In the last few years, more and more computer vendors have released portable computers they label as ‘toughened’ or ‘rugged’. But what separates ‘toughened commercial’ devices from the more fully ‘mil-spec ruggedised’ devices?

If you go by the brochures, all of which quote the same standards, you’d be forgiven for thinking most were created equal. But clearly they weren’t, as many simply don’t look that rugged.Furthermore, there are considerable price differences, suggesting fundamental differences in underlying design, features, materials used and overall durability between ‘toughened’ and truly ‘rugged’ portable computers.

So we decided to look at what the Australian Armed Forces use in applications where these devices were subjected to extremes of heat, vibration, impact, humidity, salt and dust; applications such as battlefield command terminals in Bushmasters, mobile artillery control terminals, or situational awareness platforms used on navy RHIBs. Time and time again, we came across the same vendor’s products.

In 2006, Opentec, an Australian vendor of ruggedised computing solutions, challenged a leading IT magazine to invite a number of computer vendors to participate in field trials to see which portable computer really was the most ‘rugged’. Only one other vendor participated, with many well known brands declining, and that one participant’s device failed after just one day of abuse. The Opentec, however, was returned in working order. The technician completing the trials stated "Not only did I fail to destroy it (the Opentec RPC – the same model used by ADF); to try would simply have been gratuitous vandalism!"

Opentec’s reputation for reliability and durability is well known; so well known that last year, a 4 year old RPC portable computer fetched $799 on eBay, and that was without a hard drive! At Pacific 2008, they had a 2.4 tonne 4WD parked on one of their portable notebooks for 4 days.The notebook PC performed quite happily without so much as a dent in the chassis, proving a recent ad series – featuring the same 4WD - wasn’t just clever marketing, but evidence of Opentec’s class-leading durability.

What really sets Opentec apart is their new approach to doing business and the applications the company, along with their technology partners, are delivering new solutions.In building these relationships with Australian and international partners, Opentec is fast becoming a truly rugged portable computing solutions provider.
“Opentec cut their teeth developing rugged deployable solutions for the ADF way back in 1994, with field deployable UNIX RAID servers for the AUSTACs project, which evolved to become BCSS,” said Opentec Marketing Manager, Bruce Lehmann. “With an exemplary history of performance here and abroad in active theatres, including Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor, as well as roles in emergency response efforts in Sumatra and the Solomon Islands, it seemed timely to move from being just a rugged computer designer and assembler, to being a true solutions provider.

“Our products have been to the top of the Himalayas with the Australian Army Alpine Association. They’ve been deployed on Navy Hydro ships undertaking coastal mapping for many years and are the only portable computers with a record of surviving more than a few days in an open boat. They’re used on Navy RHIBs as part of the RAN’s situational awareness system for patrol boats and ANZAC class frigates, and performed satisfactorily for more than two years, when other vendor’s products survived, at most, five days. In short, while the marketing documents might suggest they’re as ‘rugged’ as any other device, the reality is, they generally endure far more rugged environments, over far longer periods of time, than just about anything else. And that’s why you see them in many mission critical applications in defence. As our tagline says, they’re devices for when the going gets BEYOND tough.”

Using their battlefield proven durability as a basis for a new development program, in 2006, Opentec began several partnership developments on a range of embedded solutions, focusing on solutions for defence and emergency services. At this year’s Land Warfare Conference, a number of solutions grouped under the ‘C4/MISTAR’ banner, made their appearance. We all know what C4 stands for (Computers and Communications, Command and Control in case you don’t), but what is MISTAR?

MISTAR is a collective term for a range of related, embedded solutions, covering Medical, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance applications.

“Today we are moving into a new phase of business development that involves partnering with other leading Australian and international companies to create new and innovative computer-based solutions for industrial and military applications.”

However, core business remains the design and manufacture of top-end rugged portable computing devices. An example is the Australian Hydrographic Office which provides coastal mapping services for the Navy, as well as commercial shipping in Australian waters. Relied upon are the portable computers to run side-scan sonar and on-board mapping systems.

“Nothing else has survived for so long, nor performed as reliably, on board their ships whilst at sea. Years of salt air and spray, impacts resulting from choppy seas, repeated transfers from ship to ship and ship to shore, daily wash-downs after being used, all take their toll - unless a device is genuinely rugged.”