Skip to main content

Find out how drones are making the impossible a reality

With drone technology becoming more intelligent, this scenario is approaching reality at a very fast pace. Drones are now capable of hovering more accurately, as well as manoeuvring around obstacles, both in the air and on land. TE Connectivity is playing a critical role in the drone application solution because of its broad portfolio of connector and sensor solutions that support the advancement in drone technology.

The following video shows the fast range of applications where drones are being used today to create an awesome tomorrow.

Let’s get back to drone basics

Drones - also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) - are flown with no passengers while being controlled from the ground. They range from being craft built by hobbyists to advanced technology military uses. The worldwide drones market is expected to reach a value of nearly $6 billion in 2020. Additionally, with commercial drone use on the rise, the global market is also rising and expected to reach $1.8 billion by 2020.

Drones are used in the agriculture and industrial sectors, along with being used for firefighting and rescue missions. Furthermore, commercial sector’s growth is being driven by the use of drones to take aerial photographs and in high-risk and law enforcement applications.

Drones are also continuing to shrink in size, all the while continuing to become more sophisticated. Fuelled by the advancement in technology, there is a growing demand for an increase in sensing proficiency, faster computing and data processing speeds, and the capability of drones to be controlled by smartphone devices.

TE-Drone-1-18-V41_3bee534a1cc7fda46ddebf65e50edc7bf2de8378.jpgThe sensor technology behind drone application solutions

Drones utilise air pressure sensors to stabilise altitude, allowing hover capabilities needed for videography or photography. TE Connectivity has developed a range of sensor solutions to support the advancement in drone technology.

Digital Barometric Pressure Sensors (MS5607 (893-7095)  / MS5611 (893-7130) measure air pressure then convert it into altitude and combined with an accelerometer and a gyroscope, will enable drones to fly with precision. These sensors are capable of identifying air pressure of 0.012mbar (1.2pa and is approx. equal to lifting height of 10cm) at a low altitude, near sea level.

MS5611 High-Resolution Altimeter Sensors are equipped with an SPI and I2C bus interface. These sensors include a high linearity pressure sensor and an ultra-low power 24 bit Δ∑ADC with internal factory calibrated coefficients. It provides a precise digital 24-bit pressure and temperature value with different operation modes that allow the users to optimise for conversion speed and current consumption. A high-resolution temperature output allows the implementation of an altimeter/thermometer function without any additional sensor.

Interface with virtually any microcontroller with the MS5611-01BA / MS5607-02BA. Based on leading MEMS technology, the sensing principle allows for a very low hysteresis and high stability of both the pressure and temperature signals.

The HTU21D(F) digital humidity sensors with temperature output (146-8207) set new standards in terms of size and intelligence. They are embedded in a reflow solderable Dual Flat No leads (DFN) package with a small 3 x 3 x 0.9 mm footprint. This sensor provides calibrated, linearized signals in digital, I²C format and accurately measure temperature and humidity in tough weather conditions. The HTU21D(F) enables precise engineering with a strict linear response curve through humidity (0-100%) and temperature (-40 to 125°C) respectively.

 

Power Solutions for Drones

TE Connectivity has the solutions to help provide power and connectivity for your most complex drone designs.

te-drones-infographic_6d3c5de0c6a9623f69c71c61df1e518b4d4c4c0c.jpg

 

POWER TRIPLE LOCK connectors (782-4355) featuring 3-in-1 mating to provide reliability and ease of assembly.

Power key connectors (173-5296)  developed for power circuits of home appliances.

Power double lock connectors (135-8519) which can be found in anything from refrigerators and air conditioners to gas equipment and vending machines.

GRACE INERTIA connector series (111-5547) mate to simultaneously complete the circuit and lock the connector.

With the demand for commercial and consumer drones growing and consumers becoming more familiar and savvy with drones and their growing applications, there is an ever more important need for evolving solutions that provide “can’t fail” performance for investments that are often flying hundreds of feet in the air. Also with regulations for drones increasing, users also need to know that they can depend on their signals and power connectivity to keep them on the right flight path. TE’s solutions can help you to deliver exciting and dependable drone experiences.

Click to find out how TE’s solutions can help you to deliver exciting and dependable drone experiences.

LAURENCE / TE CONNECTIVITY has not written a bio yet…
DesignSpark Electrical Logolinkedin