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MIL-STD 461 Whitepaper

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Modern computers operate in a “noisy” electronic environment.MIL STD 461 E They are surrounded by powerful electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by radios, radar, microwave transmitters, other computers, and a wide assortment of electronic equipment.  Battlefield computers have to contend with an exceptional level of interference created by military-specific items, such as IED jammers. Of course, EMI protection has grown in importance with the adoption of net-centric warfare doctrine.

EMI requirements vary widely from one application to another (jeeps vs. airplanes, for instance) and even within an application (above deck and below deck on a Navy ship).  MIL-STD 461 incorporates a broad range of requirements for numerous environments. Read more

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War and depth: Why your battlefield robot needs 3D

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View to a war
One way that modern warfare mirrors contemporary life is theTALON with stereo cams  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.

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AMREL’s New Solid-State Multimodal Biometric Module

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AMREL announced a new solid-state, multimodal, biometric moduleAMREL Biometric Solution  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
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COTS Obsolescence & Total Cost of Ownership

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The initial purchase price of your rugged computer may only be aCOTS Obsolenense  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

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Batteries, overburdened soldiers, and form factors

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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.batteries

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

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ROCKY DB6-Smallest, Fully Rugged, Handheld with Windows 7/Linux

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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.DB6 Angle resized 600

“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

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Are nits the only important rating for hi-bright display?

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No.  Life is not simple and neither is buying a bright monitor. Manynits  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.

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What is “MIL-STD 810”?

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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. 810

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

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Does your rugged computer need legacy Wi-Fi?

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Some computer manufacturers are eliminating IEEE 802.11b protocols, claiming that it will improve 802.11g.  Since 802.11n is the fastest WLAN standard, why have any legacy Wi-Fi at all?

You need a, b, and g, because not all hot spots are running n. For example, if you’re operating an MQ-1 Predator by a wireless control system, while sipping a Frappuccino at Starbuck’s (you have your fantasies; I have mine), your computer better accommodate legacy Wi-Fi networks.  If you know that your computer will be solely dedicated to a network that only supports 802.11n, then you don’t need connectivity for the older standards.

By the way, when you use your computer to conduct major combat operations from the local coffee house, be careful where you sit; data throughput dramatically decreases the further away you sit from an access point.

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Rugged computers on the flight line

Long-lasting battery power, light weight, and good wireless connectivity are capabilities often demanded by forward-placed warfighters for their rugged computers. GCN’s (Government Computer News)  “Rugged Computing on the Aircraft Flight Line”  describes how these features are also critical for the maintenance of jets, an activity not usually associated with the front-lines.

GCN does a good job of explaining how application requirements should drive the specs of a computer. For example, one Air Force base uses tablets with scanning capabilities, so that work control documents can be scanned while maintenance technicians were still on the aircraft. This saved time and increased productivity.

Since AMREL does so much customization, we are accustomed to the kind of analysis displayed in the article, i.e. examining an application’s requirements to determine a computer’s specs.  For examples of fashioning a computer to an application’s needs, visit AMREL’s Customized Solutions.

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