Today’s mobile workforce is utilizing laptops in more ways, and in more environments, than ever before. Whether it’s a traveling executive, factory inspector or law enforcement official, the mobile workforce depends on laptops to communicate and complete their tasks no matter where they are.
In order to produce a durable laptop that can reliably perform in a variety of environments, manufacturers need to conduct thorough testing. Currently, there is neither an industry standard, nor an independent testing authority, for rugged computing products, but Panasonic’s rugged Toughbook notebooks have been designed to meet relevant MIL-STD-810F (or “Mil-Spec”) requirements and additional internal test based on user environments. We certify all tests through independent, 3rd party laboratories.
About MIL-STD-810F
MIL-STD-810F is a series of testing standards and procedures issued by the United States Army, in order to identify products approved for use by all agencies and organizations within the Department of Defense. While these procedures were initially created specifically for the military, they have since become an important benchmark for numerous public and private sector organizations to verify if products will withstand challenging conditions throughout their service life.
There’s a common misconception that products can receive a blanket “Mil-Spec certification” verifying that the device is rugged in all respects. In fact, there are numerous independent tests, so potential buyers need to verify whether a notebook has passed the tests that best reflect the environment it will be deployed in.
Panasonic tests each of its notebooks on the MIL-STD-810F standards that most closely reflect the environments its users will face. For instance, fully-rugged notebook computers are tested to match the unpredictable environmental conditions faced by military, first responders and commercial field workers in industries like oil & gas. However, because business-rugged Toughbook computers are built for use by road warriors, the main concerns tested include drops and keyboard spills.
Fully-Rugged Toughbook® Testing Procedures
The following MIL-STD-810F test procedures are performed on all fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook computers during various stages of design, development and quality assurance. Some tests are performed at the Kobe factory, while others are performed at additional Panasonic or third party facilities.
Drop Test
Drop tests are performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 516.5, Procedure IV (Transit Drop Test). The Toughbook notebook is sequentially dropped in non-operating mode, onto each face, edge and corner for a total of 26 drops. The drop surface is two-inch-thick plywood over a steel plate over concrete. Toughbook notebooks are visually inspected after each drop and a functional check (boot-up into Windows) is performed after each drop.
Vibration
The Vibration test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 514, Procedure I, Category 24 (Minimum Integrity Test) for the non-operational condition and Category 20 (Ground Vehicles) for the operational condition. The Toughbook notebook is clamped to an aluminum plate (approximating rigid mounting), and is subjected to the following levels of vibration:
- Non-Operational (from Figure 514.5C-17 of MIL-STD-810F) 0.04 g2 /Hz at 20-1000 Hz, -6 dB/Octave at 1000-2000 Hz, 1 hour/axis duration.
- Operational (Figure 514.5C-1 of MIL-STD-810F) 0.001 g2 /Hz at 12.5 Hz, 0.034 g2 /Hz at 20~40 Hz 5.70E-06 g2 /Hz at 200 Hz, 1 hour/axis duration simulating 1000 miles of transportation.
The hard disk drive is spinning during the operational test. A functional test is performed between each axis of testing, to catch any potential failures. The operational test is conducted using the vertical axis power spectral density (worst case condition for amplitude), as the orientation of the test item during transportation is not known.
Water Resistance
The Water Resistance test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 506.4 (Spray). The test items are subjected to this test with the LCD open and the unit operating, but with ports closed. Rugged Toughbook computers are opened following testing to inspect for water intrusion.
Humidity
The Humidity test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 507.4 (Aggravated). Toughbook computers are tested for operation near the conclusion of the fifth and tenth cycles. Each cycle is one day (24 hours) and the entire test is performed over ten days. The temperature is cycled between 86 and 140°F with the relative humidity at 95% constant.
Dust Resistance
The Dust Resistance test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4, Procedure I (Dust). An operating temperature of 140°F is used for this test. The upper non-operating temperature of 140°F is incorporated into the test as this is the “default” temperature given by the MIL-STD-810F guidelines. Silica flour, as defined by the test standard, is used. Failure is considered to have occurred if moving parts bind or are blocked, or if contacts or relays malfunction. The Toughbook notebooks must continue to function.
High Temperature
High Temperature tests are conducted in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 501.4, Procedures I (Storage) and Procedure II (Operation). PCSC sets the testing parameters as follows: 140°F Operational, 160°F Non-Operational.
Low Temperature
The Low Temperature tests are performed according to MIL-STD-810F, Method 502.4, Procedures I (Storage) and II (Operation). PCSC sets the low operating temperature at -20°F and non-operating temperature at -60°F.
Thermal Shock
The Thermal Shock test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 503.4. PCSC sets the high temperature non-operating temperature at 205°F and the low temperature non-operating temperature at -60°F. Three cycles are performed (high to low = one cycle).
Altitude
The Altitude test is performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 500.4, Procedure I (Storage) and II (Operation). The altitude level used for both procedures is 15,000 feet (highest equivalent altitude given within MIL-STD-810F for cargo pressures of military aircraft).
In addition, rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebook screens, cases, ports, and keyboards are IP54-rated for water and particulates. Fully rugged products, including the Toughbook 30, Toughbook 19 and Toughbook U1, have achieved UL1604 Class 1 / Div. 2 certification for use in hazardous environments.
Additional Factory Testing
Because MIL-STD-810F standards don’t go far enough to verify a product’s ability to survive certain situations, Panasonic also performs additional factory tests on each rugged notebook that go above and beyond the official standards:
- Twelve hours of spraying water while the LCD is open and operating
- Dropped from three feet, landing on every angle, while the computer is operating
- 300 lbs exerted on the units to test compression
- Notebook hinges are required to pass 50,000 cycles
- Keyboards are tested to withstand 25 million keystrokes
A note about business-rugged testing
Business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are the beneficiary of the engineering and testing that contribute to the extremely high reliability of rugged Toughbook devices. Because business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are not designed to be used in the same environmental conditions, the testing, while still rigorous, does not include all of the Mil-Spec tests outlined above.
The exception here is drop-testing: Panasonic believes that in order to claim effectiveness as a business-rugged or durable PC, units must be drop-tested in accordance with the MIL-STD 810F standard. Dropping is one of the leading causes of damage to business notebooks.
Business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are drop-tested using both the MIL-STD-810F methodology common to rugged notebooks as well as additional Panasonic factory drop tests. Fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebooks are Mil-Spec rated to 36” (for both the unit and the hard drive), while the 8 series business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are mil-spec rated to 12” for the unit itself and 30” for the shock-mounted hard drive. An additional Panasonic drop-test requires that 8 series notebooks survive a 30” (just over the typical height of a desk or table) drop to the base of the unit while it is operating.
The unique Panasonic spill-through keyboard design also protects business-rugged notebooks against liquid spills of more than 6 ounces (200 cc), and both the lid and base of the notebooks are designed to withstand more than 220 lbs (100 Kg) of distributed pressure.
Panasonic’s commitment
Panasonic’s commitment to quality—at both the component and finished goods level—results in a total of more than 500 checks and tests before, during and after production as well as 100% burn-in.
As a result, Panasonic Toughbook notebooks are known for having the lowest failure rates in the industry. Government, industrial, and commercial users—from Fortune 1,000 companies to small businesses—rely on solutions from Panasonic, wherever their work takes them.