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Micro Technic, the Danish company that aims to create a more sustainable world through smarter data collection solutions, today unveiled its latest generation of IoT sensor hubs. Skylark is a complete and flexible IoT solution that enables the monitoring and collection of data from any remote application. Simple to set up and connect to any sensor, Skylark comes with an easy device management platform. A resilient, stable and durable IoT solution that ensures cyber-safe data transmission at the edge, Skylark is also an extremely low power, sustainable IoT gateway that can be powered by battery or solar energy and features multiple wireless options.

Although suitable for multiple IoT applications, Micro Technic is positioning Skylark for some specific sectors.

Climate change     

As the Earth warms, increasingly extreme weather conditions are posing threats to our cities, environments and infrastructure. Therefore, it is vital to know gain an early warning of when and where these changes are happening in order to take appropriate action before events become dangerous or worse. Explains CEO, Frank Max Laursen: “Our focus on green energy liberates our Skylark IoT datalogger from needing a traditional power supply, which means that devices can be deployed on the highest mountains, the stormiest coastal areas or the most remote regions in the world.”

Traffic    

Skylark IoT solutions make it possible to analyse traffic patterns by collecting critical data This enables planners to find smarter ways to manage and improve the infrastructure and traffic. By taking this approach, cities can be made smarter and more sustainable, and the number of deaths from road accidents can be reduced.

Manufacturing                                                       

Making the most of resources and eliminating inefficient production processes is essential, both for sustainability and profitability. Inefficiency is caused by a lack of insight into the behaviour and performance of equipment. A faulty machine will produce output of lower quality which can go unnoticed the machine breaks down. Skylark helps manufactures to monitor any process in the production line and make sustainable choices to improve productivity and reduce downtime.

Skylark can be retrofitted to existing equipment easily, adding Industry 4.0 functionality, thereby increasing machine lifetime and supporting circular business models. Adds Laursen: “As well as ensuring product efficiency during its life, IoT can give manufactures insight as to when products are no longer being used, and can also tell the manufactures where their old hardware is located, via the internet-connectivity of the products. This means we can provide a ‘cradle-to-grave’ service.”

Agriculture                                                                          

As the global population expands, the demand for food increases. Yet farmers and growers must deal with volatile and intense weather conditions, which impact the quality and quantity of crop production. Skylark IoT solutions can give insights on soil quality, weather conditions and crop status by measuring variables like humidity, temperature and moisture. Skylark’s low power and robustness means that the IoT dataloggers can be placed remotely in demanding environment with minimal maintenance.

Concludes Laursen: “Our view is that the IoT will playing a vital role supporting the green transition and creating a more sustainable world. We are playing our part by working on realising targets from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12. We want to be an innovative partner for our customers. To facilitate this, we have created the Engineering Campfire,  a creative IoT workshop where our engineers help transform our customers vision and great ideas into IoT solutions that improve and add value to their businesses.”

The addition of two new PCIe Digitizer cards from Spectrum Instrumentation extends the company’s flagship M5i series to deliver optimal GHz signal acquisition and analysis capabilities. The one and two channel cards offer a stunning combination of ultrafast 10 GS/s sampling speed, with 12-bit vertical resolution, and market-leading 12.8 GB/s data streaming (over the PCIe bus). To achieve the unbeatable streaming rate, they use 16 lane, Gen3, PCIe technology. This allows the acquired data to be sent directly to PC memory for storage, or to CPUs and GPUs for customised signal processing and analysis. The cards also feature front-end circuitry with over 3 GHz bandwidth and up to 16 GB (8 GSamples) of on-board memory. It all adds up to make these cards a powerful package for engineers and scientists dealing with today’s most challenging GHz-range electronic signals.

With 12-bit resolution, these innovative digitizers offer better dynamic range than most conventional test instruments. For example, they deliver 16 times more resolution than many digital oscilloscopes, which typically use 8-bit analogue to digital converters. The extra resolution allows measurements to be made with better signal to noise ratio (SNR), and improved accuracy and precision. It also lets users capture and characterise fine signal details that are often missed by lower resolution devices.

The cards are designed to handle a wide variety of signals, such as those found in communications, semiconductor testing, spectroscopy, optical systems and quantum physics. The front-end circuitry has over 3 GHz bandwidth, with programmable full-scale ranges from ±200 mV to ±2.5 V together with variable offset. Acquisitions can be made in single-shot or multiple-waveform recording modes. Multiple recording divides the on-board memory into segments and allows the acquisition of numerous events, even at very high trigger rates. It is perfect for situations like those encountered in serial bus testing or with devices using stimulus-response processes, such as those found in LIDAR and RADAR systems. For added flexibility, the on-board memory can be used as a ring-buffer, working much like a conventional oscilloscope, or as a FIFO-buffer for the continuous streaming of data to the PC environment.

To help capture the most elusive signals, a host of trigger modes are available for use on the channel or external trigger inputs. The modes include conventional edge triggering, along with more sophisticated methods such as Window, Re-Arm, Or/And (logical), Software and Delay. Triggering is fast and accurate with waveform data being stored together with its relevant trigger time stamp information. SMA connectors are available on the front panel for the channel inputs, clock and trigger inputs and outputs, as well as four multi-functional digital I/O lines. The extra clock and trigger connections make it possible to synchronise the card with additional digitizers or other measurement devices.

The cards can turn almost any PC it into a powerful measurement tool just by installing them in a suitable PCIe slot. This also opens the door for anyone wishing to use the latest CPU and GPU hardware for signal processing and analysis. The cards come with all the tools necessary to use them in a PC running either a Windows or Linux operating system. A software development kit (SDK) is provided so that the cards can be programmed with almost any popular language. This includes C, C++, C#, Delphi, VB.NET, J#, Python, Julia, Java, LabVIEW, and MATLAB. The SDK contains all the required driver libraries as well as programming examples. Alternatively, for users who do not want to write their own code, the company offers SBench 6 Professional. This powerful measurement software provides full card control, along with a host of data display, analysis, storage, and documentation capabilities.

A key differentiator for all the Spectrum Instrumentation PCIe cards is their capability to stream data directly to and from a CUDA GPU. This is made possible by the company’s SCAPP package (Spectrum’s CUDA Access for Parallel Processing), which is available as a low-cost option. SCAPP includes the drivers for CUDA GPU support and allows users to develop their own processing routines. To help getting started, the package includes working examples that can be modified and built upon. It is ideal for users who need to perform data intensive processing, like continuous averaging for noise reduction, or MPoint-FFTs for spectral analysis.

Another option that is available for the new cards is on-board summation averaging (option M5i.33xx-spavg). Averaging is a very useful tool for reducing unwanted signal noise. At the same time, it can improve measurement resolution beyond the digitizers standard 12-bit performance, delivering more dynamic range and better SNR. The option uses the cards on-board FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) technology to average waveforms, even when they are sampled at the full 10 GS/s. The result is one of the fastest signal averaging solutions on the market, capable of averaging at an astonishing rate of up to 15 million events per second due to the extremely short dead-time of less than 40 ns between events!

Oliver Rovini, Chief Technical Officer, said “These new digitizer cards represent a significant technological step for Spectrum Instrumentation. By offering faster sampling rates and higher bandwidth, we can now address a broader market. For example, we can help more engineers and scientists when they need to acquire and characterise waveforms in the GHz range, or very fast pulses with sub-nanosecond edge speeds. The products are designed to be easy to use and flexible enough to handle almost any signal. It could be a low-level pulse coming from a reflected laser source or high-speed communications signals that involve some sort of sophisticated modulation technique.”

Like all Spectrum Instrumentation products, the new M5i.3350-x16 and M5i.3357-x16 cards carry a 5-year product warranty. They come with customer support, direct from the engineering team, and free software/firmware updates are provided for the whole lifetime of the product. The M5i.33xx series offers 5 different models, with one or two channels, letting you select sampling rates of 3.2, 6.4 or 10 GS/s, and bandwidths of 1, 2 or 3 GHz. For more information, please visit www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

According to new research, one in five British teenagers aspire for a career as a social media influencer. The field of engineering is currently far less popular among young people. Here, Martyn Williams, managing director of COPA-DATA UK, explains how industry can help to tackle the skills shortage in the sector, with just a little influencing required.

A study by Engineering UK demonstrated that 11 to 19-year-olds have a negative perception of the engineering field, presuming the industry is “difficult, complicated and dirty.” In fact, nearly half of this age group stated that they knew very little about what engineers actually do.

The failure of engineering companies to attract young recruits is a real issue across industry and has a few contributing factors. One is geography. Because industrial jobs are no longer in economic centres for communities, young adults — from the North of England, South Wales or the Midlands for example — want to flock to London.

Another issue is that, of the young people who are interested in STEM careers, many have been misled that jobs in these fields are more closely aligned with Elon Musk than Frank Whittle, James Dyson or Ada Lovelace. None of whom, at least to my knowledge, boasted of ping pong tables and free beer Fridays in the office.

Many of today’s STEM graduates would rather work for a company like Google that they perceive as modern, clean and exciting, than in a more traditional engineering field. This is particularly prevalent in fields that are perceived as difficult, complicated and dirty, such as in oil and gas, as cited in EngineeringUK’s research.

These trends are also reflected in education. The low value placed on teaching traditional engineering skills has been an issue for a long-time. Educational establishments generally favour engineering courses relating to software or web development. What’s more, some are actually running courses on how to become social media influencers.

The result is an over-abundance of wannabe influencers and, in the engineering field, newly-qualified programmers with underused degrees in software or computer science. This is a stark contrast to the availability of graduates with traditional engineering skills. Recruiter Sterling Choice reports that the drastic lack of new skilled workers has led to increased recruitment, training and temporary staff costs, adding up to £1.5bn a year in the UK.

Social causes

So, what can manufacturers do to reverse these trends and attract more young people to the engineering industry? For a start, there needs to be greater collaboration between businesses and education. Experienced C-Level engineers could be doing a lot more to enter education establishments and teach young people about the benefits of careers in engineering. I’m taking part in the STEM Ambassador program for this very reason.

Values are also very important and something businesses should consider. According to Forbes, “The younger generation is vocal and insistent that businesses also take part in important social causes.” Increasingly, younger people seek purpose in their working lives, and they want to feel they are making a difference by working for companies with values that match their own.

For instance, A recent survey by EY found that most young people don’t wish to pursue careers in the oil and gas sector due to its negative environmental impact, but two-thirds said a job in green energy was appealing. In other words, young people today are demanding jobs that mirror their green values.

With this in mind, educators and industrial companies must collaborate to show young people how engineering and technology can positively affect social issues.

More accessible roles

So, how can industry better inform young people about the positive impact of their business? Let’s use the climate crisis as an example. Energy software, like zenon from COPA-DATA can play a crucial role in helping businesses strive towards net zero. zenon is the de facto standard software used on the UK’s offshore windfarms, including the world’s first ever floating offshore wind facility. Business leaders from other companies need to shout about projects like these to enthuse young people to join their organisation.

Young people can find plenty of opportunities in engineering that mirror their own values. That’s also why COPA-DATA is involved with the trade association GAMBICA, including its GAMBICA Young Council (GYC) to get rising stars and future leaders involved in a variety of sectors including engineering.

Through collaborations like these, education and industry can take a leaf out of the younger generation’s book and influence. Tackling the worldwide shortage of young engineers is crucial for the future of industry — and is essential to save us from another generation of influencers.

To learn more about how zenon automation so from COPA-DATA can benefit your workforce, visit its website.

RS Group today announced that Simon Pryce is to be appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director with effect from 3 April 2023. David Egan, currently Acting CEO, will work alongside Simon in his role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Simon is a highly experienced business leader of customer focused, global industrial manufacturing and service businesses. He has a strong track record of driving results and delivering excellent stakeholder outcomes through enhanced performance and the effective execution of organic and inorganic growth strategies.

Most recently, Simon was CEO of Ultra Electronic Holdings plc for over four years which was acquired by Advent in August 2022. Prior to this, he was Group Chief Executive at BBA Aviation plc for 10 years and previously held a range of international finance and management roles. Simon has served as a Non-Executive Director of RS since 2016 and been Chair of the Remuneration Committee since 2019.

Rona Fairhead, Chair, said: “Following a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to appoint Simon Pryce as CEO of RS Group. Simon is an experienced and proven CEO of high performing international businesses with strong, effective cultures. He has been an enormously valued member of the RS Board for the last six years and been highly engaged in the development of the Group’s strategy. The Board is very confident that Simon has the right leadership style, skills and experience to lead RS to continued future success in the next stage of the Group’s growth.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank and acknowledge the excellent work David has done, both as Acting CEO and as CFO, in driving progress and the continued successful transformation, performance and growth at RS. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the dedicated RS teams around the world for their hard work and continued passion and commitment to maintaining the momentum we have in the business.”

Simon Pryce said: “RS is a business that I have admired both as a Board member, and indirectly as a customer, for some time. RS has delivered a strong performance over the last few years. However, what excites me most is the significant potential of this Group, with its great people and culture. I relish the opportunity to work with David and our colleagues globally to drive the Group’s growth, further enhance operational execution and continue to evolve the RS high-performance, purpose-led culture.”

Simon will step down from all the Board committees on which he sits with immediate effect. Joan Wainwright will replace Simon as Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, has been recognised by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

TE has been recognised by Ethisphere for nine years in a row. In 2023, 135 honourees were recognised spanning 19 countries and 46 industries. TE is just one of two companies representing the electronics and components industry.

“When you’re creating technology that is helping to make the world a better place to live, it’s important to do it the right way. That’s why everything we do is driven by integrity, teamwork, accountability and innovation,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “We are honoured that Ethisphere has once again recognised TE’s dedication to our values and our ethics.”

The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives that support a strong value chain.

“Ethics matters. Organisations that commit to business integrity through robust programs and practices not only elevate standards and expectations for all, but also have better long-term performance,” said Ethisphere CEO Erica Salmon Byrne. “We continue to be inspired by the World’s Most Ethical Companies honourees and their dedication to making real impact for their stakeholders and displaying exemplary values-based leadership. Congratulations to TE Connectivity for earning a place in the World’s Most Ethical Companies community.”

It’s true that implementing an ASIC into a new, or existing, product involves multiple steps. From its initial specification and evaluation of first engineering samples, to prototype production and the final tape out, plus many more activities in between, the process may seem onerous first-time around. In reality, a full turnkey (FTK) custom integrated circuit (IC) provider is all a company needs to invest in, as Richard Mount, Director of Sales at Swindon Silicon Systems, explains.

Many steps go into creating a custom IC solution. Before an ASIC partner can even begin to consider the finished chip, they need enough detail to produce a full technical report on the proposed design and supply process, including performance requirements and target package size and type. This information then determines the optimal wafer fabrication process and provides insights into the production test requirements.

From this, the design team can begin to map out key milestones in the ASIC’s development. This includes the design of the analogue and digital circuits, chip partitioning requirements, form factor of the die, evaluation and qualification requirements, functional safety constraints and production wafer probe and package tests. All these elements are determined before the design is started, resulting in a detailed development plan that helps the customer prepare their budgets and kickstart their own product development strategy.

Choosing the right partner

When looking for an ASIC specialist, there are many questions to consider. What ASIC company has the correct skillset for my application? Do I work directly with a foundry, or do I look for a fabless company that has access to many processes and geometries? Who will qualify the ASIC to industrial or automotive standards? And where do you go for validation and who does the production test of the ASICs?

These are all valid questions, and there’ll certainly be benefits and drawbacks to any route a customer chooses to take. However, to truly benefit from a seamless ASIC experience, customers are best opting for an FTK service.

So, what does an FTK service involve? Essentially, it encompasses every element of an ASIC’s supply and design under one roof. Each step is either completed by the in-house team itself or, if the semiconductor company is fabless, then the wafer processing and encapsulation is outsourced and managed by the in-house team. The customer only needs to commit to one provider that will handle the delivery of the project and the supply of the production IC.

From the customer’s perspective, they’re investing in an intricate product that requires several areas of expertise, all through a single provider. The design, layout and verification of the silicon, management of the foundry and packaging, production test, quality assurance, failure analysis and order fulfilment are all performed and controlled by the FTK supplier.

Taking ownership

Taking the FTK approach brings many benefits. Its underlying advantage, however, is your IC partner having total ownership of the ASIC process. An ASIC company that outsources any of the device’s design and production test may encounter challenges when field failures occur or if changes need to be made. Any ambiguity on who takes the responsibility of a field return may result in unexpected costs and ultimately customer dissatisfaction.

If any issues were to occur, you could find separate design and production test companies not wanting to accept liability, and resolving that issue becomes more challenging than it needs to be. In contrast, if any amends were required within an FTK process, the responsibility is undisputedly with the FTK ASIC supplier and the responsibility is solely on them to provide a timely resolution.

This capability also brings with it the assurance of non-obsolescence, a known issue in today’s electronic component market. FTK ASIC companies design with non-obsolescence in mind, but if the silicon process or packaging were to go obsolete, manufacturers have peace-of-mind that their FTK ASIC supplier will guide them through that process and provide a solution that will ensure continuity of supply.

For packaging obsolescence, it’s usually easy to find an alternative source. If the silicon process becomes obsolete, the ASIC supplier can suggest the best route to take, whether that’s purchasing a last time buy (LTB) of fully packaged chips, an LTB of wafers or porting the design onto a new process. Whichever route is chosen, which solely depends upon the commercial aspects of each individual occurrence, peace of mind is provided in knowing your FTK supplier will provide a solution and ensure continuity of supply.

Another principal benefit of using an FTK ASIC partner is to protect intellectual property (IP). An ASIC is extremely difficult to re-engineer for re-use in other designs. Here at Swindon, we provide customers full ownership of the completed system design to ensure the IP of the final solution remains firmly in the customer’s possession.

At first glance, commissioning an ASIC may feel like a robust project that requires liaison with multiple experts. Opting for a FTK solution means this is much simpler. When considering an ASIC, it is essential to work with a full turnkey supplier, who can take responsibility for all aspects of the project, from initial consultancy, through to design, verification, qualification, production test and supply, for the lifetime of their product. 

Learn more about Swindon’s FTK ASIC service and enquire about a no-obligation first discussion by visiting the website.

Third Dimension, manufacturers of the GapGun and Vectro precision-measurement tools, have extended their T-series line of measurement sensor with the new T15. With its optimised field of view and high flexibility of use, the T15 sensor offers the perfect measurement tool for manufacturing.

The T15 sensor is compatible with both the hand-held GapGun or the automated Vectro devices. It measures a range of features including edge profiles, gaps, flush, welds and more, with exceptional precision and accessibility to the component.  

This new sensor addresses a key challenge for metrology and quality teams in the aerospace, automotive, energy and industrial sectors who regularly need to measure small radii and make accurate measurements on all sorts of component parts with total confidence to meet precision, safety and efficiency requirements.  

Francois Froment, CEO at Bristol-based Third Dimension, said: “We are delighted to be bringing this high precision sensor to market to start the year. Working closely with our distributors and customers we know that we have created a solution which meets their high precision metrology needs, including enhancing their industry 4.0 strategies.” 

“Whether for car parts or other industrial equipment, ensuring these fine tolerances through accurate measurement is essential, and in the past has been a labour-intensive activity for metrologists. The T15, which integrates easily with GapGun and Vectro, will help change this.”    

An automotive OEM and a Third Dimension Customer who took part in T15 trials, said: “The Gapgun used with the new T15 sensor offers an efficient tool to measure dashboards quickly and accurately. This tool allows us to digitalise our dashboard control, secure data traceability and provides an overall saving compared to manual gauges. Its exceptional ergonomic design allows operators to use the tool inline or offline.  

The T15 is highly adaptable and comes in two versions: the ‘V’ Universal sensor which can measure a range of surfaces from bright finishes to the very darkest paints and carbon surfaces, and the ‘M’ Metallic sensor for measuring bright machined metal, chrome components and highly reflective surfaces.  

The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has announced the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares in ECO-Adapt SAS. ECO-Adapt SAS offers innovative solutions for condition monitoring based on electrical signal analysis and systems for the optimisation of energy consumption.

The acquisition expands the Industrial division’s portfolio of lifetime solutions and strengthens its position in the field of digitally-based predictive maintenance. The Lifetime Solutions portfolio contains an extensive range of service offerings for industrial maintenance of machines throughout their entire operating life – from heating devices, alignment tools and condition monitoring solutions through to a wide selection of lubricants and matching automated lubricators.

Complementing existing OPTIME solutions with functions based on electrical signal diagnosis

OPTIME Condition Monitoring now offers a reliable predictive maintenance solution for industrial machinery based on signal analysis of vibration and temperature data. ECO-Adapt completes this scope by offering maintenance information on the basis of electrical signal analysis, providing additional security against potential failures of electrical components. Operators have the advantage of covering both mechanical and electrical issues with a holistic predictive maintenance system. This is a significant step towards the more sustainable operation of machines.

With ECO-Adapt Schaeffler offers a new range of products covering the optimisation of energy consumption during machine operation

The ECO-Adapt product line offers a comprehensive range of products that also covers customers energy monitoring needs. ECO-Adapt answers a constant request from customers: make monitoring easy to implement and use. The ECO-Adapt product line also provides revolutionary multi-circuit meters to facilitate industrial sub-metering, with a full cloud-based solution, including customised analytics and dashboards. Energy monitoring makes it possible to optimise overall energy consumption and provides information to find the optimum operating points of the machines in the most energy-intensive industries, for example, in cement, steel, pulp and paper, and many more.

“Condition monitoring of all critical powertrain components is a challenge for our customers in all industrial sectors. Our customers need scalable and holistic monitoring solutions that provide detailed insights into the condition of the mechanical parts, as well as the electrical components of electric motors in rotating machines. By working with ECO-Adapt, we can offer our customers top-quality services and solutions for bearings and electric powertrain components – throughout the entire lifecycle,” said Rauli Hantikainen, head of Schaeffler’s Lifetime Solutions strategic business unit.

Established in 2012 and headquartered in Paris, France, ECO-Adapt combines smart hardware and data analytics to provide solutions for the analysis and optimisation of energy consumption and the predictive maintenance of electric rotating machines. ECO-Adapt’s solutions are used by hundreds of customers in the production and maintenance departments of MRO and OEM companies, as well as in commercial buildings.

“Schaeffler is the ideal owner and strategic partner for us to continue our successful course in the future. Its expertise in industrial automation will allow us to scale up our offering and win many new customers. By combining our strengths in R&D, we will be able to launch promising new products in the field of innovative condition monitoring onto the market,” said Laurent Laparra, CEO of ECO-Adapt.

The acquisition will be effected by means of a share purchase agreement for 100 per cent of the shares. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction, which is scheduled to close during the first half of the year 2023 subject to customary closing conditions being met.

Expansion of Lifetime Solutions portfolio under “Roadmap 2025”

In accordance with the strategic direction set under its “Roadmap 2025,” Schaeffler is pushing ahead with the expansion of its portfolio of asset lifecycle products and services. As part of this, its Industrial division provides a comprehensive range of highly reliable products and services to help its customers manage today’s challenges and seize emerging opportunities. The aim is for plant operators to achieve greater planning certainty by minimising their unscheduled downtime, maximising their bearing and machine service life, enhancing their sustainability, and improving their operational reliability.

The acquisition of ECO-Adapt is a further strategic step in the strengthening of Schaeffler’s Lifetime Solutions portfolio. It follows the acquisition of BEGA International B.V. (Bega), a leading manufacturer of special tools for mounting and dismounting rolling bearings, in 2021.

Applications that offer limited space for hardware, for example in a military aircraft, pose unique challenges when it comes to finding the right connector solution. Applications like military and aerospace require smaller, more compact electrical connectors that are still capable of withstanding harsh environments. Here, Sean Fitall, European product manager at interconnect solutions supplier PEI-Genesis, explores how micro-miniature circular connectors can provide significant savings in both space and weight requirements while ensuring a reliable connection.

Future Market Insights predicts that the micro-miniature coaxial adaptor market will increase from $3.7 million USD in 2018 to $5.8 million by 2028. Likely drivers of this growth are the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the expectation that global air traffic will increase at a rate of 4.4 per cent per year over the next 20 years.

This is because microminiature connectors offer significant savings in both weight and space, owing to their small size and the level of performance equal to their larger, circular counterparts. In industries where extra ounces of equipment cuts payload capacity and uses more fuel, saving weight is important. In fact, Virgin Atlantic has estimated that losing a pound in weight from every plane in its fleet could save 53,000 litres of fuel a year, amounting to tens of thousands of US dollars in savings.

With this in mind, let’s discuss how aircraft manufacturers can tackle the challenge of space and weight restrictions at no sacrifice to connector performance.

Meeting the needs of the application

For manufacturers of military and aerospace devices, all electrical components must be able to operate in demanding conditions. For example, tactical equipment in a military aircraft is regularly exposed to vibrational forces, which can interrupt connections, loosen fastenings or, in a worse case scenario, damage the internal contacts. It is crucial, therefore, that micro-miniature connectors comply to MIL-DTL-38999 specifications for vibration and shielding.

The Amphenol 2M series of micro-miniature connectors are fully compliant to MIL-DTL specifications, meaning they have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they remain sealed in harsh environments and rated for temperatures of -65 to 175 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, on average this series offers 71 per cent weight savings compared to the MIL-DTL-38999 standard and are 52 per cent smaller.

Saving space and weight doesn’t mean you sacrifice performance, however. Most micro-miniature connectors are manufactured with a higher contact density than most other connectors in the same class, ensuring a strong and reliable signal transmission in small spaces. This is ideal for mission-critical applications like airframes, avionics boxes, tactical equipment and headsets, where a whole operation relies on the efficient transmission of information.

Design flexibility is also important when choosing a military or aerospace connector, particularly when an accidental disconnect could be detrimental to operations. Some applications, like communications systems in a military ground vehicle, will require bayonet coupling for faster mating and disconnect.

Therefore, choosing a connector that can be assembled with many coupling options, such as bayonet, threaded or breakaway, will offer this design flexibility. With this, customers are guaranteed a customised interconnect solution suitable for satellites, industrial equipment, military support technology, like hand-held radios, GPS devices and missile systems.

PEI-Genesis’ selection of connectors for the military and aerospace markets includes Amphenol’s MIL-DTL-38999 2M connectors and ITT Cannon MKJ series. This variety will ensure you get the best connectors to simplify your assembly process and improve the quality and reliability of your military and aerospace designs.

Learn more about PEI-Genesis in mission-critical applications www.peigenesis.com/military/military-connectors.