Lane Electronics has identified new opportunities for Wield Electronics’ portfolio of compact connector technologies within the rapidly expanding unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, where lightweight construction, high reliability and short development cycles are increasingly important.
The company says established connector technologies can help UAV designers avoid the development time and risk associated with creating new interconnect systems, particularly where platforms must withstand vibration and other demanding operating conditions.
Growth in defence, surveillance, aerial mapping and industrial inspection drones is also driving greater integration of onboard artificial intelligence and autonomous control. These systems increase the need for compact interconnects capable of maintaining electrical and mechanical performance while minimising weight and occupied space.
The LM200 Series, manufactured to BS9525 F0033, uses a 2mm pitch and is available in single- and dual-row configurations for rigid PCB, flex-circuit and cable-mounted applications. The connectors incorporate UL94 V-0 high-temperature insulators and aerospace-grade gold-plated contacts with positive spring latching. They operate from -55°C to +125°C and are designed for high-vibration environments.
The M300 Series provides a three-row, 2mm pitch configuration for applications requiring higher contact density. It supports simultaneous current ratings of up to 3A per contact and can be specified with jackscrew locking for applications where connector access is restricted.
For configurable architectures, the D2 Series uses stackable double-contact modules, allowing engineers to specify pin, socket or mixed contact arrangements. Gold-plated solder bucket contacts are rated at up to 5A per contact, with an operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C.
The SMC Series targets particularly space-constrained platforms. Its circular connector has an overall diameter of 8.45mm and provides three-way polarised mating with snap-lock retention. Gold-plated solder bucket contacts are rated at 3A continuous, while cable hoods provide additional protection.
All four families are available through Lane Electronics’ stockholding, supported by component inventories at Weald Electronics. This is intended to support both rapid prototyping and production requirements as UAV programmes transition from development to manufacture.
Lane Electronics also supplies RF and fibre-optic connectivity for defence and security applications, with next-day delivery available on more than 90% of standard products.
