Blackjack II

As the keys begin to stick on my Samsung Blackjack II, and I think about how the navigation wheel used to spin freely, I remember the days of my Siemens M56.  That little phone was built like a tiny brick, and it withstood the harshest abuse.  Whether we were swimming in saltwater or it was falling off the top of my moving car, my little phone never complained, remained tough, and always worked.  It was a sad day when, after three and a half years, I had to “upgrade” to a Motorola Razr.

M56

While the M56 was tough, it was never tested or designed as a “rugged” device.  I was very fortunate it survived, but for those whose lives rely upon the dependability of their electronics, chance does not satisfy.  Many manufacturers have recognized the need for electronics able to withstand the harshest of environments, and have designed “rugged” products for use in situations as diverse as the battle field to deep freezers.

But how rugged is the “rugged” classification?  Please comment below if you feel that I am far off…

What I have found has not surprised me.  It seems that just as I can tell you I am really strong; unless you ask me how much I can bench-press, you really have no idea how true my claims of strength are.  And even if I tell you how much I can lift, you are not sure if I am telling the truth.  The same seems true for the classification of “rugged” within the electronics industry.  Many have self-certified their products as rugged, or have developed internal testing procedures under which they qualify their products.  So how do you know what you are getting, and how do you know which rugged product to buy?  Let’s dig further.

The very first step you should complete is to determine exactly in what environment your product will be operating.  Some of the various standards/tests include: low pressure altitude testing, high and low temperatures, rain (freezing and penetrating), various forms of shock (both while in operation and while off), humidity, growths (fungus, algae, rust), sand and dust, accelerations, explosions, and various types of vibration.  As you can imagine, every product will meet different standard within each of these categories.  And while phone A may be “rugged” when it relates to salt-water, phone B may be “rugged” as it relates to extreme temperatures.

Fortunately there are various standards in place for the testing of products as it relates to rugged use.  The MIL-STD-810 (Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests) is a 500+ page document
(open at your own risk, it’s big) outlining the chamber test methods necessary to use when certifying a product to be rugged in a particular application for military use.  This standard can be tailored for commercial use, and many products advertise that they meet MIL-STD-810 standards in various settings.  For example, you will notice that the Olympus Stylus-Tough 8000 is MIL-STD-810 certified to certain levels as it relates to shock and temperature.  But just because it’s rated as rugged does not mean you should take it onto the water slide (although in this case you can… see the video on this page).

Some companies certify themselves to the MIL-STD-810 standards, while others use outside auditing organizations to confirm their claims.  If it were me, I would always require an external auditing organization to confirm the claims made (especially if the product is protecting the life of someone).  Some companies have developed and branded their own systems of rugged classification.  For instance, Sonim cell phones adhere to the “Rugged Performance Standards” set in place by Sonim.  Take a look at the video.  It is pretty neat. Though again, always make sure that an outside agency has substantiated the claims made by the manufacturer.

So just as I will tell you that I am very strong, and you would ask me to qualify my statements; so too should you always seek to qualify the statements made in regards to the rugged nature of various electronics.  What do you need it to withstand?  What standards does it claim to adhere to?  Have those claims been substantiated by an outside agent?

Enjoy!

Eric grew up in Swampscott, MA – 25 minutes or so north of Boston.  As a boy scout he became fascinated with Ham Radios, went on to get licensed, and has been using them ever since.  A passion for radio, coupled with his father’s encouragement, led him to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology where he received his EE degree.

He has worked for a few Tech companies in the Boston area over that past several years, notably spending 6 years as a test engineer at MIT Lincoln Labs.  During this time he pursued additional studies at Tufts University, focusing on RF and Microwave applications.

I was enamored by everything Eric was telling me about Ham Radios.  Whereas a CB Radio is more local, Ham Radios have the ability to communicate globally.  Depending on atmospheric conditions, geographic location, antenna configuration and operator skill, one can speak around the world.  Eric has been able to speak with others in Australia, and even had a conversation with members of the Royal Family in Jordan.  With a Ham radio on his bicycle, one in his truck, and his set-up at home – Eric is always able to see who is on the air and chat with them.

I was amazed to hear about how often various frequencies and operators use Morse code to communicate.  Many can approach 40 words a minute and are able to have flowing conversations.  He has been in severalcompetitions locally and finished 5^th or so last year in the ARRL Field Day Competition.

Be sure to check out Eric’s myspace pages for music (he plays the drums in two bands) and to also check out some of his photography.

PM Blues
Rumbletones

Eric’s LinkedIn

Feel free to contact Liam Morris if you are interested in being featured in one of these short bios. Contact Information is in the authors section of the blog.

It is amazing how flexible circuits allow intricate and complex electronics continue to decrease in size.  As flex and rigid-flex are developed, unique applications will continue to arise.  This picture really makes you wonder how complex in the inner workings of our most common, taken for granted, electronics are.