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Planning for Test Equipment Obsolescence in 2022

SpaceX Rocket Launching

With each new year comes new technological advances. Technology is developing at a rapid pace, which can spell out problems for test engineers facing challenges of obsolescence within their Test Program Sets (TPSs). For test engineers in the aerospace or defense industries, where parts and products are manufactured and supported for decades, obsolescence creates unique challenges. In many cases, the TPSs the engineers work with were created in archaic software languages with little to no documentation. At Apex Waves, we understand that many of our clients have a system they’ve been using for years and don’t have the resources, budget, or time necessary to replace it. We provide the calibrated, warrantied NI parts that you need now, with a tested stock of ready-to-ship parts to help you plan for the future.

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The Profound Impact of Recycling E-Waste

Man soldering circuit board

As the test equipment industry evolves, businesses are replacing their outdated equipment parts with the newest available models on the market. While the benefits of upgrading to the latest updates are undeniable, a large amount of e-waste is created from newly decommissioned systems. With a problem of this scale, many are turning to eco-friendly recycling initiatives for the solution. At Apex Waves, we are addressing this issue directly with our Sell Your Surplus program. It is clear that properly recycling decommissioned systems and re-using obsolete parts through this program has a strong positive impact across multiple industries.

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Filling in the Gaps of the ICT Supply Chain

Sideview of shipping containers on a ship


Supply chain management is a critical part of any business, but it becomes even more invaluable in times of crisis. In February 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a collaborative report assessing the current state of the supply chains that are critical to the ICT industry. Their findings point to crucial gaps in this vital production process- gaps that Apex Waves is stepping up to fill. When it comes to vital test equipment components, Apex Waves maintains a large inventory of previously used, calibrated, and quality tested parts that are available and ready to ship. Because of this, important parts remain accessible for the industries and businesses that need them most.

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Production Test

Nowadays, many defense programs’ duration will go beyond the typical life cycle of products, thus creating challenges for the engineers responsible for maintaining such programs. NI’s platform has made it possible for large companies like Harris Corporation to have a 74% decrease in the cost of testing and a remarkable 83% reduction in floor spaces. Since this is an issue relevant to many aerospace and defense companies, here are three best practices to refer to when dealing with production testing.

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Validation: Electromechanical Systems Test

Electromechanical systems are present in a wide range of complex and sophisticated vehicles such as ships, ground vehicles, aircraft, and the like. The way such standard systems work is through the software that operates on a controller. The physical components and mechanics are thus regulated by the controller, enabling the vehicles’ moving parts.

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Validation: Hardware-in-the Loop Test

HIL testing replicates actuality by transmitting real signals into a system from the controller into a simulated product. The controller operates at a typical pattern and does not change its behavior, rehearsing the pretended real-system process. Such a method enables sophisticated and high-risk equipment such as modern aircraft to conduct abundant tests before achieving the required high safety standards. These tests save time, money, and above all, make the equipment safer.

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Research, Design, and Prototyping: SDR Design

SIGINT’s (Signals Intelligence) current operational environment often requires rapid development of waveforms, protocols, and devices to dependably function in different environments. The best solutions for such functions are Software Defined Radios (SDR), which are the principal solution to prototype wireless communication systems leading to better solutions quickly. NI has adequately identified the following requirements to fulfill client needs and specifications:

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NI Releases New 5G Radio Test Equipment

The ongoing transformation of existing cellular communication networks to fully operational 5G status seems to be progressing at a snail’s pace. Of course, when users dream of the promised data streaming speeds with virtually no latency and comprehensive coverage, it cannot happen fast enough. 5G absolutely has the potential to unleash a veritable new industrial revolution, as well as improved communications on every level.

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