Banana Skins – October 2022 (#397-403)

During the testing of one aircraft, we suffered a very marked and complete electrical failure of the aircraft (much to the alarm of both the test engineers and the cockpit crew) which turned out to be due to the EUT we were testing.

Cable Antennas and Ferrite Cores

In this column, the author offers a brief summary of a more systematic approach for using ferrite cores on cables. This summary can serve as a “ferrite core checklist” for design and test engineers.

Banana Skins – May 2022 (#378-382)

Navigation and control instruments can be caused to malfunction. During the approach of an Alitalia aircraft at Turin airport on 31 December, 1995, one of the 160 passengers onboard switched on his mobile phone, thus blocking the plane’s autopilot system.

Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields in Electric Vehicles

Low-frequency magnetic fields, a type of electromagnetic disturbance commonly found in electric vehicles, can pose potential health hazards to humans and affect the operation of critical EV components. Here are some design techniques to help mitigate the problem.

Banana Skins – March 2022 (#365-377)

Is it safe to use cellphones on airplanes? The real question should be: “Is it safe for passengers to use any electronic equipment on airplanes?”

Banana Skins – January 2022 (#358-364)

Operating my personal document shredder crashes my digital TV set-top box, although it is 5 metres away. Toggling the on/off button on the set-top box restores normal operation.