C&K Components’ launch Fast-Locking D-connector System for Satellite Applications. This innovation enables the user to install their connectors including hybrids onto PCB’s in a fraction of the time taken for traditional connectors.
Although this system has primarily been designed for Satellite Applications I can think of many other industrial and Hi-Tec application that this could be used for.
You can see a video of the product demonstration:
While on the theme of Space IEEE Spectrum is reporting that NASA will send the world’s first humanoid robot to space later this year. The humanoid, dubbed Robonaut 2 or R2, is set to launch on Space Shuttle Discovery on November 1, 2010, and will travel to the International Space Station, where it will become a permanent resident and work alongside humans as a robotic helper.
Connector industry angle? Harwin’s Mix-Tek Datamate connectors are used all over the Robonaut, specifically in the head and arms.
Harwin says that the Robonaut design team was looking for a board-to-board connector family that could handle fairly high currents of between 10 and 15A, while also handling signal and power, and all in the same, small package.
Mix-Tek 2mm pitch Datamate connectors are available in more than 7.8 million different configurations of signal, power and coax, effectively allowing the customer to design their own Datamate connector, specific to their application.
Turned contacts, used in conjunction with Harwin’s four-finger Beryllium Copper contact clip, ensure contact reliability. Mix-Tek Datamate connectors are available in Male PC Tail, Female Crimp, Male Crimp and Female PC Tail options with a maximum of 50 low frequency contacts or 12 special (coax and power) contacts. They mate with known industry equivalents to allow retro fitting and are ideally suited to demanding, high vibration applications.
Mouldings are polarised and have a UL94V-0 rating. Mix-Tek connectors comply with BS9525-F0033; CECC 75101-008; MIL C 55302 standards and are optionally available with jackscrew terminations for added security in applications which are subject to high vibration.
If you want to see the Robonaut you can check it out in this video by NASA:
