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

The phrase “to soft pedal” may have to be reviewed as e-bikes experience encouraging growth. Connector developers are helping e-bike designers make these next-gen two-wheelers lightweight, rugged, and reliable. By Caroline Hayes e-bike In 2015, singer Katie Meluha told us that there were nine million bicycles in Beijing, which equated to one bicycle for everyRead More

A roundtable discussion with ITT Cannon, TE Connectivity, and AVX Interconnect about connectors and cabling in cross-market, automotive, off-highway and agricultural vehicle, rail, and commercial aviation markets. We talk to three of the connector companies that are innovating components for the transportation market. They share insights on what’s coming next for this exciting and rapidlyRead More

New automotive technologies are changing the ways that cars are wired. Here’s a look at some of the systems that are rising in importance as automation, electrification, and connectivity take the wheel. By Gabe Osorio, Regional Sales Engineer, Transportation Business Unit, TTI Inc. Rugged, Modular Connector Systems A major emerging technology in the electronic componentsRead More

Efforts to improve automotive safety are trickling down to the smallest vehicles, including those that never hit the roads. Automated Vehicles The quest to develop safer cars is also influencing the design of smaller vehicles, benefitting manufacturing companies, warehouses, and the people who work in them. A new generation of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), alsoRead More

A new wave of optometry equipment relies on sensors, high-speed connectors, and the Internet of Things. Until recently, a routine visit to the eye doctor included a series of tests conducted using mostly mechanical tools. The standard optometry devices have continually evolved since their historical origins, but upgrades have been incremental — modern lighting systems,Read More

Autonomous machines and the Internet of Things have brought sensors to the forefront of electronics design. As the Internet of Things continues to expand and more applications feature autonomous functions, sensors have become an integral part of many electronic products. They capture the information that brings capability, autonomy, and precision to products in markets rangingRead More

The possibility of battery-free cell phones poses an existential threat to connector makers — or a new challenge. By Neil Shurtz Ask anyone what the biggest flaw is with their smartphone, and they’ll probably say it’s the battery. Relative to their massively expanded computing power and functionality, cell phones have actually come a long wayRead More

IoT technology has enabled life-changing innovations in medicine, security, transportation, and communication. But it’s also unleashed a wave of unnecessary or downright goofy devices. Are we in the Age of Wisdom or the Age of Foolishness? There is little doubt that the Internet has had a huge impact on our daily life. Some have evenRead More

As data rates increase, designers are encountering performance limits, signal loss, and higher costs, and congested PCBs. High-speed internal cable assemblies offer a potential solution. By I-PEX Connectors The increased complexity of enterprise computing equipment is one of the many factors that make today’s computing environment challenging. These complexity issues are further exacerbated by theRead More

Driverless golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles may become mainstream well before autonomous cars become common. By Terry Costlow Golf cart suppliers have beat the auto industry in the race to electric power. Now they’re striving to make big inroads into the autonomous vehicle field. The challenges and benefits of using both electrified powertrains andRead More

A team of scientists is tapping electronics distributors and open source data to create better, cheaper environmental monitoring stations — and they want to help others do it themselves. Our water resources are under constant assault. Agricultural runoff, chemical pollutants, pharmaceuticals, water-borne pathogens, and other factors can render water unsafe to drink or swim in,Read More