Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1437663
24 Enabling the Industrial IoT Revolution Connected construction uses data for greater safety and efficiency in construction operations. Without that data, employees could be at greater risk, equipment might not operate effectively, and contractors incur increased maintenance costs and even work stoppages. Connected machinery and asset tracking are major factors that enable construction operations to continue 24/7 in all but the most extreme weather conditions. The key to data-intensive operations such as connected construction is reliable data connectivity. If data and signal connectivity are lost, construction stops. Construction sites are harsh environments, however, and that is the challenge for engineers who design electronic construction equipment or control systems that go into construction machinery. Construction sites are unfriendly to electronic components, computers and controllers, radio transmitters and receivers, network gear, surveying and monitoring devices, and all the data- intensive equipment widely used in today's construction operations. To ensure data integrity and uninterrupted communications, equipment must be designed with the right connectors for the application. In harsh construction environments, poor connections are the primary cause of communications and data interruptions—the types of interruptions that can halt an operation. So, what are the right types of connectors for connected machinery and connected construction applications? " Connected machinery and asset tracking are major factors that enable construction operations to continue 24/7 in all but the most extreme weather conditions." Connections must meet the following criteria: • SUPPORT HIGH BANDWIDTH. Good bandwidth is important because connected machinery generates enormous amounts of data that real- time control systems must receive, process, and act on. The crane moving a three-ton air-conditioning unit to a roof is collecting and processing data from dozens of sensors critical for precision control of its heavy load while at the same time streaming video. Drones stream video while receiving command-and-control signals. RF and data connectors used in construction equipment must support reliable high-bandwidth connections, especially where signal latency is critical. • RUGGEDIZED CONNECTIONS. Construction sites subject electronic components to dust, water, oil, and mechanical stress. To assure data integrity in these environments, connectors should be stainless steel or single-piece brass, with appropriate plating for the application, and they should be sealed. Single-piece connectors withstand abuse and are less likely to break if a piece of equipment runs over them. • IP-RATED DESIGN. Equipment sealed against dust, moisture, and chemicals preserves the connection and prevents foreign materials from shorting or otherwise damaging electronic components. Connectors used in construction should have a water- and dust-proof rating of at least Ingress Protection (IP) code 67. Special plating on brass connectors might be required in certain applications, such as connectors on equipment used in marine environments. • LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOW PROFILE. Connectors for RFID receivers, laptop computers, remote measuring equipment, and handheld portable devices should be lightweight, low profile, and weatherproof; they should also provide easy connectivity. Weight is a particular challenge in drones. Connectors for drones should be in miniature and ultra- miniature formats, and they should be weatherproof to at least the IP67 standard.