Systron Donner Inertial manufactures inertial subsystems for automotive, commercial/ industrial, and aerospace and defense applications. The sensors use a one-piece, microma-chined inertial sensing element to measure angular rotational velocity or linear acceleration. The MTBF for a single axis sensor is 400,000 hours.
(a) Find the probability that a sensor lasts at least 30 years, assuming continuous operation.
(b) Would you be surprised if a sensor has failed within the first 3 years? Explain. (Product specifications are from www.systron. com/techsupp_A.asp.)