ABSTRACT
Component requirements for military applications have changed, as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and COTS with data and traceability (COTS Plus) are proliferating throughout the industry. COTS Plus products can be found in land, air, sea, and space applications today. A simple locking mechanism on a door of a spacecraft must be closed and secured to prevent loss of air. Actuation systems address the precise motion control requirements of spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, and missiles. Optical couplers are used in switching power supplies in both ground control and flight hardware. The need for panel light brightness control in aircraft is far greater than in automobiles, both due to the number and type of instruments and a more rapidly changing environment. Military and civilian aircraft are required to provide a light signal visible for up to 10 miles in clear air space. The visible signals can be turned off for military zones while providing a near-infrared signature to identify friendly or enemy aircraft.
