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Audio playbacks are mechanisms which read data from a storage medium and produce commands and signals which an audio system turns into music. Playbacks are constantly changed to meet market demands, requiring that the control software be updated quickly and efficiently. This paper reviews a 12 month project using the MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow environment for model-based development, system simulation, autocode generation, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verification for playbacks which read music CDs or MP3 disks. Our team began with a “clean slate” approach to playback architecture, and demonstrated working units running production-ready code. This modular, layered architecture enables rapid development and verification of new playback mechanisms, thereby reducing the time needed to evaluate playback mechanisms and integrate into a complete infotainment system.

An integrated lightweight structure and thermal insulation has been developed for the Mars Rover Warm Electronics Box (WEB). It combines a low thermal conductivity fiber reinforced composite structure with co-cured thermal control surfaces and an ultralightweight hydrophobic solid silica aerogel which eliminates convection and minimizes conduction and radiation. It provides excellent thermal insulation both at low gas pressures and in vacuum; and meets the structural requirements for spacecraft launch loads and for a 60 g impact landing at Mars without damage to the insulation or structure. The integrated design provides for variable conductance to meet the different thermal requirements for the different phases of operation. The system incorporates heat conduction paths to provide thermal control on the ground and during interplanetary cruise, which are then disconnected for Mars operation.