Electronics that are subject to harsh military and aerospace operating environments require secure mounting. Several popular specifications give designers options. A few weeks ago, I was discussing work with an engineer friend, and we got onto the subject of connectors that are subjected to high shock and vibration loads. Exciting, I know. It all stemmedRead More
When a traditional rectangular connector isn’t the right fit for a unique PCB shape, engineers must look for a creative solution. Sometimes that solution is a custom connector that can deliver the needed space savings and the reliability required for mission-critical military applications. By Jim Murphy, International Sales Manager, Advanced Interconnections Corp. The demand for smaller, slimmer,Read More
Old solutions and ways of thinking get in the way of truly innovative solutions. As designers of military interconnects look for ways to shrink down products while adding functionality, many are turning to the semiconductor test industry for the new approaches needed to create optimal solutions. “The Psychology of Science” by Abraham Maslow introduces theRead More
A new generation of more powerful unmanned aerial vehicles carry a payload that includes sensors, cameras, processors, and other electronics. Small, lightweight connectors help make their missions possible. Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use are getting even smaller and more powerful as trends toward miniaturization in modern military equipment extends to the skies.Read More
New battlefield strategies that network dismounted soldiers for “any-sensor, any-shooter” tactics are driving technological changes in digital gear enabled in part by advanced interconnects. By Matt McAlonis, Engineering Fellow, Aerospace Defense and Marine, TE Connectivity, and Franck Kolczak, Senior Business Development Manager-Defense Market, TE Connectivity combat Today’s entertaining real-time-strategy (RTS) games and virtual-reality (VR) headsetsRead More
The demand for micro- and nano-miniature military connectors is increasing as the military adopts Nett Warrior and future soldier technologies. The military wearables market is expanding rapidly, driven by continuous innovation in small, lightweight products that can be used for navigation, communication, and computing systems, vision and surveillance, and biometric monitoring. These products have typically beenRead More
As priorities for deep-space applications change, demand is increasing for low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf connectors that can endure the rigors of space. Deep-space exploration keeps bringing us new information about the sun, the moon, and the planets. For example, data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently helped researchers determine that the Moon isn’t dead because itRead More
A comprehensive test regimen can help determine the suitability of microwave coaxial cable assemblies for the final frontier. By Aidan Doran, Senior Product Manager, Space, and John Lewis, Director of Product Management, Defense and Space, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies test Reliability can be defined as performance over time, and in deep-space applications, nothing is more importantRead More
The recent Embedded Tech Trends conference highlighted a trend: Boards and subsystems for military applications are increasingly employing optical cable. Fiber optic technology is continuing its push into high-end military systems as engineers increasingly choose it to meet accelerating speed demands. This marks a change from its traditional role as a technology for long-distance communications.Read More
Fiber optic, shielded copper, and foil-shielded, unshielded-twisted-pair (UTP) cables are among the hardware solutions implemented to meet stringent data security networking protocols. Critical computer networks dedicated to the storage and transmission of sensitive government, military, and national security data safeguard such information with robust security parameters and processes including firewalls, passwords, biometrics, and access cards.Read More
Proper shielding is necessary to protect mission-critical systems and components from interference in increasingly busy electronics environments. By Lesa Smith, Marketing Communications Manager, and Neil Mahaffy, Senior Product Engineer, ITT Cannon EMI/RFI shielding As aerospace and defense platforms and environments continue to evolve digitally, the proliferation of embedded electronics systems and portable electronic devices (PEDs),Read More
Advanced aviation-specific components for commercial and military aircraft are producing increasingly powerful and connected hardware that can help keep aviation technology accessible to pilots. Today, there is a critical problem in military and civil aviation: a distinct shortage of pilots. In June 2019, Boeing’s then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg called this shortage “one of the biggest challengesRead More
