The Evolution of the Tailoring Process in MIL-STD-810 MIL-STD-810 Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests is a standard for environmental developmental test and evaluation.  Its purpose is to provide guidance for the development of analysis and test criteria to evaluate materiel, identify deficiencies and defects, and demonstrate compliance.  The tailoring process develops valid test criteria

Test and Evaluation for Robustness Test and Evaluation for robustness of a product is an involved process.  For electrical and electronic equipment an evolution of design engineering evaluation has been required to meet acceptable failure rates for fielded product.  Instituting these test methodologies requires looking beyond a test to pass approach. Robustness in Military Applications

Military product testing is performed at various stages of a products development and service initiation.  The earliest phase of this testing is known as Developmental Test and Evaluation.  This phase is conducted by the product developer and includes a detailed regime of climatic, dynamic, EMI/EMC, and electrical compatibility test procedures. The United States Department of

Preparing for EMI Testing can save time and money. Most EMI tests do not provide the news we want to hear on the first trip, therefore preparing to go the lab then is a task that should be thought out.  Emissions and immunity testing is an important part of your product development.  Successful testing can

Components for hypersonic applications are required for an increasing number of Department of Defense (DoD) projects.  These components and assemblies must be able to function under very demanding circumstances.  Typical stresses include altitudes exceeding 100,000 feet, rapid temperature changes, vibration, pyroshock, and acceleration.  This provides unique challenges to designers and those involved in test and

Witnessing EMI/EMC testing is a complex task.  Conducting this task properly can add value to your product development efforts.  More often than not products fail their initial testing.  Because of this, iterations of redesign and retest are required.  This can result in budgetary and scheduling issues for your design team and delay getting your product

What Test Witnesses Need to Know About Accelerometers and Laboratory Testing Shock and Vibration analysis utilizing accelerometers and laboratory testing is a requirement for many commercial and defense standards.  Because accelerometers provide the feedback to the excitation system, proper selection and placement is essential.  To achieve optimal testing validity the test witness and test manager

Effective Test Program Management Requires Planning Effective Test Program Management can add value to product development when its true value has been identified.  Too often product testing is left to the last moment, calls are made to test laboratories to ask what testing is required.  Equipment and somebody from the engineering team is transported off

MIL-STD-810 Humidity MIL STD 810H Humidity Method 507 is a test method for evaluating products that are likely to be stored and/or operated in a warm, humid environment.  MIL-STD-810 Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests is a Department of Defense (DoD) standard for military and commercial applications.  It is a series of laboratory test method

What is an Electromagnetic Pulse? Electronic products have Electromagnetic Pulse Vulnerabilities that could cripple infrastructure systems across the planet.  It is a serious concern that a number of agencies have reported on at length.   The Critical National Infrastructure Commission report of 2008 is one such example that outlines some dire possibilities. Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP) can

The Growth of RF Spectrum Usage, EMI and Device Coexistance Increased reliance on radio frequency communication has created issues for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Device Coexistence.  Cellular devices and equipment using the Internet of Things (IoT) are major causes of this increase.  This has effected product development strategies for both commercial and defense applications, particularly

MIL-STD-810 H Places Added Requirements on Product Developers and Test Labs. MIL-STD-810 H was released in 2019.  This revision not only included major alterations and in many cases complete rewrites of test methods and procedures but also revised requirements that effect the manner in which all testing must be conducted.  These requirements effect both test

Military Susceptibility Testing Military Susceptibility Testing is performed to determine if a product can maintain normal operation when exposed to electrical, magnetic, and radio frequency, emissions and disturbances likely to be found in its intended environment.  In military applications, the density of equipment on a given platform and the levels of potential emissions and disturbances

COTS for Military Applications The Defense Department is integrating more Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) products for military applications including mission critical systems.  While this is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to gain access to a lucrative market, it also poses some serious challenges. Once approved for a military application the manufacturer of the COTS

FCC Streamlines Approval Process The FCC approval process has been streamlined for unintentional radiators.  Most electronic devices create radio frequency (RF) energy.  This energy can interfere with devices.  Intentional radiators are devices which communicate by way of radio frequencies (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, radio).  Unintentional radiators create RF energy from their power supplies and digital components.  These