With integrated photonics, gone is the tedious, expensive and error-prone manual connecting of components, thanks to integration that brings these onto a single chip.HANK HOGAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, [email protected]When it comes to spacecraft, planes and military gear, weight is all important. That’s understandable, as it costs about $10,000 to put a pound in orbit, in the case of spacecraft. For planes and military gear, there are limits on what can be flown or carried. Hence, the importance of keeping weight down — and the growing interest in and use of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). “We’re buying size, weight and power,” said Michael Krainak of the technology. 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