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Levitate™ Cable Assemblies Webinar Summary & Key Takeaways

times-levitate-linkedin-webinar-april9This webinar introduces Levitate™, a new family of ultra-lightweight cable assemblies engineered specifically for UAV and avionics applications. As UAV platforms continue to scale in complexity and volume, reducing weight without compromising RF performance has become critical. Levitate addresses this challenge by delivering the lightest weight per unit of loss, while maintaining mechanical robustness and reliable signal integrity across a wide range of avionics systems.

Watch the video or read the session notes below.

Session Notes

UAV Market Opportunity

The rapid growth of the UAV market is driving demand for optimized RF interconnect solutions:

  • Billions in global investment, with strong military adoption
  • Double-digit annual growth projected through 2030
  • Increasing system complexity across avionics, communications, and surveillance

This creates a clear need for lightweight, high-performance cable solutions purpose-built for UAV platforms, not adapted from traditional aerospace designs.

The Challenge: Weight vs. Performance

Traditional RF cable solutions often force a tradeoff:

  • Heavier cables improve durability but add system weight
  • Lightweight options may compromise shielding, loss, or reliability
  • Many competitors rely on modified legacy designs not optimized for UAV use

For UAV systems, excess weight directly impacts range, payload capacity, and overall efficiency.

How Levitate Solves These Challenges

Levitate is engineered from the ground up to meet UAV-specific requirements:

  • Lightest weight per unit of loss to reduce overall system mass
  • Mechanically robust construction for demanding environments
  • Cost-effective and distribution-ready for scalable deployment

These features enable improved system performance without sacrificing durability or affordability.

Application Focus: UAV Avionics Systems

Levitate supports a wide range of avionics functions, including:

  • Flight control and navigation systems
  • Communications and telemetry
  • Surveillance, reconnaissance, and video systems
  • Electronic warfare and higher-frequency applications (with upgrade paths)

Design Configurations

Levitate assemblies are optimized for different routing environments:

  • LRU-routed assemblies (0.047“, 0.086“, 0.141“)
    • Ideal for compact, inside-the-box applications
  • Airframe-routed assemblies (0.157“, 0.196“)
    • Designed for longer runs across the aircraft structure

This segmentation allows engineers to select the right balance of size, weight, and performance for each application.

Key Takeaways

  • UAV growth is driving demand for purpose-built RF interconnect solutions
  • Weight reduction is critical to improving system performance and efficiency
  • Levitate delivers ultra-lightweight performance without sacrificing durability or signal integrity
  • Designed specifically for UAV avionics, not adapted from legacy cable designs
  • Scalable product family supports both LRU and airframe routing applications