As technologies in the aerospace and defense industry become ever more reliant on embedded electronics, system-on-chip (SoC) and individual component designers can no longer operate in isolation. More and more, the entire system and its subsystems need to be studied holistically due to tight interdependencies. An unmanned aircraft system is a prime example. The high density of electronic components demands a keen focus on power and thermal management — particularly as the aim of these systems is to remain aloft for days, and sometimes months, at a time. With this move up the systems hierarchy comes an increasing need for modeling and simulation tools that capture individual physics AND couple these effects together in a holistic simulation framework. Only then can we truly begin to move up the systems hierarchy and deliver product performance that industry demands. For more insight, read Ed Sperling’s article in Low Power Engineering about redefining systems around power.