Industrial Android Tablet Uses in the Construction Industry

Building information technology (BIM) and construction management software (CMS) are just two of the important tools for the construction industry that rely on industrial Android tablet use in the field. While these and other applications have a big in-device use potential, it is the device’s ability to provide wireless connectivity in a durable, rugged package that truly expands that potential.

The construction industry is a broad field that encompasses many sectors where the use of an industrial Android tablet will has both overlapping and separate uses. For example, in heavy construction, surveying processes across road and building construction are more efficient with the ability to deliver 4G LTE and WiFi capability that enable inventory and parts management, crew messages and more.

In addition, these devices are compatible with Android-based survey and GIS software for mapping applications. Uses can also include mapping complex networks of fiber optic cables, gas lines, and other equipment affecting underground utilities for road construction or job site preliminary surveys.

To do this, an industrial Android tablet must handle the advanced workflow for data capture, accurate positioning, and data transmission. Since these are field-based environments that are unforgiving, an OEM Android tablet is unlikely to provide the same reliability over a long lifecycle that justifies the investment. Additionally, industrial Android tablets may be designed to accommodate custom interfaces and specialized equipment.

Supply movements to and from heavy construction sites are often critically timed for use due to limited storage space. Industrial tablet GPS and internet connectivity allows real-time supervisor oversight of incoming and outgoing materials via fleet traffic. They can track important deliveries for parts and materials in real time to keep a tight rein on time estimates for both the crew and the company.

Source: https://www.inhand.com/industrial-android-tablet-uses-in-the-construction-industry/

Why a Rugged Tablet Must Have an Ip67 Rating

Today, the rugged tablet is commonly used across sectors like manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, defense, energy/utilities and more. One key performance parameter in these environments is ingress protection (IP) rating – resistance to ingress of dust and water into the device. For business-critical operations, the best rule of thumb is to always err on the side of caution and choose a rugged tablet with at least an IP67 rating. Most companies will ask why this is the case, and the answer lies in an understanding of the IP rating system and what protection an IP67 rated device will bring.

Although we’ve discussed the importance of IP67 or IP68 rating for a rugged tablet, many businesses miss the importance of having a device that is purpose built and tested for this rating. Although many manufacturers of add-on protective outer cases say that their products will protect the average consumer-grade OEM Android tablet in the same way, that is only potentially true under narrowly defined parameters and may require user cooperation.

Revisiting the Practicality of IP Ratings

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the organization that sets the international standards and assessment for electrotechnology fields. The IEC ingress protection (IP) rating, governed by standard IEC 60529, is made up of the first digit which indicates its resistance to solids like dust, and a second digit that indicates its resistance to water. The higher the ratings numbers earned by a device the greater the ingress protection. A summary of the ingress protection ratings is located here. 

In the IP rating, the solid ingress rating indicates the maximum diameter of solid particles that can enter the device. For example, a solid ingress rating of 4 indicates a maximum entry diameter of 1 mm – protection from large objects but no protection from dust and dirt particles that can enter the device at connection and seal points around screens and other areas. A rating of 6, the maximum, indicates complete protection against “harmful” dust or dirt seeping into the unit after being in direct contact with the matter for eight hours or more, under vacuum. Field service, manufacturing, and industrial environments will all naturally have a high degree of dust and dirt, so the high rating of 6 in the IP67 rating is a must have.

The water ingress rating is highly variable. Lower numbers (1 to 3) indicate protection against dripping or spraying from certain directions. Level 4 indicates protection from splashes from any direction. A rating of 4 might seem adequate in many circumstances. However, high powered directional sprays or immersion of the device within a liquid, even if unlikely, will be destructive to electronics. Therefore higher liquid ingress ratings (such as 5, 6, or 7) are critical for reliable tablet operation in deployed or mission critical circumstances. A rating of 7 is earned by a device capable of being submerged under water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 m without adverse operational effects. It may seem like the higher rating of 7 would be unnecessary for anyone not working around large amounts of water on a regular basis, but that is the wrong way to look at it.

The Business Case for an IP67 Rated Rugged Tablet

First it’s important to understand that consumer devices typically have a rating of IP42 or lower. A consumer grade tablet with a case may offer additional protection from dust and resistance to other solids as well as fluids, but the protection is nominal. This is in stark contrast to a rugged tablet that is built from the component level up with protection for internal components such as sealed connectors, membranes protecting speakers and microphones, gaskets for packaging, and more.

View source: https://www.inhand.com/why-a-rugged-tablet-must-have-an-ip67-rating/

How Custom Tablets Will Drive Industry 4.0 and IIoT

The convergence of automation, big data, data exchange, next generation human machine interfaces (HMI) and a host of other technologies like augmented reality (AR) and digital twins are just a few technology forces propelling Industry 4.0 and the industrial internet of things (IIoT). But companies need a means of putting agile, powerful, and mobile control of those converged forces into the hands of operations managers, which is where custom tablets come in.

In the new IIoT world, networks of sensor-equipped smart devices and machines can collect data for analysis and interpretation to reduce costs and waste while increasing efficiency and quality output. But without analytics, these sensors cannot provide the data to improve uptime and efficiency while lowering scrap and waste.

This is where Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) comes into play as a means of visualizing, sharing, and acting upon sensor data via OEE software. Customized tablets that are purpose-built for these environments are the conduit for visualizing, sharing, and most importantly making OEE data actionable while in the field. While basic internet connectivity to data center servers and desktop visualization are important for overall system performance management, the ability to access and utilize this data on-site in real time is crucial to both diagnosis, repair, and maintenance. Customized tablets capable of direct interface with specialized equipment are most effective. When choosing an industrial custom tablet manufacturer, companies are seeking partners that understand today’s and tomorrow’s industry 4.0 and IIoT needs.

For example, industrial AR platforms designed for manufacturing environments also enable industrial employees to visualize a data set via customized tablets. The combination of AR and custom tablets are increasingly driving machine repairs. AR schematics and graphical user representation of parts and repair process can be overlaid on an existing machine or part to guide the user with process images. This enables service technicians to affect repairs of complex systems.

View source: https://www.inhand.com/how-custom-tablets-will-drive-industry-4-0-and-iiot/

Intrinsically Safe Circuit Design Device Needs Across Industries

As mobility in harsh and volatile industrial and manufacturing environments has become a necessity for productivity, safety, monitoring, and management, intrinsically safe circuit design has had to meet stringent regulatory device needs. Making matters more challenging for device manufactures are the varied environments, product features, and complex requirements of meeting regulatory compliance for intrinsic safety. The definition of intrinsically safe lies at the heart of this challenge.

Intrinsic safety requirements apply to any device operated in areas where flammable gases, fuels or dust are present. The device must provide preventive protection in its electronic circuit design and physical structure when used in explosive atmospheres. These devices must be designed in such a way that they will not release enough energy to cause ignition of flammable material. Just a few of the more obvious Industries which require Intrinsically Safe devices include:

• Oil and gas
• Pharmaceutical
• Aircraft maintenance
• Chemical refining
• Power generation
• Metal smelting and refining
• Plastics manufacturers

The regulations and requirements governing intrinsic safety for any device that must be certified and manufactured for use in volatile environments are varied. There are two main regulatory bodies and certification:

• ATEX (Atmosphere Explosive)
• IECEx (International Electrotechnical Commission Explosive)

Both have complex zone requirements driving intrinsically safe circuit design standards across the globe.

While there are a number of suppliers offering tablet PCs, smart phones, handheld computing devices or cases reported to be intrinsically safe, there are vast needs for mobile handheld intrinsically safe devices for specialized use cases in highly specific environments such as complex measurement and scanning devices. 

To read more, visit original source: https://www.inhand.com/intrinsically-safe-circuit-design-device-needs-across-industries/

Intrinsically Safe Product Design, Part 2: Defining the Hazardous Location Environment

Part 1 of this blog series introduced the concept of intrinsic safety. Part 2 describes the characterization of hazardous environments with respect to intrinsically safe circuit design of electronic devices.

Internationally, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is considered to be a benchmark in the definition of explosive atmospheres and certification of electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres via its IECEx standards. Additionally, various countries impose their own standards and requirements in defining explosive atmospheres. The ATEX (ATmosphere EXplosibles) standard is applicable to thirteen countries within the European Union.

In the US, regulatory bodies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Electrical Code (NEC) have established definitions that classify locations which exhibit potentially dangerous conditions to the degree of hazard presented. In hazardous locations, specially designed equipment and special installation techniques must be used to protect against the explosive and flammable potential of these substances. Similarly, in Canada, the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) defines hazardous areas.

Each standard/classification has slightly different requirements, which makes it critical to identify all required environments and geographies prior to design. Although these standards are harmonized, it is possible to design a product that does not meet the intended use environment without a major redesign.

Read more at: https://www.inhand.com/intrinsically-safe-product-design-part-2-hazloc-definition/

The Role of the Custom Medical Device in Interoperability

While the pursuit of true interoperability in healthcare continues to accelerate, data security concerns still loom large. Data standards, security and privacy requirements, and advanced health IT systems are critical to achieve full healthcare interoperability, according to a report from the Hospital Agenda for Interoperability.

In truth, full and unfettered interoperability is not always the goal if it comes at the expense of data security or patient safety. That’s one reason why a custom medical device can be both the nexus point for interoperability and a model showing how limited interoperability may be the answer to some safety and security concerns.

Understanding Interoperability and Data Security

To understand why there may be times where full interoperability for data in transit and device control access across a complex healthcare system network may not be the only way to go, we need to agree on a definition for full interoperability. From a data perspective, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) describes the foundational level of interoperability as

Data exchange from one information technology system to be received by another and does not require the ability for the receiving information technology system to interpret the data.

The definition stops short of saying all data in transit shared across all systems since securing all data across the network can be a daunting task. Three regulatory areas that reveal the potential vulnerability in systems sharing all data without a high level of safeguards include:

• The strict Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
• Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
• Compliance rules with Electronic Protected Health Information (EPHI)

Not all data needs to go to all systems and all users all the time, so some forms of limited interoperability will be part of the eventual interoperability mix. Custom made medical devices that perform specific diagnostic tasks and connect to specialty peripheral devices used for treatment are a perfect example of when limited interoperability is a security safeguard.

This may not make the device incapable of sharing data. Such medical devices add safeguards that would require an additional protocol safety step to share an electronic health record (EHR) on a network or with clinical information systems (CIS).

Secure Interoperability Models with a Custom Medical Device

There are many commercial tablet PHI security limitations that show why a custom medical device is needed as an important diagnostic, periphery medical device, and medical data access tool. Custom medical device manufacturers are therefore in the best position to accommodate the specific needs for patient treatment and equipment maintenance, including:

• Access control for medical treatment personnel authorized to provide certain treatments, and potentially for treatment of specific patients
• Limitation of the time periods that the device connects to a network
• Encryption and authentication of remotely provided device commands for monitoring and potential treatment of the patient
• Administrative security for device EPHI data access based on the patient being treated
• Physical security for access control, hardware removal, and theft
• Smart security that uses encryption, authentication, tamper detection, secure execution, and more
• Automatic and remote management of deployed devices, including geographic-based operation and health monitoring.
• Limitation of device remote control and access for the protection of patient safety and privacy

But device manufacturers and the healthcare continuum must keep in mind that interoperability is not an all or nothing proposition. There are several instances where some form of limited interoperability may not only be desirable, but necessary.

View Original Source:- https://www.inhand.com/the-role-of-the-custom-medical-device-in-interoperability/

Embedded Board Designs, Rugged Tablets, and Human Machine Interface Possibilities

In many ways, today’s embedded board designs are driven by the need for agile, portable, and powerful access to human machine interface (HMI) information in the age of Industry 4.0 and IIoT. This is primarily because advances in single board computers have made it possible to move beyond the narrow and fixed information scope of HMI/SCADA tools.

The growth of IIoT is on the verge of defining the modern manufacturing environment across all sectors. That growth can be seen in the recent Forbes prediction that the IIoT market will be worth $123B by 2021, which translates to a CAGR of 7.3 percent through 2020. HMI is clearly a significant catalyst for monitoring and operational analysis when it comes to IIoT. Consequently, HMI must also grow to become an agile hub of easily accessible information across highly diverse and complex industrial environments.

HMI systems and software as well as the mobile devices that will access them must be capable of delivering a highly advanced and customizable data visualization and control interface. To meet this growing need for powerful devices in a small form factor, many manufacturers are turning to custom HMI device designs.

The modern embedded board is the engine that drives the capabilities of rugged tablet devices that are purpose built to meet highly specific needs and environments. Those capabilities only begin with the customized processing power, storage, advanced screen capabilities and streamlined connectivity. These and other vital capabilities, such as continuous availability and high reliability, are what enables HMI to be a powerful tool in a converged IT/OT manufacturing environment.

This convergence of integrated and accessible capabilities is vital across industries like energy and utilities, oil & gas, and countless manufacturing sectors. They all require access to these capabilities since they interface with complex machines, systems, and sensors that are often geographically dispersed.

View Original Source:- https://www.inhand.com/embedded-board-designs-rugged-tablets-and-human-machine-interface-possibilities/

Mobile Device Management and Rugged Android Tablets for Applications in the Field

Managing mobile devices in the field can be a complex challenge with numerous sector-dependent needs and challenges. Bring your own device (BYOD) policies are proliferating in the age of the mobile workforce, which presents many business and operational benefits. However BYOD presents numerous challenges, including inability to withstand operation in the field, user pushback to subjecting administration of personal devices to an employer’s information technology (IT) department and policies, and complexity that administrators face managing a wide variety of personal devices.

Many BYOD devices include consumer grade Android tablets widely available at mass retailers. These off-the-shelf tablets may not optimally meet the requirements of many applications in the field. They may not be rugged enough (even when packaged in rugged overmolds), lack required interfaces and peripherals, may not meet regulatory requirements for safety or security, or may not be available for sale in a stable configuration. This may be true of Android tablets used in healthcare, manufacturing, energy, mining, and transportation/supply chain sectors, for example.

To overcome these problems, a custom Android tablet, meeting specific electronic, software, packaging, ruggedness, security, regulatory, and supply chain requirements, may be designed and deployed. These tablets must also be managed by corporate IT departments. Fortunately, these rugged Android tablets may be managed by familiar IT techniques. And in many ways, custom tablets may be managed more easily and securely than BYOD devices.

Two methods for remote device management are Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform solutions.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) Basics

MDM solutions give administrators a centralized way to engage, monitor, provision, enroll, update, secure and remotely locate rugged tablet devices used in the field. This can encompass securing, monitoring and managing company-owned as well as employee-owned devices through a set of security policies and profiles that can include:

• Application Management
• Device Management
• Content Management
• User profile analytics

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Basics

Electronic devices in the field are actually individual endpoints that may be remotely connected to one or more servers in a network. Unified Endpoint Management means managing various essential processes required for IT administration using a single software application.

Unified endpoint management (UEM) allows the different enterprise ecosystem devices to be managed with one tool. UEM allows IT to remotely provision, control and secure varied devices like cell phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Endpoint management comprises processes like:

• Pushing patch updates
• Software distribution
• Bulk OS deployment
• Remote troubleshooting
• Hardware and software asset management etc.
• AI-based analysis, security tools and processes

View Original Source:- https://www.inhand.com/mobile-device-management-and-rugged-android-tablets-for-applications-in-the-field/

How Rugged Tablets Will Drive Edge Computing Across Industry Sectors

End users have made it clear that an industrial tablet must be a conduit for advancing data transmission and processing technologies rather than an impediment. According to Statista, IoT spending by discrete manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and energy will quadruple in 2020 from 2015 levels. These sectors are all relying on big data, IoT sensors, analytics and more to refine processes beyond the edge of the network, which has given rise to edge computing.

The rugged Android tablet is fast becoming a critical link in realizing that data processing and access shift in real time. Custom tablets for IoT use is a driver of that trend. To understand how that’s true, we need a basic understanding of edge computing and how it affects countless industries.

What is Edge Computing?

Edge computing is all about processing data at the edge of the network nearest the source of the data. This reduces the costs, time delays, network bandwidth needs, and latency that comes with processing data through central data centers. The idea is to leverage resources that may not be continuously connected to a network, which is where an industrial Android tablet comes in.

Moving computing closer to the edge of the network allows companies to process data and analyze it dynamically in real time. Data analytics is being leveraged by numerous sectors to make real time productivity, performance, and cost decisions. This has real-world ramifications when these sectors face the limits imposed by network connectivity and latency issues.

Overcoming Network Connectivity and Data Latency Challenges

It’s clear that IoT sensors used in various sectors can provide valuable information for making critical decisions. But to make the most of that sensor data they need the power of edge computing and an industrial tablet to make it viable for many sectors and in many settings.

Network connectivity in the field isn’t always reliable, which could render cloud solutions unworkable, and lead to costly downtime. This is true from the heart of a smart city to the remote oil fields of energy producers and in-transit fleets and their goods in the manufacturing supply chain among others that all rely on rugged tablets.

View Original Source:- https://www.inhand.com/how-rugged-tablets-will-drive-edge-computing-across-industry-sectors/

The Importance of Rugged Tablet Features and Medical Treatment

It’s becoming increasingly clear in the healthcare industry that the use of rugged tablets must have similar characteristics as other medical instrumentation used in medical care. In essence, it must be capable of acting with the same safeguards and functionality as any other medical device. Consequently, the features of an efficient and reliable medical grade tablet must be geared to the needs of the healthcare environment where it will be part of the instrument chain providing patient care.

Industrial Android tablets have become a staple in healthcare for things like medication alerts and tracking, Electronic Health Record (EHR) support, blood pressure monitoring, among others. While these uses have an ancillary relationship to patient outcomes, they do not provide direct medical function to healthcare providers or patients as a medical device. That is changing fast due to the evolution of purpose-built tablet designs that adhere to FDA, Medical Device Directive 60601, and ISO 13485 regulations.

For example, tablets that interface directly with medical devices to perform medical treatment procedures are required to be capable of adhering to stringent FDA regulations. Many medical devices now have the ability to connect to, communicate with, and operate other medical devices or systems, particularly treatment devices, which makes these connecting devices medical devices in the eyes of the FDA.

Devices that are already FDA approved or cleared are being updated to add digital features. New types of devices that already have these capabilities are being explored. Today’s devices are designed to work with complex software and provide interface ability with next generation medical devices to provide direct patient diagnosis and treatment.

This includes uses as direct interfaces via software for glucose meters, infusion pumps, and as critical displays of radiological images as just three examples. Adding application-specific capabilities, such as specifically calibrated displays, often customized secure wireless connections, and tethered medical instruments enable a medical grade tablet for safe and reliable medical treatment, such as monitoring and changing critical fluid intake and body functions or guided medical procedures.

View Original Source:- https://www.inhand.com/the-importance-of-rugged-tablet-features-and-medical-treatment/