Meet the Connector: ISOBUS ISOBUS specifies a method of interoperability between electronics systems for agricultural and forestry equipment, greatly simplifying the process of connecting equipment from different manufacturers. Also known as ISO11783, this standard specifies a method of interoperability between electronics systems for heavy duty equipment types that use separable implements. Technical development of theRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights interconnect products manufactured by IRIS-certified manufacturers. IRIS-Certified REP series from Smiths Interconnect is designed for quick and easy mating. The REP panel and cable connectors are a simple, reliable, and highly cost-effective interconnect system for rail applications. A full plastic solution offered in either wire attachment or PCB mounting options provides rapidRead More

Megawatt charging is on track to boost power and reduce charging times to make electrifying all sorts of industrial and commercial transportation vehicles a viable option. Vehicle makers throughout the industrial and commercial transportation market are embracing e-mobility. Electric versions of semi-trucks, vehicles used in mining and agriculture, and regional transportation vehicles, including buses, ferries,Read More

Understanding how different flavors of fiber-optic technologies function in demanding aerospace applications can help designers select the most robust options. UAM (urban air mobility) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft promise a greener, cleaner alternative to ground transport in cities. Constellations of LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites are launching a new era ofRead More

AAM and eVTOL designs are being developed and executed quickly. In this start-up environment, suppliers must maneuver quickly to provide solutions. AAM and eVTOL (advanced air mobility and electric vertical takeoff and landing) designs are being developed and executed quickly, yet the strict requirements for safety, reliability, ruggedness, and longevity remain. In addition, connector componentsRead More

New connector technologies help make rail crossings safer, easier to maintain, and more resistant to weather and other environmental challenges. From Boston to Los Angeles and all around the world, drivers experience the frustration of waiting at a railroad crossing for a train to pass. While watching the passing rail cars, many of us lookRead More

A new age of high-tech farming is changing the way our food is produced. Pest control using drones, embedded sensors that monitor soil conditions, and LED-lit indoor vertical farms all depend on rugged connectors for agricultural equipment. Out of sheer frustration, many farmers are turning to new agricultural technologies such as drones for help fightingRead More

Heavy equipment doesn’t work alone. As agricultural and industrial machinery becomes part of connected networks with command centers and other equipment units, system architectures are incorporating CAN and ISOBUS to meet the growing data networking requirements. Controller Area Network (CAN) systems have been used in heavy equipment and industrial machinery applications since the 1990s asRead More

Hybrid connectors reduce the number of connectors and cables needed for advanced agricultural machinery and other heavy equipment. A single modern hybrid connector can do the work of two, four, six, or even more traditional connectors. Today’s transportation, agricultural, and construction vehicles come feature-rich with computers, GPS systems, and an array of other electronic features.Read More

Onboard technologies, including networks of instruments and high-tech navigation equipment, have prepared boats and ships for the next step: autonomous operation. A proven history of semi-autonomous operation using networked instruments means that the maritime industry is well prepared for the next autonomous phase. Companies like Garmin supply chart plotters and auto-pilots for commercial vessels, cruisers,Read More

Passenger Information Systems technologies that deliver timely and accurate travel information help make commuter rail networks efficient and user-friendly. Reliable and rugged interconnects are an essential link in the network. Passenger Information Systems In today’s sophisticated rail networks, timeliness is designed into the tightly controlled system. That means even the slightest hitch with one trainRead More

For special installations like the Winter Olympics, as well as applications such as vehicles and devices that routinely operate in cold climates, electronics must be ruggedized against low temperatures. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics showcased human endurance in the most extreme cold conditions as athletes performed on ice, in snow, and in frigid air. TheRead More