Microsatellites aren’t subject to deep-space electronics requirements but the connectors that enable these small devices must still be able to endure rigorous launch conditions and perform in low Earth orbit. Although the vast majority of space missions have been conducted in low Earth orbit (LEO), at altitudes between 99 and 1,200 miles (160–2000km) above theRead More

Electric vehicle charging stations that can provide a full charge in less than five minutes are about to eliminate one of the key roadblocks to EV acceptance. Connectors that can handle the current and dissipate the heat are a key component of the technology. The electric vehicle (EV) sector took another step closer to theRead More

As rail operators encourage more people to consider public transportation, new connectivity technology is enhancing the customer experience.   From personal internet access via smartphones to instant onboard entertainment options to up-to-date travel information, passenger demands on public transportation continue to increase. These offerings are no longer luxuries; they’re necessities to an industry that isRead More

The new Gen2 Formula E race car shows off the rapid speed of technological advancement in electric vehicles. The fifth season of Formula E racing is off to a bold start with a dazzling new vehicle. The Gen2 car made its debut on December 15, 2018, at the kick-off race in Saudi Arabia, showing offRead More

A new wave of technologies including e-mobility, Industry 4.0, edge computing, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality will bring about big changes to society. The technology trends we are watching with great anticipation in 2019 isn’t a cool new device or a smaller, faster, better version of something we’ve seen before. It’s not a trip toRead More

As technology innovation becomes the engine that reshapes economies, a new group of countries is making the investments necessary to come out ahead of the pack. A sage once observed that a turtle makes no progress until it sticks its neck out of its protected shell. That could certainly apply to companies involved in theRead More

Electronics companies are consolidating their expertise with acquisitions as new technologies become part of the connector ecosystem. When is a connector company more than a connector company? When it is also a wire and cable company, a sensor company, an antenna company, a transceiver and transponder company, and even, sometimes, a software company. As increasingly complexRead More

5G connectivity is poised to change the world. Cities, data centers, networks, and device designers are preparing for the next big acceleration in data speeds. As for connectors? They are ready right now. In 2019, 5G will become a reality as cities around the world roll out their 5G networks. The next generation in dataRead More

We live in an age of technology disruptions. But 5G will make even bigger disruptions possible. We are about to experience a major transformation in the area of wireless communication. Cellular communication networks have been on a path of continuous evolution since the first analog phones were introduced in the 1980s. With 1G starting atRead More

High-speed 5G communications are key to widespread adoption of autonomous ridesharing. High-speed connectors, fiber cabling, and the Internet of Things will all play a role. By Neil Shurtz Today, there’s widespread investment in the idea that someday private car ownership will be a thing of the past. Instead, cars will be self-driving and owned byRead More

Updating shipboard communication systems with fiber optics and high-speed technologies requires a bevy of high-performance, specialized connectors for military applications. Advanced communications technologies are a critical focus for naval system developers. As new equipment takes to the seas, connector makers are being asked to provide high-speed components that are simple and easy to use and meetRead More

Bishop & Associates visited with connector company CEOs at electronica 2018. Sales this year have been largely very good, but the connector industry forecast for 2019 remains unclear. Most connector manufacturers at the electronica 2018 trade fair, which took place November 13–16 in Munich, were able to look back upon a very successful 2018, asRead More