As robots become ubiquitous and the tasks they take on grow more complex, one constant remains: they must be able to endure harsh environment conditions without interruption or performance impacts. The definition of “harsh” varies significantly across the many operating environments that require automated processes. Some robots may be working in a highly controlled cleanRead More

From tiny CubeSats to SpaceVPX satellites, the night sky is full of new constellations. Selecting components that can handle launch stressors, radiation, extreme temperatures, and other space challenges is essential to the mission. In the past three years alone, so many thousands of satellites have been launched into orbit that it’s difficult to gaze intoRead More

High-reliability connectors and cable assemblies play a crucial role in ensuring the functionality and longevity of robotic systems and devices that operate in space, ocean, and downhole environments. Developing robots for deployment in harsh and unforgiving environments, from the depths of the ocean to outer space and everywhere in between, presents a unique set ofRead More

As current space systems advance and new technologies develop, the space industry will evolve drastically over the next few decades. The United States, Russia, and China have major space programs; the EU, India, Canada, Japan, and others are growing their footprint in space; and 80 countries have satellites projects. By 2040, Citigroup expects the globalRead More

Meet the Connector: MTL-DTL-55116 Connectors The MIL-DTL-55116 connector is an electrical connector that has been used for more than five decades to connect audio and radio frequency (RF) devices in military and aerospace applications. It was introduced by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) in 1969 to meet the military’s need for robust andRead More

As automation becomes increasingly prevalent in modern manufacturing, the demand for high-speed factory automation networks is on the rise — and specifying the right connectors for these harsh environments is crucial. As automation becomes increasingly prevalent in modern manufacturing, the demand for high-speed factory automation networks is on the rise. The networks responsible for connectingRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights radiation-resistant interconnects from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Radiation-resistant interconnects The formulation of the patented Flexx-Sil from Cicoil, a Trexon company, enables ultraviolet-resistant cables that withstand exposure to high levels of radiation and ozone with no adverse effects. Cicoil flat cables and flat cable assemblies will perform well even afterRead More

As outdoor agriculture becomes less predictable, vertical farms are bringing the farm inside, where sealed interconnects, sensor systems, smart LEDs, and connected technologies optimize every aspect of the growing cycle. The summer of 2023 brought extreme challenges to farmers around the world. Storms, droughts, wildfires, and record-breaking temperatures wiped out many crop yields. Up toRead More

As growing conditions become less stable and predictable, Agriculture 4.0 is coming indoors and boosting agricultural productivity through connected technologies. Vertical farming, also known as smart agriculture and Agriculture 4.0, uses technology to enhance crop production by automatically tracking critical parameters such as soil nutrition, temperature, and moisture levels for planting, fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting.Read More

The agriculture industry is looking to connected technologies to improve outcomes and ease the amount of effort required to produce food for a growing planet. The future of the agriculture industry is on the horizon — one where technology will be leveraged to provide greater control over nearly every aspect of the growing process andRead More

Space deployment involves major engineering challenges. Evaluating risks and potential problems is an essential part of the process when specifying space connectors. Space deployment brings a multitude of major engineering challenges, and an essential part of the component selection process involves correctly specifying space connectors. Before deciding on what high-reliability connectors and cable assemblies toRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights D-Sub connectors from leading suppliers. D-Sub Connectors Avnet supplies TE Connectivity’s AMPLIMITE family of D-subminiature connectors. These D-subminiature connectors are the most popular type of input/output (I/O) connectors in use today. Established and proven, they are rugged, easily used, and have been widely adopted in standards for serial communications, telecommunications,Read More