Company insight
Rugged mobile devices with increased security and flexibility
Rugged mobile devices are vital across modern battlefields – especially if they can offer the deep customisation users need. Defence and Security Systems International speaks with Patrick Muff at Panasonic to learn more.
ugged mobile devices are an invaluable part of military operations. Ensuring reliable communication, even under intense battlefield conditions, the global demand for these machines is expected to increase by $1.1bn between 2022 and 2027. But to truly fulfil mission-critical roles, rugged devices must be shaped to the specific needs of end users – and be adaptable enough to embrace the best technology in-house engineers and external partners can offer.
R Panasonic speed
Panasonic is at the centre of these developments. Since they were first unveiled in 1996, the company’s Toughbook range has become an accepted pillar of military life. Built at Panasonic’s Japan and Taiwan factories, components are designed with special patents to guarantee durability and reliability. “All ‘full rugged’ Toughbook models have been developed in such a way that the devices can be used in rain, snow, strong sunlight, hot and cold temperatures as well as dirty and dusty environments,” explains Patrick Muff, a regional sector manager at Panasonic Toughbooks EU. Yet, if every Toughbook is designed to endure the rigours of the battlefield – and abide by MIL-STD-810H standards – partnerships with trusted external experts can equally allow for deep customisation. A case in point is the Japanese company’s robust relationship with Viasat. The relationship has led to enhanced security for NATOs top secret data. The global telecommunications giant’s encrypted internal SSD Viasat Eclypt
Core can now be included into both the TOUGHBOOK 40 and TOUGHBOOK 55 model.
“By installing the Viasat SSD in our TOUGHBOOK,” emphasises Muff, “we increase security with perfect hardware encryption.” In practical terms, meanwhile, Viasat Eclypt offers a range of advantages, including a unique tamper-proof construction and remote authentication for missions in remote areas. Other features, notably 256-bit hardware encryption, promote cybersecurity as well, all of which ensures the highest standards of data protection – without sacrificing performance.
Boosting flexibility And if Viasat offers outstanding performance in the cybersecurity space, other partnerships are equally successful. Consider, for instance, the question of vehicle connectors. Vital to ensuring that mission-critical devices stay plugged in, even as vehicles traverse bumpy battlefields at speed, they are crucial everywhere from communication to command-and-control. To that end, Panasonic has worked with Roda Computer, a German manufacturer, to provide Toughbook 40s with a range of military circular connectors and additional interfaces. Carefully designed to military standards, they are suited for every type of operation.
At the same time, both Roda and Panasonic are conscious of the need for flexibility across this sphere. Since every mission, and every soldier, will have different requirements, Roda offers a plethora of modular configuration options, as well as tailor-made
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
adjustments to Panasonic hardware. Similar versatility is clear among Panasonic’s internal engineering team. Offering custom-designed docks to fit a range of military vehicles, for example, Panasonic allows troops to take their work on the road, keeping abreast of battlefield developments wherever they are.
Keep things personal
More to the point, this commitment to personalisation is clearly ongoing. “Due to selected partnerships, the flexible configurations and our own development departments in Japan and the UK, special requests or customer developments are possible at any time,” Muff says, adding that Panasonic can easily accommodate specialised requests for features, saving on costs and development time. Of particular importance here is Panasonic Connect, a wing of Panasonic that leverages a growing ecosystem of stakeholders to understand exactly what military clients need – then liaises with the private sector to bring them to market. As Muff puts it: “Thanks to many years of close cooperation between Panasonic and various MoD industries, as well as the European armies and US armed forces, Panasonic Connect has a deep and well-founded knowledge of military needs.” Given how important rugged mobile devices are across military operations, this is surely good news. ●
www.toughbook.eu 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
