UAVs have been employed by the military for years, and their sophistication is increasing.   Smaller and lighter components are allowing designers to give military UAVs more capabilities, and have brought previously exclusively military technologies like UAV-mounted cameras to consumer drones. As sensor technology gets smaller, lighter, and cheaper, more and more mechanical processes canRead More

Soldiers have always worn technology to keep them from harm and help them do their jobs better. In the information age, the technology they wear is built on information itself.   In contrast with 20th-century technology that reached its peak with highly destructive atomic weapons, in the information age the key military technology will beRead More

Use of VME connectors expands via smaller mezzanine cards, fiber optics, and coax.   Worldwide Standardization Drives Acceptance Changing requirements for faster processing and reduced size/weight, scalability, and power (SWaP) are resulting in newer form factors that include increased use of mezzanine connectors (cards), BGAs, and both larger and higher-density backplane/daughtercard connectors, plus fiber optics andRead More

Rugged connectors are required for applications in a wide variety of settings, from sterile medical facilities to downhole oil and gas rigs. Key considerations for specification include the environment, the function, and the performance requirements.   Rugged Connector Checklist Rugged connectors must be able to function in environments and under circumstances that would challenge typicalRead More

Coaxial/RF cable assemblies comprised $13.5 billion of the $142 billion worldwide market for cable assemblies in 2015. How coax cable and connectors are terminated affects quality and performance, so learn how to choose the right coaxial cable termination options for your application. Whether it’s ultralight, radiation-resistant sensor cable assemblies in the Mars Rover; a cabledRead More

Military organizations throughout the world are working hard to lighten the load soldiers carry into battle; connector and cabling designs may offer solutions for miniaturization of military electronics.   There is a great sense of urgency in military organizations worldwide to modernize their operations. According to National Defense Magazine, there is an “innovation gap” that isRead More

As armed robots become reality, a tug-of-war is building over humans’ place in the decision-making loop during battle.   On July 7, a sniper opened fire on a crowded street protest in downtown Dallas, Tex., killing five police officers and injuring others. A long standoff followed inside a parking garage, where the shooter was said toRead More

With potentially thousands of control and sensor data channels entering and exiting in engine test-stand vacuum chamber applications, it is essential for hermetically sealed conductor feedthroughs to solve cross-talk and leakage challenges as well as provide flexibility to meet future custom data needs. NASA worked with Douglas Electrical Components to provide such solutions for itsRead More

Connector-pin design has been caught up in a race to meet the needs of an ever-broadening range of applications, but military and aerospace applications have very serious environmental requirements that must be met first.     We often look at a device and wonder, “Would the best connector for my design use a flat pinRead More

 Presented by TE Connectivity Aircraft need higher bandwidth systems that are smaller and lighter, which brings us to fiber optic systems. TE Connectivity packed more signals into a smaller space while still meeting aerospace requirements with its PRO BEAM EB connectors.   In aerospace applications, space is always at a premium, and reducing weight isRead More

Maker of mission-critical, high-frequency coaxial wire, cable, and cable assemblies is a leading provider to defense, satellite, and test and measurement customers.    Carlisle Companies Incorporated announced the acquisition of Micro-Coax Inc., a leading global supplier of high-performance, high-frequency coaxial wire, cable, and cable assemblies for mission-critical RF/microwave applications for defense, satellite, test and measurement,Read More

While the night skies and color photos from NASA may present great beauty, the near-earth space environment where satellites orbit presents difficulties for man and equipment. Unique product designs, processing, and testing are required.   “Space” represents a thriving industry with almost unlimited possibilities. The non-profit Space Foundation estimates that the space economy was $330Read More