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home > February, 2007 issue > article
Hardened computing
By Greg Slabodkin
Special to Defense Systems
Military demand for ruggedized mobile computing devices continues to grow
In Iraq, temperatures can soar past 120 degrees in the summer and dip below freezing in the winter. Notebook PCs can go haywire in such extreme weather conditions, not to mention what the drops, shocks and vibrations can do to these devices when they’re taken along on routine missions.
But it is in such harsh environments and under such rough conditions that computing power often makes the greatest difference. And it’s why ruggedized PCs and other mobile computing devices have emerged as such a valuable solution for so many challenges that military personnel encounter. Use of the equipment has increased not only on the battlefield, but also in virtually every military operating environment - from aircraft maintenance to homeland defense and medical services.
“Ruggedized laptops and handhelds have become ingrained in everything the military does,” said Jan O’Hara, senior director of government sales for Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. “It’s not just for [training days per year] or for the general when he travels,” he said. “These devices are becoming mainstream and a part of everyday life in the military.”
Military customers not only need fast processor speeds on their ruggedized equipment, they need that equipment to be reliable. It’s proven to be just that. Failure rates of non-ruggedized computers are five times higher than those of ruggedized systems, O’Hara said. Dropping prices and increasing functionality of these tough systems have only hastened the trend toward ruggedization.
By 2010, the worldwide military market for large semi-rugged and fully rugged devices, including notebook, tablet, vehicle mounted and luggable PCs, will reach $618.9 million, according to technology market research firm Venture Development Corp. Up from $436.8 million in 2005, that’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2 percent, VDC said. The company also projects that the market for small semi-rugged and fully rugged devices such as personal digital assistants will grow at a CAGR of 7.1 percent to $56.8 million by 2010 from $40.3 million in 2005.
Latest, Greatest
As in the broader commercial market, the military market also is seeing a trend toward faster processors in ruggedized notebooks and handhelds. The latest rugged notebooks are based on Intel Corp.’s Core Duo processors. Some of the latest Itronix Inc. notebooks, which rely on the dual-core chips, are available with a dedicated video co-processor and memory to support graphics-intensive applications, said Vince Menzione, Itronix vice president of federal sales.
Panasonic recently introduced two rugged Panasonic Toughbook computers: CF-19 convertible Tablet PC and the CF-30 notebook. Building on the CF-18 tablet and CF-29 notebook, the new models come with Intel Core Duo processors, additional security features, and optional next-generation wireless data networks from all major cellular wireless carriers. They also include the usual magnesium alloy cases, sealed keyboards and ports, flexible internal connectors and shock mounting.
Likewise, last month, Dell Inc. introduced the Latitude All-Terrain Grade (ATG) D620, its first semi-rugged notebook with upgrades over its older, Latitude C610 version. The D620 comes with Intel Core Duo processors, a shock-mounted hard drive, task lights for keyboard lighting and anti-reflective coating.
Most ruggedized PCs now come with standard or optional Bluetooth wireless technology, but the feature has been met with mixed reviews from military officials.
“Bluetooth goes the same way as wireless,” Panasonic’s O’Hara said. “Either military customers want it or they are vehemently against it. We have two models of every unit we make: with and without wireless. Our units without wireless are also without Bluetooth, because if you don’t want one then you don’t want the other.”
Itronix Inc.’s GoBook XR-1 is the company’s newest fully ruggedized PC and the first to carry parent company General Dynamics Corp.’s logo. Itronix added software/BIOS level features that allow the disabling of wired and wireless ports to prohibit unauthorized connectivity. This capability has been extended to all ports, including USB and serial, to let users selectively control and tailor to each military operating environment allowable input and output.
All manufacturers have increased the Nits, the raw brightness, of the displays, Itronix’s Menzione said. The challenge is to improve readability in bright sunlight, while not putting too great a burden on battery performance, he said.
Panasonic boasts some of the brightest displays available on notebook PCs today. And, at an estimated six hours, according to O’Hara, battery life is not compromised. The CF-19 convertible tablet PC has a bright 550-Nit screen with a new low-reflection coating. The CF-30 notebook has an even brighter 1,000 Nit LCD on touchscreen models, with a battery life of about six hours, according to O’Hara.
This year, military customers can expect major enhancements, including migration to Microsoft Corp.’s Vista operating system, Menzione said. In addition, 2007 will bring PCs with third-generation wireless WANs, including Evolution-Data Optimized and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access.
From Baghdad to Kabul
Army medics on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan are using ruggedized notebooks and handheld devices that can withstand harsh operational conditions to help them treat and document casualties.
The Army’s deployed tactical medical forces use these ruggedized devices to record, store, share and access critical medical information on the battlefield and in combat support hospitals throughout Southwest Asia, including Kuwait and Qatar. They also use the ruggedized hardware to reorder critical medical supplies, prescription drugs, X-rays and laboratory results required by medics in theater.
The Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) program, headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md., and under the oversight of the Army Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems, has procured, integrated, tested and fielded thousands of these ruggedized notebooks and handhelds in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
“The deployment of ruggedized hardware, including laptops, handhelds, printers and servers, guarantees that deployable medical professionals receive durable technologies that long withstand harsh battlefield conditions such as extreme temperatures, wind, dust, sand, shock, humidity and altitude,” said Army Lt. Col. Edward Clayson, commander and product manager of the MC4 Product Management Office.
MC4’s ruggedized hardware supports electronic capture of medical treatment and post-deployment health assessment data in austere deployed military environments. Because MC4 is a combat service support system and not a combat system, DOD’s Military Standard 810F testing protocols, which simulate environmental stresses from rain, humidity, salt, fog, sand/dust, vibration, shock and extreme temperature, are not part of MC4’s hardware requirements.
Source: Venture Development Corp.
However, to ensure that MC4’s ruggedized notebooks and handhelds meet rigorous environmental conditions, MC4 puts its hardware through a comprehensive testing and evaluation course to guarantee products meet the needs of deployed medical forces. To date, the hardware has had no significant issues withstanding theater conditions, Army officials said.
MC4 uses Panasonic’s ruggedized CF-48 and CF-51 Toughbooks, although “we’re primarily deploying the CF-51,” said MC4 spokesman Ray Steen. The notebooks include accessories such as a mobile surge protector, handheld barcode scanner, multimedia drive cleaning kit, CompactFlash-to-PC card adapter and a ruggedized transit case. Some Toughbooks also are used as servers that are accessed by other Toughbooks serving as clients.
MC4’s current handheld computer is Hewlett-Packard Co.’s iPAQ 4700, including a universal cradle and slim expansion battery pack. The OtterBox 1900, a rugged case from PDA and phone protective case maker Otter Products LLC, provides water, dust, dirt and drop protection and makes the standard iPAQ 4700 a rugged device. Medics use the iPAQ as a point-of-care handheld assistant to record, store, retrieve and transfer the essential elements of patient encounters, transferring data by synchronizing the iPAQ with a ruggedized MC4 notebook.
MC4 equipment does not include wireless functionality such as Bluetooth and WiFi. Although the iPAQs come standard with both capabilities, both have been disabled for MC4’s use, Steen said. However, Clayson said, the office is investigating and testing the use of wireless systems for future fielding of a certified, secure, wireless-enabled MC4 system.
“At this time, users on the battlefield can accomplish their mission using a non-wireless enabled MC4 system,” Clayson said.
Screen readability in sunlight has not been an issue on MC4 systems, most of the ruggedized notebooks are used indoors in combat support hospitals and battalion aid stations. Screen brightness is adjustable on MC4 ruggedized handhelds, which have not been a source of complaints, he said.
In most cases, MC4 ruggedized notebooks run on AC power, so battery life is not an issue for medics. Handhelds, on the other hand, are in a different category when it comes to battery use.
“Battery life is an important factor in device selection,” Clayson said. “Handhelds are used strictly on battery but recharged when cradled for data transfers or at rest. Its primary users are field medics, who rely on the handhelds to operate on battery for long periods of time as it might be days before medics are able to return to an area where the handhelds can be recharged.”
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