ROBUST FIBER OPTICS ARE FLYING HIGH IN SATELLITES AND LOW-ALTITUDE EVTOL AIRCRAFT MARK BENTON, ACTIVE PRODUCTS MANAGER & SR. PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER – RFO FOR ADVANCED SYSTEMS & ARCHITECTURE, TE CONNECTIVITY CHRISTOPHE PREL, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – RFO FOR ADVANCED SYSTEMS & ARCHITECTURE, TE CONNECTIVITY
Understanding how different flavors of fiber-optic technologies function in demanding aerospace applications can help designers select the most robust options. UAM (urban air mobility) and electric vertical take- off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft promise a greener, cleaner alternative to ground transport in cities. Constellations of LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites are launching a new era of data access across the globe. But to make these projects a reality, designers must solve many connectivity challenges in avionics and electronics packaging. Of course, satellites and eVTOL/UAV aircraft electronics operate in very different environments. Looking at the advantages
of fiber-optic technologies in both domains helps designers appreciate the robustness of available options, including expanded beam and physical contact fiber-optic interconnects, optical flex circuits, and space-qualified transceivers. By understanding options and collaborating with a qualified manufacturer, designers can achieve an end-to-end solution that succeeds in their specific project. WHY FIBER IN THE FIRST PLACE? The primary advantages of going with optical fiber are speed, weight, size, and robustness. For speed, fiber optics currently support 100 to 400 Gb/s — more than ten times the speed copper cable supports — with theoretical rates of 200 to 500 trillion bits per
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