Rugged computer

A rugged (or ruggedized, but also ruggedised) computer is a computer specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty conditions.[1] They are designed from inception for the type of rough use typified by these conditions, not just in the external housing but in the internal components and cooling arrangements as well.[2] In general, ruggedized and hardened computers share the same design robustness and frequently these terms are interchangeable.[3]

Typical end-user environments for rugged laptops, tablet PCs and PDAs are public safety, field sales, field service, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation/distribution[4] and the military. They are used in the agricultural industries and by individuals for recreational activities, as well, such as hunting or geocaching.

Construction

2U Rugged Computer.
Example of a MIL-STD-810 Certified, 2U Rugged Computer

Virtually all rugged computers share an underlying design philosophy of providing a controlled environment for the installed electronics. The electronic components themselves may be selected for their ability to withstand higher and lower operating temperatures than typical commercial components.

They incorporate features such as fully sealed keyboards to protect against intrusion by dust or liquids, and scratch-resistant screens that are readable in direct sunlight.[5]

Rugged units have higher prices. However, one research study found that in environments where rugged computers are commonly used, total cost of ownership was 36 percent lower for rugged notebooks and 33 percent less for handhelds and PDAs, compared to conventional non-rugged versions. The lower overall cost is due to lower failure rates, the related impact on productivity, and other factors.[6]

Laptops

A rugged laptop is built to operate reliably in dusty or wet environments and conditions. These laptops have a thicker and stronger housing compared to a regular laptop. These ruggedised laptops are mainly used for industrial, construction and military purposes. Yet a rugged laptop is able to comply with other important requirements such as high performance and governmental grade security. Rugged laptops are engineered to be mobile, they are vibration, shock, drop, dust and waterproof. Most rugged laptops are standard equipped with a strap for long-term use and comfortable travel holding. Even the modern-day rugged laptops are equipped with a serial port which is commonly used in the industrial and engineering related tasks. The levels of ruggardization are not standardized, but they are measured by various certifications such as MIL-STD-810 or ATEX. There are various brands that offer rugged laptops such as Dell, Panasonic, HP, Sony Vaio and Lenovo.

Tablets

Rugged Computing Tablet

A rugged tablet computer may be semi-rugged or fully rugged. The semi-rugged might have a protective case, rain-resistant body. Fully rugged tablets are engineered from the inside-out to work in extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions. They are designed to resist drops, shocks and vibrations while maintaining strength to be dust- and waterproof. A tablet has internally a solid state hard drive and no moving parts. It doesn't need a fan as a laptop requires, improving its dust and waterproofness. Many rugged ones have options such as a barcode scanner because they serve in the logistics and transport sector. The levels of ruggardization of a tablet are not standardized within the telecommunications industry, but they are measured by various certifications such as IP, MIL-STD-810 or ATEX.

Smartphones

A rugged smartphone has a thicker and completely sealed housing which protects it against all kinds of elements such as water, dust, shock and vibration. This kind of smartphone can be left out in a sandstorm, frozen in a blizzard or go underwater. A true fully rugged smartphone is substantially less susceptible to damage than a non-rugged smartphone. Like a rugged tablet, it typically meets IP certification and military standard specifications for dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and temperature extremes. Only a few manufactures make a rugged smartphone due to its complicated structure, different use of material and high level of quality expectation.

Some rugged smartphones have Push-to-Talk (PTT) capabilities, NFC and barcode reader functions which suit their use for industrial and construction logistics.

Standards

Wireless connectivity

Wireless capability is a key requirement for most enterprise mobility applications, and it has been reported that wireless-transmission failure rates are three times higher for non-rugged notebooks compared to rugged units. This difference is attributed to the greater experience of rugged-notebook vendors at integrating multiple radios into their products. Each transmission failure leads to five to ten minutes in lost productivity as the user has to re-login to the company network through a VPN.[6]

Since enterprises are turning to cellular networks to enable full-time connectivity for their users,[8] major vendors of rugged computers offer both built-in wireless LAN and wireless WAN capabilities,[6][9][10][11] and partner with cellular carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T, as part of their offerings.[12][13] During the handoff between the various wireless LAN and wireless WAN connections, a mobile VPN allows the connection to persist, creating an always-connected infrastructure that is simpler for the user and eliminates application crashes and data loss.[14]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rugged laptops.

References

  1. ↑ Rugged laptop computer for use in military ground vehicles and helicopters offered by General Dynamics Itronix - Military & Aerospace Electronics
  2. ↑ What you need to know before purchasing a rugged mobile computer, LXE, 2004.
  3. ↑ Hardened Laptops: A New Meaning Of Extreme. eweek.com, March 1st, 2004. Retrieved 10-2-2013.
  4. ↑ Supply Chain Management. Panasonic.com. Retrieved 10-2-2013.
  5. ↑ How ruggedness reduces TCO for mobile computers, VDC Research, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 TCO Insights on Rugged Mobile Computers, VDC Research, 2007.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Next Generation Rugged Handheld Device Requirements, VDC Research, 2011.
  9. ↑ Rugged Laptops - Toughbook Mobile Computer Product Comparison
  10. ↑ Wireless Technical Info - Official Panasonic Toughbook Computers
  11. ↑ Rugged Notebook Computers with Integrated Wireless and GPS from General Dynamics Itronix, "Wireless Capability by Product"
  12. ↑ Wireless Computer Partners - Official Panasonic Toughbook Computers
  13. ↑ General Dynamics Itronix Wireless Activation Capabilities
  14. ↑ General Dynamics Itronix Mobility XE Overview Page
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