View to a war
One way that modern warfare mirrors contemporary life is the
dependence on Video Display Terminals. All of us have heard stories of warfighters remotely operating unmanned systems while staring at flickering images on computer monitors. Even manned vehicles are sometimes driven by personnel who use computer screens, so as not to expose themselves to hostile fire. Click here to read the rest of the article.
AMREL announced a new solid-state, multimodal, biometric module
utilizing the Vista ViCAM® III Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). This durable, light-weight biometric module makes use of a single-circuit ASIC to support:
- Dual iris image capture by a single high-resolution glass lens and with one shot
- 2 finger/rolled electroluminescent sensor that is SAP 45 – Appendix F compliant
- Quality facial images even in low light environments
- Voice capture/recognition Read more
Check out this amazing video of a hummingbird UAV from AeroVironment Inc.
This speedy, little UAV illustrates several significant trends in unmanned systems: Read more
The initial purchase price of your rugged computer may only be a
small part of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Platform support, customization, integration, connectivity, and inadequate durability may make your “bargain” very expensive. Will your rugged computer be good for your ROI five or ten years from now or just for today?
Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) products are attractive for the price and established supply chain. However, there is a fundamental problem buying mass-produced off-the-shelf items. New and upgraded products typically generate more profit than old ones. Corporations prioritize the overhead of product support for the greatest revenue earners, i.e. the new products. Support for older platforms is phased out. Read more
If the unmanned vehicles and systems’ community could trade acronyms for 
dollars, we’d pay off the national debt. One particular acronym, OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicles), is popping up all over the place. Northrop Grumman unveiled Firebird, an aerial OPV for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that boasts a 65 foot wingspan. The Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap outlines plans for helicopters that are both manned and unmanned. The Army also developed Autonomous Vehicle Navigation Systems (ANS) specifically for optionally piloted ground vehicles. Read more
National Defense Industrial Association has a highly informative article, Army, Marines Face Uphill Battle To Lighten Troops’ Battery Load, about batteries and the heavy load they impose on soldiers. Of the 130 pounds of gear a modern soldier lugs around, 35 may be due to batteries. This excessive weight limits his maneuverability and may even cause injuries.
In addition, batteries are expensive (“An infantry battalion on a one-year deployment typically burns through $150,000 worth of batteries”). The frequent need to replace them, as well as their complete lack of standardization, presents a logistical nightmare. Read more
Los Angeles, CA (April 28, 2011) American Reliance, Inc. (AMREL) announced the launch of the ROCKY DB6 — the smallest, fully rugged handheld that can support standard Windows 7 and Linux Operating Systems (OS). Certified by independent parties to meet military standards for ruggedness, this compact handheld weighs less than two pounds.
“The military is pushing the envelope of connectivity out to the front lines,” explains Ron McMahan, AMREL’s VP of Sales. “They want ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Recognizance) data in the hands of the warfighter. This has created a need for a computer that can transmit large encrypted files in real time, operate in harsh combat conditions, and is small enough to fit into a cargo pants pocket. The DB6 is that computer.”
The key to the DB6 is the Intel® Atom™ Processor. More powerful than typical PDA processors, it consumes very little energy. Consequently, the lightweight DB6 can run the same OS and applications as a laptop, but with significantly longer battery life. This reduces logistical burdens in the battlefield and eliminates the need to modify standard programming for mobile devices. Read more
No. Life is not simple and neither is buying a bright monitor. Many
factors besides nits can interfere with the visibility of a screen. Computer displays are usually protected by see-through shielding material (glass or plastic) on top of their displays. How this shielding is bonded to the underlying surface can have a huge effect on the amount of glare (reflection) that is created. Anti-reflective coating on the shielding material can also affect the overall illumination. Even the mounting of the internal components of the computer can affect the brightness. So, it is theoretically possible that a display with a high nit rating will be dimmer than one that has a lower rating. To be sure you get what you want, consult your computer professional.
The primary purpose of MIL-STD 810 is for “…generating confidence in the environmental worthiness and overall durability of materiel system design”(U.S. Army Developmental Test Command (DTC)). This standard establishes specifications and testing procedures for resistance to rain, shock, vibration, dust, humidity, salt fog, and extreme temperatures. 
Some think of 810 as “the” rugged standard, which of course, is not true. Many other standards come into play, such as MIL-STD 461 for electromagnetic emissions or the Navy’s MIL-S-901D for equipment mounted on US ships.
MIL-STD 810 is sufficiently complex and multivariable, that it may be more appropriate to think of it as a set of environmental standards, rather than a single specification. This is especially true when evaluating compliance. It is quite common for commercial companies to claim that their product “meets” MIL-STD 810, when actually it only meets a small fraction of the specifications. Read more
Richard Lane, AMREL’s VP of Strategic Business Development, penned an interesting article about his rugged computing needs as an environmental scientist when he inspected on-shore /offshore oil production facilities. In the July 2010 issue of Occupational Health & Safety, Richard writes, “Ironically, we probably spent more money on metal clipboards, waterproof paper, copies, and redundant data entry than I spent last week on a new netbook.” Check out Strategic Value for the Health & Safety Industry.”
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