19.02.08
Rugged – the right track for the rail industry
The railway industry is a long time user of ruggedised computers for both onboard and maintenance crews. As railway workers can’t always control the environment they work in, the importance of handheld computers that can withstand a great variety of work environments is critical. Handheld Europe supplies the industry with some typical rugged railway applications throughout the EMEA.
Working outside - maintenance of switch system and tie Inspection
C-Cubed, a Handheld partner based in Hampshire, is a developer of high technology industrial measurement and control solutions. C-Cubed were recently asked by IAD Rail Systems to update the field maintenance tools for their High Performance Switch System (HPSS). Based on the ultra rugged Recon PDA, C-Cubed developed a software package to enable lineside engineers to quickly configure and diagnose faults in HPSS units. This fully waterproof and drop-proof system is extremely robust and simple to use and enables data to be captured and then synchronized with a PC for detailed offline analysis. IAD and C-Cubed are also planning to investigate a system later this year where IAD will be able to remotely monitor HPSS units using GPRS. In Sweden, Banverket, the rail administration which has overall responsibility for the rail transport system, has worked with rugged computers from Handheld for more than 15 years, inspecting railway beds, tracks and ties. A computer that can withstand sunshine, heavy rain and vast temperature changes is a great benefit for these inspectors since they work outdoors, no matter the weather.
Working onboard - ticket validation and train drivers
Even though train drivers and conductors work mostly indoors, they are also users of rugged computers to overview timetables or to handle ticket validation. Onboard, computers have to be able to handle constant vibrations, direct sunlight on screen and the risk of being dropped and spilled on. Swedish Rail has chosen M3 eTicket as the new hardware for train conductors. The M3 eTicket has been developed for the public traffic sector, with a focus on mobility and the latest technological solutions. The application is based on the durable mobile computer M3+, from Handheld, in which a smartcard-reader for ISO 14443, type A/B standards has been integrated. M3 eTicket also features a barcode reader, WLAN, Bluetooth, camera, and GSM/GPRS. It is still exceptionally light, which is important for workforces which carry their equipment all day - a fact for train conductors. The M3 eTicket can survive falls from 1.5 metres and can withstand dust, water and extreme temperatures.
Always working
The common thread running through these rather different applications is that they are all subject to fairly rough and demanding environments. They all require durable features such as resistance to shock, temperature changes and vibration. The importance of long battery life also becomes obvious for field workers as recharging is not always possible. Rugged computers are designed to increase productivity in the field. These advantages are lost if devices break down, need repeated service or must be replaced. For businesses concerned with obtaining the greatest productivity over the long term, rugged Handheld computers are the clear and convincing choice.
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