Company insight
backbone to which they are connected. Tablets have become a key tool for receiving and interpreting situational data, relaying commands and allowing forces to adapt their mission to the prevailing circumstances, but your typical tablet just won’t cut it on the front line. Communication devices must deliver the highest level of reliability, performance and safety. Whether they are used in training exercises, operational and logistics planning, or front-line missions, they must be rugged, resilient and easy to use, even when not connected to military networks.
Get tough on the front line The Panasonic Toughbook range, which consists of laptops, 2-in-1 and tablet devices, is recognised for setting the standard for ruggedness and reliability, and it comes complete with a full range of accessories for harsh environments. But the demands of operational forces are changing, and the technology needs to adapt to their needs.
“There is growing demand to integrate mobile communications tech into military vehicles,” says Sebastian Philipp, key account manager at Panasonic Toughbook. “There have been electronic systems in armoured vehicles for decades, but now there are more monitoring systems for situational awareness delivering digital data that needs to be processed in the vehicle. “In the past, there was always specialised IT made specifically for each type of vehicle, which meant companies were building small amounts of kit with limited use cases,” he adds. “That is expensive and time-consuming. In the war in Ukraine, we are seeing a need to quickly integrate new technology, particularly more off-the-shelf systems, so
Ruggedness on the road T
he success of modern warfare rests on the robust communication devices and the resilient IT
we have looked at whether we meet that need.”
A tactical approach to versatility Panasonic’s response is the Toughbook 40 Tactical, which seeks to revolutionise military vehicle operations with its specialised connectivity module, military interfaces and shock-proof mount. In designing this new model, the company targeted exceptional in-vehicle connectivity by working with roda computer, a specialist provider of ruggedised tech that can withstand all weather and environmental factors.
Making communications technology that is robust enough to withstand the battlefield is no mean feat, but it becomes even more challenging when that tech needs to be integrated into vehicle systems with speed, reliability and resilience. We find out how the Toughbook from Panasonic Connect Europe won that battle.
connectors, we made a custom docking station that requires just four screws and is plug-and-play. That is how we make our customers’ lives easier. “We want to make integration as simple as possible with off-the-shelf devices that meet specific requirements,” he adds. “Armed forces use Toughbooks in command posts, and in the field, so they are familiar with the technology, and spare parts are already available, so maintenance is easier from a logistics point of view. And if a unit breaks, you can easily use any other one of the same models to replace it.”
“Armed forces use Toughbooks in command posts, and in the field, so they are familiar with the technology, and spare parts are already available, so maintenance is easier.”
The company has also worked closely with customers to identify and address their biggest challenges with integrating tablets and laptops into armoured vehicles, considering vibration sensitivity in tracked vehicles, for example, and the need for mountings to be blastproof in case a vehicle hits an explosive device. The Toughbook itself is already certified as dustproof and rainproof, and meets MIL-STD-810H for shock and vibration. Indeed, all of Panasonic Connect Europe’s devices are tested to the shock and vibration standards required for wheeled military vehicles, so the devices themselves need no modification. The key issue was how to mount and connect those devices quickly and easily.
“Customers want the tablets to adapt to the existing vehicle infrastructure without redoing all the cabling,” says Philipp. “So, to adapt to existing cabling and
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com Simple, yet rugged
Simplicity is the watchword for the Toughbook 40 Tactical, though not at the expense of any of its ruggedness. It remains the same tough piece of kit, but it can now slot into any military vehicle without the need for extensive reconfiguration. “It can be used across all military platforms, and you can reuse the same device and connectors on each different platform,” Philipp continues. “We are simplifying the user experience by making it easy to install and versatile. They already use the Toughbook, so now they can use the same IT platform for vehicle integration. Customers can focus on their core task of building reliable armoured vehicles, rather than rewriting the IT platform.”
Simple, fast, effective and built for the battlefield. What else could you need? ●
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