For as long as humans have existed, we have always tried to improve our quality of life. One of our biggest challenges throughout history has been inventing tools to help us in our everyday lives; we wanted to put less effort into getting what we need. The first tools made by man were to help grow crops and hunt animals for food. Eventually, over centuries, we developed massive machines like tractors and plows, to help us grow and gather food...
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There has been a lot of news lately on the development of drones. Those of us in the industry are well aware of their successful application for military programs, but there now seems to be a huge push for drones in the commercial world. These articles have had me thinking back to my days at Ryerson University where I led a team of students in an international design competition sponsored by the SAE (which today is known as SAE Aero...
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AvSIL Systems Integration Lab Aversan is excited to announce the release of its leading-edge System Integration Lab solution for aerospace. The AvSIL will be available starting in the third quarter of 2016 as part of an integrated testing solution. AvSIL is an affordable, flexible system integration solution for real-time, closed-loop control systems verification and validation, with simulations or hardware-in-the-loop. AvSIL serves to enable system integrators the ability to test before the aircraft is on the tarmac or even an Iron Bird....
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Welcome to the wonderful world of software development. Prepare yourself for an exciting and thrilling journey filled with code, rules, and more code. And did I mention there are rules? If you are someone who is familiar with coding, then the concept of coding standards is nothing new to you. You may be a strong supporter of these guidelines or a freedom fighter who believe that code is a form of expression. Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t...
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Science Fiction has ingrained itself in modern culture. Just a brief glimpse at the entertainment industry is enough to see that people LOVE sci-fi, and it’s easy to understand why; sci-fi fills most of us with a sense of awe and wonder. It brings the impossible to life in the most amazing ways. Many of us are content just treating the sci-fi technologies in these worlds as magic and don’t give them too much thought. However, there are some people...
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Most have heard that as humans, we only use about 10% of our brain capacity. This myth, though cool sounding when voiced by Morgan Freeman in the film Lucy, is just that. A myth. Fact of the matter is, our brains are active 100% of the time. However, which areas of the brain do you use during that 100% of activity? In the thriving amateur subculture – of "neuro-enhancement", the prime objective is for folks to find ways to improve...
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Many professions have myths or rather, misconceptions and half-truths, associated with them. And the world of software engineering and programming is no exception. Below are just some of the few common misconceptions our Program Managers have had to deal with. Developing software offshore is faster and cheaper Offshoring software development and testing can be a compelling alternative to in-house development for many organizations. It’s low cost, and teams can work around the clock. However, it is important to realize that...
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With strong new regulations in Canada and the USA, the hey-day of unregulated consumer drone flight is at its end. The tightening of regulations goes far beyond what typical consumers see. Soon manufacturers and developers of unmanned aerial systems may face much more stringent requirements to sell their devices. Aerospace Safety Requirements The RTCA is not a name commonly heard outside the aviation industry, but it is on the mind of many Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) manufacturers. The RTCA is...
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One strength organizations may wish to gain is to allow leadership and management skills to co-exist within each project team. That is, rarely can a project be successful by leadership or management skills alone. Leadership skills are different than managing skills and although one person might have both sets of these skills it is more likely that one of these skill sets is more dominant than the other. As a result, the project itself is ideally staffed by people who,...
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One of the most important considerations for a project manager is how the money flows in helping him/her determine whether the investment in a project is worthwhile or not. While there are many considerations beyond the strictly mathematical analysis of the time value of money, a quantitative model can be a first indication if an investment after a given period of time will turn a profit. As part of the process, it is necessary to convert the future value of...
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