Michigan State University Government Relations’ Post

The Birth of the Semiconductor Industry: A Military Affair! Did you know that the semiconductor industry owes a significant part of its origins to the U.S. military? It’s true! In the wake of World War II, as tensions rose during the Cold War, the military recognized the vast potential of semiconductors for advanced technology. The demand for more efficient and reliable electronic components became critical for everything from missile guidance systems to communication devices, creating a booming market for innovation. Back in those days, early missiles and bombs had an accuracy of about 365 meters. That meant only 16% of munitions dropped landed within 305 meters of their intended target—not exactly precision engineering! Then came the game changer: the invention of the transistor in 1947 by Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley at Bell Labs. Suddenly, we had smaller and more efficient alternatives to those bulky vacuum tubes. The military’s need for cutting-edge technology provided the funding and urgency that helped launch companies like Texas Instruments and Fairchild Semiconductor into the spotlight. Fast forward to today, modern precision-guided munitions (PGMs) can achieve accuracy levels of less than 3 meters, all thanks to advanced algorithms and real-time data processing made possible by integrated circuits (ICs). As we use integrated circuits (ICs) in nearly every aspect of our lives today, it's important to remember that their early applications were not always so positive. #Semiconductors #Innovation #Technology #ChipWar #ChrisMiller Credits to "Chip War" by Chris Miller

Lookin, Inc., a member of the current #NavySTP cohort, develops high-performance terahertz scanners for non-invasive, non-contact and high-throughput industrial quality inspection. Lookin’s scanners utilize a patented nanoplasmonic terahertz source and detector technology that increases the sensitivity of terahertz scanning systems and allows the development of the first multi-pixel time-domain terahertz scanning platform. After the realization of a high scan-rate and large field-of-view terahertz scanner, Lookin is targeting the lithium-ion battery market for the initial commercialization of this platform technology. Lookin scanners can be used for in-line, real-time, non-contact, non-destructive quality control of battery electrodes during the roll-to-roll manufacturing process. 🎦 Watch the tech talk: https://lnkd.in/eGFVKt2t 📊 Read the quad chart: https://lnkd.in/epmRhX99 #sbir Office of Naval Research #defensetech #defenseinnovation #sensors #manufacturing

How can #AI-driven materials discovery transform armored vehicle design and battery chemistries? SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary joins Jim Breyer on CNBC's Money Movers to discuss our breakthroughs with NVIDIA and how the US Army is leveraging our Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) to advance next-generation alloys and enhance power and energy systems. Watch the full segment. https://bit.ly/4bVQMwK #Army #MilitaryTech #BatteryTechnology

My two cents here but where is the detailed and comprehensive AoA? Ensure reliable and secure Joint battle space networks and integration - priority #1 Develop as a fall back network-optional AI-enabled warfighting technologies and capabilities - systems empowered via mission command ROE Get the air vehicles and propulsion system right with emphasis on stealth, range and growth potential (increased margins) with a long life to amortize RDTE costs. Use digital engineering with digital twins and MBSE along with Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) VV&A as part of an end-to-end digital/virtual AI-enabled innovation ecosystem (OTA Consortium to max competition for value and innovation) and value stream for continuous process improvement. Ensure sufficient upfront SWAP and cooling to handle future upgrades affordably Use open architectures with standard interfaces for plug ‘n play rapid technology insertions Consider optionally manned and unmanned Joint Service variants Optimize stealth and speed for max survivability and effectiveness in the anticipated future battle space given exponential rates of technological acceleration. Address training, readiness and maintenance affordability upfront as part of an integrated digital O&S ecosystem.

I can say confidently this is one of my favorite things in development.

Pleased to share an article I wrote for Aviation Week Network about the $1.5 billion in funding that GlobalFoundries (GF) is receiving through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act that will be used to manufacture secure chips in New York State and Vermont for A&D and other crucial markets. Excerpts below: Malta, New York-based GF is the first semiconductor pure play foundry to receive an award of this size from the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to bulwark domestic semiconductor manufacturing, supply chains and national security. A key purpose of the award is to fund construction of a new state-of-the-art fab (semiconductor production facility) on GF’s Malta campus to meet expected customer demand for domestically manufactured essential chips for aerospace, defense, artificial intelligence and the automotive sector. The funding will also support modernization of GF’s longest continuously operated fab in Essex Junction, Vermont, which is set to become the first domestic facility capable of high-volume manufacturing of next-generation gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. GaN semiconductors, known for their superior switching speed and thermal conductivity, are used in active, electronically scanned array radars and electronic warfare systems. GaN “is foundational to nearly all the cutting-edge defense technology that we produce,” Colin Whelan, president of advanced technology at RTX, the world’s leading manufacturer of military-grade GaN, said in January 2023. In November 2023, RTX was awarded a four-year, $15 million contract from DARPA to boost the electronic capability of radio frequency sensors with high-power-density GaN transistors. Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said in the news release that the company is “proud of our strategic partnership with GlobalFoundries to help increase access to domestically produced microelectronics–a true national security imperative.” For the Pentagon, it has been a long-running challenge to persuade companies to keep producing old technology to support legacy chips with low profit margins. While consumer electronics and data centers generally use advanced semiconductors, defense systems designed decades ago require older chips when they are repaired. #aerospace #defense #globalfoundries #lockheedmartin #gallium #galliumnitride #semiconductor #supplychain #industrialpolicy #military #nationalsecurity #aviation #departmentofdefense #rtx #chipsact https://lnkd.in/eTEFky5G

From May 1, I joined the University of Hamburg as a Visiting Scholar within the "Meaningful Human Control (MEHUCO)" Project. Within the same framework, I double as Guest Researcher at the Paderborn University. The MEHUCO project examines the development and implementation of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) as one of the most important issues in world security and peace. There are debates as to whether and to what degree the growth of AI-driven mechanical autonomy endangers human authority over pivotal military operations. This is one thing I really look forward to - conversations and indepth research around subjects of autonomy in weapons' systems, and other military uses of AI, and most of all, working with Prof. Dr. Susanne Krasmann and Dr. Stephanie Schmidt. #AIinMilitary #MeaningfulHumanControl #AWS

Cadence Design Systems leaders Charlie Schadewitz and James Chew shared insights with Forbes on the potential of digital twins in aerospace and defense. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/xgpv50SFpJ2

I am excited to announce that I will representing PredictiveIQ at #GVSETS2024 next week and presenting a paper titled "Physics Informed Machine Learning for Advanced Diagnostics & Prognostics of Ground Combat Vehicles." Stay tuned for valuable insights on #ai, #ml, #physics #predictivemaintenance in the realms of #defense, #combatvehicles, and #logistics. #predictiveiq #prognostics #diagnostics #usarmy #namc #dod #modeling #simulation #army

Did you know that Alabama is the No. 1 state in the U.S. for aerospace manufacturing employment? Employing more than 8,000 in the guided missiles, aerospace & parts industry, Alabama beats out aerospace giants like California and Arizona. This is largely due to a high concentration of aerospace companies in the city of Huntsville, otherwise known as "Rocket City," like Aerojet, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin. 🚀 What other key facts were gathered from our survey of the state's 4,100+ manufacturers? Don't miss our exclusive overview of Alabama's powerful manufacturing sector in today's video! Want to learn more? Check out more in-depth statistics & the top 10 Alabama manufacturing companies in comments! #rocketcity #huntsville #alabama #manufacturing #manufacturingnews #madeinalabama #businessintelligence #industrialmarketing Made in Alabama - Alabama Department of Commerce