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Everything You Need to Know About Military-Grade Rugged Computers
Vol. 1 – 2021
Everything You Need to Know About Military-Grade Rugged Computers
Introduction
Laptops used by everyday consumers rest in relatively benign environments, indoors at room temperature, and are rarely exposed to harsh weather like rain or snow. Military laptop users face much more extreme environments than the average desktop user and need a laptop to perform in harsh conditions. Warfighters also need mobile computing to work basically in the middle of nowhere, which maintains connectivity in remote locations.
The better the technology the soldier, airman, marine, or sailor has in the field, the better their decision-making and effectiveness.
When deciding on the right products for military and defense, you should be armed with the right information that leads to better choices.
Here are the critical points to consider when choosing a rugged computer for military applications.
1. Armed forces usually have a much stricter demand for ruggedness and durability than businesses and often require a testing confirmation to ensure that the particular hardware will withstand the rigorous environments. These criteria can make numerous commercial and even industrial-grade device remedies unacceptable.
2. DoD procurement policy follows strict guidelines as well as eliminates numerous industrial businesses.
3. Assimilation of brand-new modern technology on existing systems calls for unique layouts, typically calling for one-of-a-kind user interfaces to traditional equipment.
4. Weight, power, and size considerations commonly limit the adoption of added hardware, restricting the fit of existing equipment styles.
5. Which tests issues and what questions to ask to guarantee the device does reliably and supplies the best innovation for the worker’s requirements.
Unfortunately, you can not obtain all those attributes from a neighborhood electronics store or Amazon.com. So exactly how do you equip your military workers with the right devices? When selecting one of the ideal military-grade tablets, you must first consider some vital functions, including compliance with armed forces criteria, IP Score, ecological compatibility, sunshine readability, and connectivity. This guide helps you understand the standards and testing to try to help you examine tough mobile phones. It likewise highlights the vital functions to search for when equipping mobile employees with the best device for working in today’s connected atmosphere. Why should you read this overview before making your next tough mobile phone purchase choice?
Limited budget plans and IT team source constraints imply that any type of mobile computing technology released requirements to execute with exceptional longevity- without constant fixings or performance concerns. They know just how to review smartphones for lasting, trustworthy performance, leading to higher employee contentment and performance.
Lots of consumer-grade devices are being labeled as “rugged.” Nonetheless, they do not provide the sturdiness or solution that purpose-built smartphones do. “Purpose-built” suggests that they are specially engineered and also built “from scratch” to perform continuously reliable for a mobile labor force that is when driving, functioning outdoors, or in a manufacturing facility or stockroom. This guide offers details to help lead you with your acquisition analysis process.
For over 25 years, Winmate has been a manufacturer of field-proven enhanced screens for army applications, and has been a trusted company of boosted military and industrial applications. Winmate produces innovative rugged computers and displays with sophisticated functions like low-latency video processing, high-bright, NVIS backlighting, and lightweight from rapid prototyping of personalized layouts to full-scale manufacturing runs ruggedized units. Winmate’s direct control of essential procedure steps reduces prices, lowers manufacturing lead times, and improves lifecycle management. Winmate rugged computers are dispersed worldwide. IEE is ISO 9001:2015, as well as MIL-STD-810G certified.
Key Factors to Consider
1. MIL-STD Compliance
Rugged tablets for military applications must endure falls of several feet, water exposure, and glaring sunlight while maintaining performance. There are various military specifications these must meet to ensure end-users can survive in these environments. Ensure that the devices have been tested according to MIL-STD 810-G requirements against extreme environmental conditions – temperature, shock, vibration, and humidity. One more standard to follow is MIL-STD 461F to ensure that the product meets the control of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Ask your vendor which method was used to test the device, then after you receive a test report from the manufacturer, do not forget to do your testing.
2. IP Rating
Ingress Protection (IP) rating or IEC standard 60529 is an essential part of any rugged device, measuring its level of protection against particles and liquid. Generally, the higher the score, the better the protection. If a device claimed to be military-grade, it should have IP protection—the choice of whether IP65 or IP67 depends on the needs of your application.
3. Compatibility with Existing Military Environments
4. Sunlight Readability
Military mobile devices typically will be used outdoors where bright sunlight is a fact of life. A few technologies increase the LCD panel’s quality, making it more sunlight readable. The first one is an anti-glare solution on tablet glass that helps diffuse the glaring light, reducing its intensity. This makes it easier for the observer to see the correct image and provide perfect readability at extreme viewing angles. Another sunlight readability feature to look for when choosing a touchscreen.
5. Real-Time Wireless Connectivity for Battlefield Communications
Application Diagram: Military Vehicle
Military-Grade: Testing Durability
Military mobile devices commonly will be used outdoors where brilliant sunshine is a reality of life. Tablet computers provide a brand-new generation of ease for military personnel, but not all of the devices offered on the market are appropriate for such a demanding atmosphere. To do this, all of our devices, no matter of rugged class, must sustain strenuous testing done by the Winmate R&D designers as well as at independent, internationally recognized third-party test labs for our semi and fully-rugged devices.
Each year, over 1,000 Winmate rugged computers are undergoing a series of testing to reveal any weak points before they show up in a customer’s hands. These testing procedures’ key goal is to validate that our devices not just fulfill but surpass the MIL-STD-810G requirements, offering more confidence for applications in harsh environments.
STAMINA EXAMINATIONS
Our devices have gone through strenuous tests for decrease and resonance to see if they can hold up against accidents or survive day after day on duty.
TEMPERATURE EXAMINATIONS
Our devices have undertaken several tests in temperatures and do not even damage a sweat.
SETTING EXAMINATIONS
We have snuffed our devices with rain, blasted them with dirt and sand, as well as revealed them to mountain-high elevations and jungle-like moisture – and also, they keep working.
CONNECTION EXAMINATIONS
We placed our antenna via different tests in our very own (and one of the world’s most giant) anechoic chamber, evaluating performance in real-world environments– warmth, calm, rainfall, and also much more.
From armed forces bases to police cars, on the shop floor, or in a laboratory, Winmate military-grade devices help maintain progress on the road or remote area. Engineered to endure declines, drops, dust, tablets, and handhelds survive and prosper in one of the most requiring settings. Our devices help you finish the job, no matter where a task takes you.
Winmate Products: Overview
Winmate offers rugged mobile tablet and laptop computers, commercial off the rack (COTS) military-grade computer systems, and rugged displays that are developed to adhere to demanding armed forces specs (MIL-STD) standards. These sturdy military-grade display screen products are created for usage in the mission-critical field of battle electronic devices in ground mobile, avionics, and marine applications.
Environmental and functional upgrade plans are available for military and protection applications on land, sea, or air. These upgrades are additionally offered for non-military applications requiring night vision systems or EMI shielding, such as the automotive industry, police, and search and rescue.
We help to design and manufacture your unique armed forces and defense solutions.
Some of the distinguishing features of our military series:
Aluminum-magnesium alloy enclosure
Optical bonding: sticking a cover glass, safety overlay, or touchscreen to the front surface area of the LCD making use of an optical-grade silicone to boost solar reflectivity and ruggedness
Black powder-coating, optional colors available
High luminance LED backlight
Anti-reflective and high brightness screen
Advanced wide variety dimming ratio – from 100% to real black
MIL-STD-810G shock, drop, vibration resistance
Low profile cable assemblies/ connections
Potted parts where relevant
MIL-DTL 38999 I/O ports
Programmable function buttons
Ergonomic design
Available touchscreens: PCAP, resistive
AR protection glass, EMI mesh filter
Power input 9-36 VDC
Operating temperature: -20 ° to 70 ° C (Extreme temperature available by request)
Operating humidity: ≤ 0% to ≤ 100%
Solid-state, durable components
Operating system: Windows 10 Enterprise, Linux Ubuntu 18.04, Android 9.0
2-year warranty
Notice that features may vary by product line and each model. Please refer to a product datasheet available on the website.
Winmate military-grade devices come with MIL-DTL-38999 type I and III connectors – high-performance cylindrical connectors for cable-to-panel applications in military, air traffic control, or other mission-critical situations.
Summary
These are just a few distinguishing features that ruggedized military devices have over industrial-grade solutions. In contrast, rugged military systems may cost more; their robust, highly reliable designs and features guarantee longer a life-time for the product, which results in a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Tablet computers offer a new generation of convenience for military personnel, but not all of the devices available on the market are suitable for such a demanding environment. Companies such as Winmate help end-users navigate this process, so they choose with the right safety, longevity, and functionality. Make your choice carefully.