ARMOR X10 Rugged Tablet PC: Lessons Learned And Design Responses

As powerful computing and communications technology is packaged in smaller, lighter and more durable form factors, more users in more industries benefit from rugged mobile computers. In order to perform tasks that were once done only at an office computer, as well as field operations and remote communications that were unimagined just a few years ago, users need a high level of durability and reliability. Specifically, they require protection against water, dust, shock, vibration and temperature extremes. They need to be able to view the display, even in direct sunlight. And for those users who are upgrading from earlier generation units, backward compatibility with system components like docking stations is an important consideration.

This paper examines the ARMOR X10 Rugged Tablet PC, a next-generation mobile computer that is built on lessons learned, often in military environments, and applied to the design, manufacture and service of commercial products. It discusses environmental and operational factors that must be overcome to achieve fully rugged mobile computing, and the design and engineering responses to these factors. Finally, it focuses on manufacturing and service as vital components of a rugged computer.

The development of the ARMOR X10 Rugged Tablet PC demonstrates how experience with previous generations of mobile computers, including military systems, provides the foundation for enhanced durability and performance in harsh environments. Critical areas where these lessons led to environmental design improvements include keeping out water and dust, blunting the effects of high and low temperatures, and protecting against the harmful effects of shock and vibration.