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Robotics









       Higher-Level SWaP Challenges in
       UAV/MUMT Applications
         Employing advanced connectors to re-
       duce SWaP in electronic combat gear is
       important; in UAV and MUMT systems,   0.984                     0.75
       it’s critical. Optimizing SWaP in UAVs                                                      0.30 (Push-Pull)
       improves the fuel-to-weight ratio, which                                                    0.35 (Threaded)
       enables longer flight and surveillance pe-
       riods and potentially smaller aircraft. In      CeeLok FAS-X        CeeLok FAS-T     CeeLok FAS-T
       addition, minimizing thermal and elec-          Connector           Connector        Nano Connector
       tromagnetic interference (EMI) signa-                               Size 8 Shell
                                                       Size 11 Shell
       tures is essential to reduce the chances of
       being detected and shot down.      Figure 1. Small circular connectors support high speeds for end-to-end connectivity in cramped applica-
         UAVs—also described as small un-  tions. (Courtesy TE Connectivity)
       manned air systems (UAS) or micro air
       vehicles—can be classified by size:   can be carried on a soldier’s utility belt.   level connector solution is presented
       Nano-UAS, micro-UAS, or larger tactical   Nano UASs are even smaller, hand-sized   below.
       UAVs. Each platform employs electron-  units using microelectromechanical sys-
       ics at different scales that impose   tems (MEMS) such as miniaturized ac-  Solutions to Connector SWaP
       unique SWaP challenges for connectors.   celerometers and gyroscopes.   Challenges
                                            Onboard sensors and intelligence can   To optimize SWaP in UAV/MUMT ap-
       Connector SWaP Challenges in Tactical   be used for obstacle-avoidance and tar-  plications, designers can work with a
       UAVs                               get-following capabilities. Small embed-  wide variety of connectivity options:
         Aligning with the miniaturization   ded computing can support artificial in-  • For “micro” circular connectors based
       trend in military equipment design,   telligence for adaptive formation flying,   on MIL-DTL-38999 Series 3: Micro cir-
       UAVs are getting smaller and more pow-  self-healing, collective decision-making,   cular connectors such as the DEUTSCH
       erful. Tactical UAVs are not only less vis-  and encrypted network communications.   Wildcat Micro connector offer a signif-
       ible than larger conventional drones,   Micro-drone swarms are useful in intelli-  icantly reduced shell size with two
       they provide increased surveillance and   gence, surveillance, and reconnaissance   housing sizes and four layouts accom-
       reconnaissance capabilities. Payloads   (ISR), but they are often considered ex-  modating 3, 5, or 9 contacts.
       may include multiple cameras and sen-  pendable. If one goes down, just send up   • For small, micro- and nano-minia-
       sors for infrared, thermal, and visible   another. In these applications, designers   ture connectors: Compact rectangu-
       light, as well as sophisticated embedded   may employ compact, commercial off-  lar, coax, and sealed circular connec-
       computing and storage devices.     the-shelf (COTS) and COTS+ connectors.    tors offer extreme weight and space
         Along with lightweight connectors to                                 savings. Small form factor rectangular
       reduce weight to extend flight time, ro-  Connector SWaP Challenges in MUMTs   connectors (369 series) are fully
       bust board and backplane connectors   At the opposite end of the nanoscale,   sealed and accommodate blind mat-
       are needed to handle the required band-  MUMT architectures involve multiple   ing.  Smaller scale connectors, like
       width. For example, the Gorgon Stare   UAV platforms covering an entire bat-  Nanonics connectors, are designed to
       airborne surveillance platform can   tlefield formation and networked over   fit micro miniature D, subminiature
                    2
       cover a 100 km  area with an ARGUS   an airborne data link system. MUMT   and ultra-miniature coaxial needs.
       imaging system. The system’s 368 5-  systems empower warriors with a tacti-  The circular 8-position CeeLok FAS-T
       megapixel cameras can generate 1.8-bil-  cal control system (TCS). That provides   Nano connector features a 0.30-inch
       lion-pixel images and video at 12   several levels of UAV interaction, from   (7.6 mm) diameter and supports 10
       frames per second. Several terabytes of   receiving and transmitting imagery and   Gigabit Ethernet.
       data are generated per minute. To han-  data to full function and control of UAV   • For compact fiber connectivity: ARINC
       dle the bandwidth, a VPX backplane is   payloads, take offs, and landings.   845-compliant EB termini (EB16)
       needed that employs advanced board-  Consequently, advanced connectivity   combine high performance and non-
       level optical and RF connectivity.   solutions are needed to support a wide   contact vibration resistance in mini
                                          range of bandwidth-hungry applica-  sizes for single-mode and multimode
       Connector SWaP Challenges in Micro   tions that can include: sensor data from   fiber. Advanced transceiver modules
       UASs                               multiple airborne platforms, IP-enabled   like ParaByte feature a small thermal
         Micro-UAS can operate in swarms al-  network-centric operations, multi-band   signature and support up to 12.5 Gb/s
       lowing a cluster of individual units to   antennae, data link subsystem proces-  transmission rates per channel.
       communicate and function as a team.   sors, Digital Video Recorder (DVR) stor-  • For less bulky cabling: Cross-linked in-
       Reducing SWaP is critical for micro UASs.   age, and full motion video (FMV) to the   sulation in Raychem cabling is me-
       Some weigh less than three pounds and   tactical edge. A high-bandwidth board-  chanically tough, thermally stable,

       8                                                                                            www.aerodefensetech.com                     Aerospace & Defense Technology, May 2020
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