A rugged (or ruggedized) computer is a computer specifically designed to reliably operate in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty conditions. A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. They are designed from inception for the type of rough use typified by these conditions; commercial units upgraded for this purpose make poor substitutes. Vehicle mounted environments (e. g. public safety vehicles or utility trucks) are well suited for rugged computers as the vibration and jolts inherent there would cause failures in typical portable computers. Ruggedized laptops, rugged notebooks, rugged tablets and rugged UMPCs are made of magnesium alloy materials made to be 20 times stronger than standard plastic found on commercial laptops. Hard Disc Drives are shock mounted with foam or reinforcing material to withstand vibrations of daily use.
Rugged laptops, tablet PCs and PDAs are used by construction workers, emergency services, and military personnel. A laptop computer, also known as a notebook computer, is a small Personal computer designed for mobile use. A Tablet PC is a Notebook or slate-shaped Mobile computer, equipped with a Touchscreen or Graphics tablet/screen hybrid technology which allows
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Standards
- MIL-STD-810 (also know as Mil-Spec): a military standard, issued in 1962, which establishes a set of tests for determining an equipment suitability to military operations. The MIL-STD-810 series of standards are issued by the United States Army 's Developmental Test Command to specify various environmental tests to simulate conditions that the A United States Defense Standard, often called a military standard, " MIL-STD " or " MIL-SPEC " is used to help achieve standardization Often used as a reference in the commercial laptop industry.
- IP (Ingress Protection): see IP Code
- IS (Intrinsic Safety): see Intrinsic safety
- ATEX (Potentially Explosive Atmospheres): see Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
- NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association): see National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- IK Code (Also known as EN50102) see EN 50102
Noteworthy Providers
- Intergraph
- Intermec
- Itronix
- Mobilis - Protectis Range
- Motorola ML and MW Series
- One Laptop per Child Association
- Psion Teklogix
- Symbol Technologies
- Panasonic Toughbook
- Toshiba Tecra Series
Uses
In addition to human-portable systems like handheld, wearable and laptop/notebook computers, Commercial Off The Shelf. The IP Code defined in International standard IEC 60529 classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts Intrinsic safety ( IS) is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres The National Electrical Manufacturers Association or NEMA is a U The IK code is an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts Intergraph Corporation is a software company with 3879 employees worldwide (2008 Intermec Inc is a major manufacturer and worldwide supplier of Automated identification and data capture equipment including Barcode scanners General Dynamics Itronix develops wireless rugged computing solutions for mobile workers offering a full range of field computing systems including laptops ultra mobile notebook PCs Motorola Inc ( is an American, multinational Fortune 100, Telecommunications company based in Schaumburg Illinois. Symbol Technologies is a manufacturer and worldwide supplier of mobile data capture and delivery equipment Toughbook is the trademarked brand name owned by Panasonic and marketed by their international brand name Panasonic. ( is a multinational conglomerate manufacturing company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Computers may be vehicle mounted, Advanced Vehicle Computers, which perform navigation, communications, or even control functions in various orbital and combat vehicles. These systems are also used in in unmanned vehicles ranging from missiles to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Other rugged computer systems are stationary. Industrial Computers designed to HAZLOC standards to withstand specific environmental challenges.
Many rugged computers are used by military and public safety users, and there are unique systems for specialized use. One, based on ruggedized computers and displays, developed and manufactured by OIT- Oceana Integrated technologies is a Diver navigation system based on a rugged PDA and Defender unit.
Rugged computers have been found to be more effective devices to be used by field workers for field service management in the field because of the varying conditions they must undergo. Field Service Management (FSM, also known as Field Force Automation (FFA is an attempt to optimize processes and information needed by companies who send technicians or staff "into Rugged mobile computers are used in the field by varied industries including break and fix, security, logistics, postal, courier, local council etc. Logistics is the management of the flow of Goods, Information and other resources including Energy and people between the point of origin and the point A courier is a Person or company employed to deliver Messages packages and Mail. A Local Council ( LC) is a form of local elected government within the districts of Uganda. They are also used in mining and petroleum drilling operations where vibration, heat, and dust would destroy ordinary computers. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit
References
External links
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