Unmanned Systems Technology 012 | AutoNaut USV | Connectors | Unmanned Ground Vehicles | Cobra Aero A33i | Intel Falcon 8+ UAV | Propellers | CES Show report

34 Focus | Connectors All of this leads into the harness design, as each cable in the harness is terminated at a connector, and the weight of the harness is a major factor in the design and performance of the system. Optimising the design of the connector and wiring system is therefore an important part of the cost, performance and overall reliability of an unmanned system. Connector categories There are many types of connectors, and it is important to differentiate between a connector and, in electronic systems, the protocol it carries. Many specifications define a connector format as well as the signal protocol, which makes sense. For example, USB 2, USB 3 and HDMI have been synonymous with the type of connector and protocol they carry. That is to ensure commonality and compatibility between equipment so that, for example, an HDMI socket on a 4k digital camera can take a standard cable with the right connector. That is essential in consumer systems and some areas of unmanned designs. These protocols can also be carried by custom, more reliable connectors though. That has been common in military systems which have their own sets of standards, and the same standards are being applied to connectors used in industrial systems to provide higher levels of reliability. Quick Lock USB 3.0 connectors for example can provide the higher signal speeds and uninterrupted performance for harsh environments. The connector adds the additional features of secure latching without using tools, and IP68 environmental sealing. The male plug comes pre-wired in an environmentally sealed over- mould, while the female board and panel mount connectors are available in dual row surface mount or through- hole terminations for direct-to-board assemblies or wired for routing to other areas in the system. This move to separating connector and protocol is also being seen in consumer systems with the latest USB standard, Type C. This time, the standard defines just the connector and a range of protocols, such as USB 3.0 and USB 3.1. In this case, USB 3.1 signals could be carried over current USB type A or B connectors, or over a Type C connector. HDMI Version 1.4a of HDMI was introduced in 2010, and adds a high-speed networking channel to an HDMI link. This allows users to take full advantage of an IP- enabled device without a separate Ethernet cable, for example to control the zoom and focus on a UAV camera. The standard also defines a new micro-connector aimed at HD video from smartphones and smaller camera systems. It includes an automotive connection system as well, with cables and connectors for automotive video systems carrying video back from optical cameras around a vehicle to a controller. These can carry up to 2 Gbit/s of data. Many 4k camera systems that will be mounted on a UAV gimbal will use an HDMI 1.4a port as the output, which means an HDMI connector will be February/March 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology USB connectors can be made more rugged for unmanned system designs such as driverless cars (Courtesy of Molex) USB and HDMI have been synonymous with the type of connector and protocol they carry, to ensure commonality