Connectors designed by the Hypertronics Corporation have been selected for use in a Northrop Grumman Corporation unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
Hypertronics KA electrical connectors were selected for their reliability and robustness in harsh environments and vibrations.
The UAS flies at altitudes of more than 60,000 ft for around 32 hours at a time and is used for science and weather monitoring as well as overseas contingency operations.
Hypertronics' contact system is comprised of a wire basket encapsulating a male pin.
The wire basket creates a 360-degree point contact which ensure reliability and prevents electrical intermittencies.
KA connectors were recently selected for use in the on-board space shuttle Atlantis mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
On this occasion, Hypertronics claimed that the connectors were selected by Nasa for their low insertion force and reliability.
The connectors provided power and processing signals between instruments on-board the mission craft.