Rugged and Reliable Solutions for Industrial and Commercial Transportation

As mobility solutions become more connected, automated and electrified, in-vehicle component connectivity challenges are intensifying. However, robust power and signal connectivity solutions for transportation systems can meet the demands of connectivity in ultra-harsh environments, providing the reliability and availability these applications require.

Passenger vehicle applications are increasingly crossing over into industrial and commercial transportation (ICT) applications. Features such as adaptive braking and steering, onboard diagnostics, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, and cameras that provide a 360-degree view of their environment are now becoming basic customer requirements and are being broadly implemented across the ICT industry.

At the same time, regulators and consumers are demanding cleaner, quieter alternatives to gasoline and diesel-powered engines. The ICT industry is responding with increasingly electrified vehicle architectures. So, why can’t ICT apply solutions developed for passenger cars to these new purposes?

 Not so fast! Industrial vehicles operate in harsh environments, and as such, require more rugged and robust connection systems than passenger cars need. Sensors, connectors, and relays must withstand dirt, moisture, salt, shock, and vibration at industrial sites and during long-haul operations. Underhood applications operate at extreme temperatures, requiring that connectivity solutions deliver performance that far exceeds that of passenger cars. Interrupted or failed connections can lead to a host of ills. These issues include lost time, dissatisfied customers, reduced productivity, lower revenues, increased repair and maintenance costs, and safety risks for operators and other staff.

As if these factors aren’t challenging enough, commercial vehicles are expected to provide exceptional performance across hundreds of thousands of miles (or more) and multiple decades of operation.

At TE, we develop and deliver reliable connectivity and sensing products designed to withstand harsh environments in heavy-duty truck and off-highway applications where failure is not an option.