Overview:

Members of the Electrical Engineering (EE) Design Group are highly skilled in areas ranging from overall electrical systems engineering to detailed electrical system, subsystem, and component design. CE EE staff has specific expertise in the following areas of electrical engineering as they apply to the development of both scientific instrumentation, and large and small commercial and industrial products and systems:

• Electrical Project Engineering
• Electrical Systems Design
• Space Instrumentation
• Laboratory and Ground-Based Instruments
• Motion Control Systems Design for Optics Positioning and Precision CNC Machining
• Detector Development
• Computer System Architecture
• Analog Design
• Digital Design
• R.F. Design
• Software Development
• Low Voltage Power Systems
• High Voltage Power Systems
• High Reliability, Rad-hard Systems
• Electronic Packaging
• Design, Test, and Utilization of Space-Qualified Hybrid Microcircuits

For an explanation of the terms above (Click here)

Designs consider overall system functionality, performance, and reliability under various operating environments: Electronic packaging design is compliant with NASA acceptance criteria for space borne and ground-based systems. Design decisions incorporate the impact of mechanical stresses, operating and non-operating dynamics, and the internal and external thermal interactions of the instrument. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and ESD aspects of designs are assessed at all levels of the assembly, and EMC compliance tests are conducted per MIL-STD-461 when required. Ground based electrical systems usually are not held to the standards for space flight electronics, due to the cost and applicability. The space enviorment is different due to radiation, more extreme temperatures, and little to no service access. For these space enviorment projects the NASA specifications are typically used, however there may be more applicable industrial specifications available in which case both are incorporated as neccesitated.

CE electrical engineers utilize a variety of computer-aided design and simulation tools. To find out more (Click here)

Central Engineering maintains a dedicated Electronics Laboratory for electrical assembly and test activities.

Chief Electrical Engineer: Thomas Gauron (617) 496-7596