In the current era of accelerated development of low altitude economy, drones, as the core application carrier, have deeply penetrated into fields such as logistics distribution, power inspection, emergency rescue, and agricultural plant protection. The key to supporting the efficient and safe operation of drones is not only the flight control system and power unit, but also the "invisible component" of the current connector, which is playing an irreplaceable role. From ensuring efficient transmission of high-frequency battery swapping to stable power supply against extreme environments, current connectors have built a solid "power lifeline" for the large-scale application of drones in various low altitude economic scenarios through technological innovation.
Logistics and Delivery UAVs: "Rapid Power Connection" Behind High-Frequency Battery Swapping
At the unmanned aerial vehicle logistics distribution area of Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, SF Express "Hummingbird" drones shuttle between the airport and surrounding communities every day, completing the "last 3 kilometers" of air cargo transportation. Unlike traditional logistics drones that rely on manual plugging and unplugging for charging, the drones here rely on an automatic battery swapping platform, which can complete battery replacement in just 30 seconds. The core of this efficient operation is the technological breakthrough of high current connectors.
In the past, manual battery swapping not only took more than 5 minutes, but also often resulted in poor connector contact due to improper operation, affecting delivery efficiency, "said Chen Feng, Technical Director of SF Drone Logistics Division. The battery swapping platform now in use is equipped with customized high current Pogo Pin connectors, with a single pin current carrying capacity increased to 120A, which can achieve fast power transmission of 15kW level. The battery swapping efficiency is 10 times higher than traditional methods, and a single platform can serve 200 drones per day.
To meet the high-frequency power exchange needs of logistics drones, the connector is made of high elasticity beryllium copper material to create contacts, and is equipped with gold plating technology to stably control the contact resistance within 0.5m Ω. The temperature rise under 80A current does not exceed 30 ℃, effectively avoiding performance degradation caused by overheating. At the same time, IP67 waterproof and dust-proof design enables it to work stably in the high humidity environment in the plum rain season. Even in the case of short-term rainstorm, it can also block water vapor penetration through the sealing rubber ring to ensure zero interruption of power connection. Since its launch last year, the failure rate of the battery replacement process has decreased from 12% to 0.2%, and the daily delivery volume of drones has increased from 80 to 150, greatly improving the efficiency of logistics operations, "said Chen Feng.
Power Inspection UAVs: "Safe Power Supply Guarantee" in High-Altitude Complex Environments
At the inspection site of the 110kV transmission line in Golmud, Qinghai, inspection personnel from State Grid Qinghai Electric Power are operating the DJI M350 RTK drone to conduct precise inspections of the transmission line. Unlike ground equipment, high-altitude inspection drones need to operate for long periods of time in complex environments such as strong winds, low temperatures, and high altitudes, which puts strict requirements on the stability and weather resistance of current connectors.
The air in high-altitude areas is thin, and traditional connectors are prone to arc discharge, which not only affects the stability of power supply, but may also cause equipment failure, "said Li Yan, the person in charge of unmanned aerial vehicle inspection at State Grid Qinghai Electric Power. Currently, the drones used are equipped with specially designed high-voltage anti arc connectors. By optimizing the terminal structure, using silver nickel alloy contacts and ceramic insulation shells, the breakdown voltage is increased to over 5000V, effectively avoiding the risk of high-altitude arcs. At the same time, the temperature resistance range of the connector is extended to -40 ℃ to 85 ℃, which can maintain smooth insertion and removal even in extreme low temperatures of minus 30 ℃ in winter, ensuring that the drone can operate continuously for more than 4 hours.
In response to the power supply requirements of infrared temperature measurement, high-definition cameras and other equipment mounted on inspection drones, this connector also adopts a multi-channel design, which can simultaneously achieve power transmission and data signal interaction, with a transmission rate of 100Mbps, meeting the real-time image feedback needs during the inspection process. Previously, due to connector failures, at least three inspection tasks were forced to be interrupted every month. Now, the failure rate has dropped to below 0.5%, and an additional 200 kilometers of transmission line inspections can be completed annually, providing strong guarantees for the safe operation of the power grid, "said Li Yan.
Emergency Rescue UAVs: "Reliable Power Support" in Extreme Scenarios
At the emergency flood control drill site in Zhengzhou, Henan, an emergency rescue drone equipped with a life detector is flying at low altitude to search and rescue simulated disaster stricken areas. This type of drone needs to be rapidly deployed in a short period of time and operate continuously in harsh environments such as rain, fog, and dust. The fast response and anti-interference ability of the current connector become key.
Emergency rescue emphasizes that 'time is life'. Drones not only need to take off quickly, but also maintain stable power supply in complex environments, "said Wang Hao, the head of rescue equipment at Zhengzhou Emergency Management Bureau. Currently, the emergency rescue drones equipped with them use fast plug high current connectors, which can complete battery replacement in just 10 seconds through a press lock structure, saving 80% of time compared to traditional threaded connection methods. At the same time, the connector adopts an impact resistant engineering plastic shell and elastic contact design, which can avoid contact detachment even if the drone encounters slight collisions during takeoff and landing, ensuring continuous and stable power supply.
In tests simulating heavy rainfall scenarios, the connector demonstrated excellent waterproof performance. By adding double-layer sealing gaskets at the interface and designing drainage holes, even if soaked in rainwater, the accumulated water can be quickly drained, ensuring that power supply is not affected. In last year's flood control rescue, the drone equipped with this connector worked continuously for 72 hours, completing search and rescue missions in three disaster stricken villages, discovering and transferring 12 trapped people. Its reliable power support bought valuable time for the rescue work, "Wang Hao recalled.
Agricultural Plant Protection UAVs: "Efficient Power Transmission" for High-Load Field Operations
At a thousand acre corn planting base in Dezhou, Shandong, a fleet of 15 Jifei P80 agricultural crop protection drones is conducting pesticide spraying operations. This type of crop protection drone needs to work continuously for more than 8 hours a day to complete the crop protection task of 1500 acres of farmland. High load operation puts extremely high demands on the current carrying capacity and durability of the current connector.
Traditional connectors are prone to overheating under high load operations, which not only affects charging efficiency, but also shortens service life and increases maintenance costs. "Zhang Jianjun, the person in charge of the local planting cooperative, introduced that the crop protection drones currently in use are equipped with 200A high current fast charging connectors. By increasing the contact cross-sectional area to 3mm ² and cooperating with efficient heat dissipation structures, the charging time is shortened from 1 hour to 25 minutes. At the same time, the temperature rise during continuous operation is controlled within 40 ℃, effectively avoiding performance degradation caused by overheating.
To resist the corrosion of pesticides and dust invasion in the field, the connector adopts a corrosion-resistant polytetrafluoroethylene shell and gold-plated contacts. The salt spray test life is up to 1500 hours, and even if it is in long-term contact with pesticides and mud, it can maintain good conductivity. Previously, each drone had to replace its connector twice a month, with a maintenance cost of about 500 yuan. Now, it only needs to be maintained once every six months. A single drone can save maintenance costs of over 2000 yuan per year, while increasing operational efficiency by 30%, greatly reducing agricultural production costs. "Zhang Jianjun calculated an economic account.
With the continuous development of low altitude economy, the application scenarios of drones will continue to expand, and the technical requirements for current connectors will also be further enhanced. Industry experts say that in the future, current connectors will develop towards integration, intelligence, and lightweight. By integrating functions such as temperature monitoring and fault warning, real-time monitoring and dynamic protection of drone power systems will be achieved, providing more solid technical support for the high-quality development of the drone industry in the low altitude economy. From urban logistics to rural plant protection, from high-altitude inspections to emergency rescue, current connectors are playing the role of "power links", connecting the diverse applications of drones in the low altitude economy, injecting strong impetus into the development of the industry.
Post time: Oct-17-2025