A ruggedized tablet is one that works even in the most hostile conditions, be it in a factory, warehouse, quarry, etc. In addition, it maintains its maximum performance throughout its useful life, which can easily be 3 to 5 years.
On the other hand, and depending on the work to be done, what is rugged for one user may not be for another. For example, a warehouse tablet may be dropped frequently and exposed to a lot of dust, but is unlikely to be exposed to extreme temperatures or rain. A forestry engineer, on the other hand, will need a tablet that is resistant to water and different weather conditions, without much concern for dust.
Which rugged tablet is best for our work?
The fundamental rule for choosing the right tablet is to evaluate what kind of conditions it will be exposed to. This way we will know the specifications it must meet to adapt to them. However, it is always advisable to opt for a device that is somewhat more resistant than what the user initially thinks he or she will need.
Thus, the resistance level of a ruggedized tablet is mainly defined by its environmental specifications, which are listed in the product data sheet:
- Temperature range
• MIL-STD-810G
• IP
The temperature specification defines the range within which our tablet will be able to operate. Operating above or below these degrees may cause the unit to fail.
MIL-STD-810G is a standard issued by the United States that consists of a series of tests to ensure product resistance. Initially intended for military equipment, it is now also applied to a wide range of civilian products, including ruggedized tablets.
IP (Ingress Protection) is used to specify the level of environmental protection of electrical equipment against solids and liquids. In other words, it tells us how much solids or liquids can enter inside the enclosure and not damage the device. It is defined by the international standard IEC 60529.
*What tests does the MIL-STD include?
MIL-STD-810G consists of approximately 24 tests in a wide range of environments, from the ability to operate at high altitude (method 500.5) to the ability to survive mechanically induced shocks (method 516.6).
Depending on the type of unit (mobile or fixed), different tests are performed. The more tests passed, the more rugged the product. The most rugged tablets, such as our COLOSSUS family, are tested between 8 and 10 MIL-STD-810G methods.
Want to know more about how to choose the best rugged tablet? Click here.
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