“Everyone in robotics is still focused on SWaP”

The smaller the drone, the more the weight of a connector matters. Larger military or search and rescue drones will use larger connectors, but they have to work doubly hard, often sending both power and signal in one connector.” Ptacek says that connector suppliers are designing connectors that provide full functionality in reduced package sizes. “Depending on the application, designers can switch to a lightweight aluminum connector to shave off ounces, or fractions of ounces, if it becomes important. Design engineers are also looking for low-profile connectors to keep sleek designs and save space.”