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FEATURE CABLES & CONNECTORS
SAILING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
water. It features a super-ventilating triangular hydrofoil and is towed by a huge kite wing. The boat, which is in the final stages of design,
T
will feature Fischer Connectors technology for the data-transmission solutions interconnecting the various sensors that will equip the boat and its pilot to break the world sailing speed record.
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS There are currently several projects in the running to break the speed record, explained Mayeul van den Broek, CEO of the SP80 (
www.sp80.ch) startup based in Renens near Lausanne, Switzerland. The company was created in 2019 by a team of engineers and students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). He said: “This technological adventure is
fascinating, as we’re confronted with extremely challenging physical laws. That’s why our international team of nearly 50 people, some of whom are now finalising the innovative design of our boat which is being built in Persico Marine’s shipyard in Italy, is anxious to get the very best in terms of data-transmission performance and reliability. These technical requirements are crucial when it comes to interconnecting the various sensors with which our boat and its pilot will be equipped during the launch, the boat’s enhancement runs scheduled for the end of the year, and the record-breaking event scheduled for next year.” The data collected by the multiple sensors
and loggers monitoring the boat’s structure and the pilot’s performance will be transferred through the connectors, associated cables and electronic solutions from Fischer Connectors. Fischer’s products are renowned for their ruggedness and resistance to demanding operating conditions – such as those found in marine and underwater, defence & security, medical and test & measurement. During the design phase, sensors are being
38 DESIGN SOLUTIONS MARCH 2022
he SP80 wind-powered boat is described as looking like a Formula 1 car combined with a fighter jet designed specially to glide on the
Connectors from Fischer Connectors have been specified for a new
carbon-fibre wind-powered boat which is aiming to beat the current speed record
of 65.45 knots (121.21km/h) set in
2012 by sailing at a speed of 80 knots (148.16km/h)
used to improve and control the robustness of the high-performance materials (carbon, titan, stainless steel) of the boat’s structure. Thanks to the design of the super-ventilated foil, stability is optimised and the impact of cavitation – a phenomenon in which water starts boiling around foils at extreme velocities, slowing the boat down – is avoided. During the speed run, data is collected from the various electronic modules and control sensors directly integrated into the boat, and from the monitoring sensor communications between the pilot and the technical crew on shore. This includes biometric data transferred through sensors worn on the pilot’s body, such as vital and security parameters. “The innovations we’re putting in place to
enhance our boat’s aerodynamics above water and minimise the friction of its hull and foil under water need to be monitored during the boat’s development phase as well as during the speed run itself,” explained van den Broek. “To ensure the efficient transfer of this monitoring data, we needed a solutions provider that has not only expertise in signal integrity and data transmission and management, but also a
holistic approach to electronic systems in order to provide the end-to-end connectivity solutions required for our sensing system.”
AN INSPIRING PROJECT The final boat design will be revealed to the public in the Spring, with the boat launch taking place at the end of 2022. The first tests are scheduled in the South of France for the Spring or Autumn of 2023. Jonathan Brossard, CEO of Fischer Connectors, commented: “The SP80 project is exciting and inspiring as it combines innovation and performance to push the boundaries of physical laws thanks to unique solutions and daring concepts. One member of the SP80 R&D team is part of our own R&D centre, making the exchange of expertise all the more efficient and easier. We look forward to discovering the technological breakthroughs on which the SP80 team is working, and which Fischer Connectors is proud to support.”
Fischer Connectors
fischerconnectors.com
CONNECTORS FOR HAZARDOUS AREA USE
Available from Mencom, the Hazardous Location Connectors series meets stringent electrical requirements for protection under Class I Division 2 environments and certified by Underwriters' Laboratories (UL). ‘Class I’ is defined as a hazardous location in which flammable gas or vapour may be present in sufficient quantities to be considered ignitable or explosive. ‘Division 2’ is defined as an area that is not likely to contain dangerous concentrations of flammable substances in closed containers. Common Class I Division 2 hazardous locations include refineries, utility gas plants, coal mines, and liquid-gas storage facilities. The part numbers for the hazard location connectors will have an ‘H2’ prefix to distinguish them from existing Mencom SKUs. They are available for most Mencom circular connectors series, such as MIN & PMIN Series, MIL-SPEC series, M23, M12, NAN M8, and Networks. These provide complete protection against ingress of dust, water jet, and steam.
Mencom
www.mencom.com
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