting rationale in a handbook.
This long […]

An interesting profile of MTS Systems that appeared in the June 11, 2006 issue of the Pioneer Press is on on TwinCities.Com. It describes MTS’ sensor business as having more potential for growth than its test systems business.LINK

MIRA recently announced that it will open a comprehensive new Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Chamber at the company’s HQ in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on July 4th. Named the Heavy Vehicle Semi-Anechoic Chamber (HVSAC), the UK’s first independent absorber-lined EMC facility with a 70-Ton floor loading capacity. The test facility cost over $1.5-million, and is capable of […]

From the Chattanooga Times (Free Press, TN) June 02, 2006
A 25-year-old test track has a new pair of drivers who promise to reactivate the facility to put Chattanooga in the fast-lane for alternative-fuel vehicles.
The Tennessee Valley Authority on Thursday turned over its one-mile, oval track near the Chickamauga Dam to the University of Tennessee at […]

dSPACE and MTS Systems Corp. have co-developed a vehicle test bench that is capable of significantly reducing development time for electrical and electromechanical systems, including chassis and powertrain, while improving vehicle performance and safety characteristics.
The Mechatronic Development and Validation (MDV) Bench uses a real-time, vehicle dynamics simulation model with active vehicle suspension to create realistic […]

I don’t know how many of you are Mac users, but since I recently switched over to the Mac, I thought I’d give Mac users a little love, too…..Dan
Red Rock Software’s DeltaGraph 5.7 for Macintosh is an update to the data analysis, charting and graphing software. A single Universal Binary version is compatible with both […]

Zeligsoft SCA Test features a Software Communications Architecture (SCA) test code generator providing automated testing of SCA components. SCA Test is fully integrated into Zeligsoft Component Enabler™ (CE) and delivered as a separately available add-in product.
Whether the component code was generated by CE, produced externally by hand or generated from a 3rd party code […]

The Auto Spectator ran a story yesterday on the history of crash test dummies used at Ford Motor Co. Although it focuses on Ford, it’s an interesting on how Ford got started and where they’re going with saftety testing. LINK

The ESPEC TSD-100 makes adding thermal shock testing to quality assurance programs easier by reducing the lab space and power required. The overall footprint is 40% smaller, and the power required is 60% less than chambers with similar capabilities.
The TSD-100 thermal shock chamber meets MIL-STD 883 test method 1010.7 with up to 22 lbs. of […]