The classic wheelchair is one of the most basic — and for many, most essential — machines ever invented. By adding wheels to a seat, inventors gave injured people mobility, which translates into freedom and quality of life. Things can always be improved, however. For centuries, improvements came in the form of design and materialsRead More

Electric vehicles are increasingly familiar sights around town, but the charging infrastructure needs to catch up as countries around the world make plans to transition away from fuel-burning vehicles. By Caroline Hayes When pre-orders for Tesla’s Model S opened in March 2016, the public’s appetite for luxury electric vehicles was confirmed, as thousands of customersRead More

The next few years will bring an increasing number of electric cars onto the roads. But not everyone can charge at home. The next few years will bring an increasing number of electric cars onto the roads. But not everyone can charge at home. How are connector companies helping to develop the charging infrastructure neededRead More

Autonomous vehicles depend on this electronic sensing system. But has the connector industry been fully involved in its evolution? By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Cameras and radar have become commonplace on modern vehicles, and a surveying technology called LiDAR is getting a lot of attention. However, most product planners say that LiDAR will be onlyRead More

It’s not just cars. Driverless mass transit may be coming to a city near you. Driverless Mass Transit Driverless cars are no longer a future-tech fantasy. So get ready for what inevitably comes next: driverless everything else. Cities around the world will soon see driverless trains, buses, planes, shuttles, ferries, taxis, and other forms ofRead More

High-tech motor, charging, and sensor systems are making the new generation of e-bikes a viable part of the transportation picture. By Amy Goetzman, Connector Supplier bike At first, I didn’t see the point of an e-bike. Why would you want a motor to do the work for you? Getting exercise is half the point ofRead More

CompactPCI has served many industries well, but it’s time to consider CompactPCI Serial for today’s high-speed applications. By Justin Moll, Vice President of Marketing, PICMG For nearly 20 years, CompactPCI has been a highly successful architecture. Used with the PCIbus, it’s been utilized in telecom and datacom applications because of its high reliability, hot-swap, monitoring,Read More

The legendary aerospace gathering brings together the industry’s most inventive people, planes, and electronics.   Once again, members of the global aviation electronics industry are preparing to demonstrate their esprit de corps at the International Paris Air Show. The 52nd annual event will be held June 19–25 at the Le Bourget Parc des Expositions, withRead More

High-speed, lightweight electronics are making soldiers safer and military operations more successful. Bob Stanton, Director, Omnetics Corporation   Advanced electronics in high-reliability systems are improving military and aerospace equipment to meet the significant challenges that lie ahead. As new technologies expand and spread around the world, however, so has the potential threat from possible foesRead More

Flexible, lightweight, and versatile CNTs are becoming a valuable material in conductor applications for the military and a host of other markets.   Carbon nanotubes are one of the most unique and interesting materials developed in the last decade. These products, widely known as CNTs, can be manufactured by various methods, but are most commonlyRead More

From light rail to school buses, advanced interconnects are enabling cities to relieve traffic congestion, reduce pollution, drive economic growth, and modernize our transit systems.  Public transit is changing. A new generation of vehicles is joining our transportation networks to provide expanded service, meet pollution reduction goals, and connect growing city centers with the surroundingRead More

From ZigBee to Z-Wave, plus 802.n options, wireless communications choices seem limitless.   Projected market demand for 5G and other future communications applications is prompting the development of different wireless technologies. Some are in direct competition with each other, and there are overlapping frequencies. Other standards have moved from initial engineering groups, such as IEEE, toRead More