Not that long ago, a blinking blue light on a call box alerted police officers to respond. Portable radios enhanced the connection between officers and dispatch. But the rugged computer revolutionized police communications by granting officers immediate access to information.

Rugged laptops now serve a greater purpose than just communications due to broadband expansion and connectivity advancements. The police squad car now functions as a mobile office, allowing officers to write reports, access networks and databases, and stay informed with real-time intelligence.

While rugged computers are crucial for field efficiency, they vary in quality and performance. To market products as rugged, some companies simply house regular computers in rugged cases, according to Alex Nollmann, senior director of Government at Panasonic Connect.

“But what you really need is a device that’s built rugged from the inside out,” he says.

According to Mike McMahon, president of Getac North America, officers also require fast and secure network connections, extended battery life, and reliable displays that function in all lighting conditions. “These features,” he says, “are essential for their safety and efficiency.”

Given the importance of these mission-critical devices and police agency’s limited budgets, decision-makers need accurate information to make well-informed purchases. Here are seven factors to consider when choosing rugged laptops for law enforcement purposes.

1.Pick a Rugged Computer

Rugged can mean a lot of different things in this industry, according to Nollmann. He explains, “There really isn’t an industry definition about what rugged is.”

The industry once used terms like mil-spec to say the computers were tested to military standards, supporting reliability and toughness. But Nollmann says even today’s consumer cellphones claim to offer this level of ruggedness.

“We really have to think about the environment the device was meant to operate in when we say a device is rugged,” he explains.

McMahon agrees, offering a more specific definition of rugged. He says, “Rugged laptops and tablets are specifically designed to meet demanding needs and offer the durability and reliability standard devices simply cannot provide. This ensures officers have the tools they need to perform their duties effectively regardless of the environment.”

However, what is the true meaning of environmental toughness?

McMahon and Nollmann say truly rugged computers can effectively operate in a wide temperature range, ensuring reliable performance in diverse environmental conditions, whether in extreme heat or freezing cold.

In contrast, an off-the-shelf laptop is designed to operate in a climate-controlled environment. Despite having heat and air conditioning, McMahon explains a squad car is not completely climate controlled.

“Officers in the field often operate in extreme conditions, from intense heat to severe cold. Their assignments involve challenging environments such as proximity to a fire while on highway patrol or during a blizzard,” he says. “For this reason, we have designed Getac’s rugged devices to function from -20 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 145 degrees F.”  

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices are built to be operated in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees (F) to 200 degrees (F), adds Nollmann.

Rugged computers also need to withstand patrol car vibrations and impacts. Nollmann emphasizes that the construction of a device plays a crucial role in determining its durability. He adds Panasonic TOUGHBOOK ensures durability by using flexible connectors to withstand shocks, impacts, and vibrations.

2. Glaring Considerations

Rugged computer screens must be robust enough to withstand sunlight and glare in vehicles, while also being user-friendly under demanding circumstances, according to Nollmann.

He suggests agencies assess touchscreen durability for regular use in rough environments. For example, can it be operated with latex gloves on? Can the screen be sanitized? Are there programmable buttons for easy access to applications without having to look down at the keyboard?

“Officers are trained for repetition and memory,” he explains. “They are trained to not have to look at the keyboard to figure out which button to press. We design Toughbooks for multiple officer use cases so they can easily operate them while staying situationally aware. They can touch a button to control the volume or the screen brightness without looking down. Additionally, TOUGHBOOK devices offer rain sensing technology so they can accurately identify the difference between a raindrop and an actual entry on the touchscreen.”

3. Tech Support

“If a computer is being operated in a law enforcement environment, it needs to support the systems agencies use,” according to Nollmann.

In other words, these computers must support facial recognition tools, fingerprinting systems, contactless smart cards, insertable smart cards, and more.

“A rugged computer also needs integration capabilities to ensure the device can seamlessly integrate with various software systems to enhance operational efficiency and flexibility,” adds McMahon.

Nollmann predicts the government will prioritize security and encryption in response to the growing number of cyber-attacks, necessitating rugged computers to also meet these demands.

“We are going to see a lot more attention on those details and a lot more requirements being pushed around security and encryption,” he says. “Agencies will need to be able to adapt on the fly without making major investments to comply with these mandates.”

Nollmann suggests agencies use modular devices to upgrade rugged computers economically as new standards arise. For instance, the TOUGHBOOK 40 offers five customizable areas. This allows agencies to order the base unit, but then add on or change features and functionality toaddress department needs and new cybersecurity standards.

“They can even customize units between users,” he says. “For example, if they have 100 users but only 10 need a DVD drive, then they can add that capability to just those units.”

4. Get on the Edge

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are two buzzwords taking the computer world by storm. McMahon says by employing AI/ML agencies benefit in three key ways:

• Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency: Rugged AI laptops can perform data analysis and processing on site, providing real-time decision support. They can also operate smoothly in harsh environments, reducing downtime caused by device failures and increasing work efficiency.

• Reduced TCO (Total Cost of Ownership): AI enables early detection of potential issues, facilitating predictive/preventive maintenance operations, which can reduce additional costs arising from unplanned downtime or equipment failure.

• Data Security: By processing AI tasks at the edge, the risks of sending data to the cloud are reduced, which strengthens data security for public safety.

A laptop with a focus on Edge AI, McMahon says, offers advanced solutions for enabling advanced AI-powered rugged technology. He explains that, by integrating AI directly into rugged devices, Getac significantly optimizes applications critical to law enforcement, such as license plate recognition, facial recognition, audio recognition, and noise cancellation.

“This integration ensures police officers and IT professionals can rely on faster, more reliable, and secure data processing, directly enhancing operational efficiency and safety,” he says.

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices are also designed and tested for optimized performance of AI integrated applications. . The company has established a law enforcement advisory council that maintains a continuous conversation with law enforcement users to better support their technology needs today and in the future. They have been particularly focused on the AI transition and  incorporating hardware features compatible with AI.

“We add things like quad array microphones to make sure the hardware is ready for voice interaction, for example,” he says. “This ensures officers can interact with the technology via voice versus typing.”

Panasonic is also focusing on advancing processors and expanding memory. “To run AI on the edge, we need more horsepower, more memory and more processing power,” Nollmann explains. “We are investing in that technology, so we are ready as the market increasingly turns to AI on the edge.”

5.Keep it Connected

Rugged computers cannot do much if they are not connected. Maintaining constant communication and data access is essential, making robust connectivity via 5G Sub-6 or 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, and private networks critical, according to McMahon.

Nollmann adds, “When looking at which laptop to buy, do not just look at what connectivity is offered but at what connectivity is achieved. Having the fastest modem on the market may not be the most reliable modem. You might only get those blazing fast speeds when you’re in the right spot at the right time.”

He says it’s more important to consider whether the device retains data if it loses connectivity and if the agency command center can still track the officer and transmit limited data in offline mode.

“They don’t have to transmit videos and pictures, but just tiny bits of GPS location information are important from an officer safety standpoint,” he says. “It’s more important to have a high-quality modem that stays connected all the time, than having the latest and greatest, fastest download modem that only works downtown.”

Connectivity, he says, also improves with a roof-mounted antenna that can pick up a cellphone signal from a great distance. This allows the computer to shut off internal antennas and pass signal through the vehicle up through the roof to extend the connectivity range.

Connectivity also improves with FirstNet, which McMahon says enables rapid response and uninterrupted communications in emergency situations. Agencies also need to look for rugged computers that can connect to private networks to enhance data security. “This is essential for safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring secure communications,” he says.

Satellite connections may be the wave of the future, Nollmann adds. “I don’t think it’s readily available at the vehicle level right now. But it’s something we are tracking and thinking heavily about.”   

6. Secure the Hardware

“The right docking station provides flexibility so the computer can move around safely. By creating a more ergonomic work environment, officers can work comfortably and efficiently,” Nollmann says. “But the most important thing is safety. The last thing we want is even a minor accident where the computer becomes a projectile flying around the car.”

McMahon recommends considering the following when purchasing a docking station:

• Is it a convenient, easy-to-align, intuitive dock/undock experience to minimize the need to deal with technology?

• Is it future-proofed for new and emerging technology to balance the 5- to 7-year vehicle active lifetime and a 3- to 5-year device technology horizon?

• Does it offer port replication needs and the power required?

• Does it address space requirements so officers’ freedom of movement within the vehicle cabin during mission-critical situations is not impacted?

• Can it be mounted in a way that the rugged computer does not impede windshield and side-mirror visibility?

• Does the mount and docking station ensure constant communication between the computer and display?

• Does the docking station accommodate peripheral technology such as keyboards, cameras, video, and other accessories?

• Has the docking station been tested for durability, vibration resistance, and protection from damage due to drops or crashes?

He adds, “The dock should have an intuitive design, allowing the officer to dock and undock devices with no need for instructions. It should occupy minimal space and feature a one-handed device release mechanism, enabling the officer to safely guide the device free with their other hand, thus preventing scratches, scrapes, or drops. It’s also important to confirm the testing requirements the dock undergoes to ensure durability, vibration resistance and protection from damage due to crashes.”

7. Pick the Right Partner

McMahon says there are three primary considerations when selecting a rugged technology vendor partner:

• Versatility and Connectivity: Does the partner offer a wide range of products and solutions that are versatile and include connectivity features such as RF pass through? He also recommends choosing a vendor that can support various peripherals to enhance functionality.

• Compatibility Across Generations: The right vendor has products that maintain good compatibility between product generations. This ensures seamless integration and reduces the need for frequent replacements or upgrades, he adds.

• Innovative and Long Term: Choose vendors that can adapt to modern technologies and offer long-term support for their products. “This ensures the solutions provided will remain relevant and effective over time,” he says.

Nollmann adds market reliability to this list, advising agencies to choose a partner that has produced rugged computers for a long time and understands the law enforcement market.

He also recommends looking for a company with a secure supply chain that can validate where components came from. Nollmann explains that some tech products use compromised chipsets, which can generate cybersecurity concerns.

“A company that can produce a secure supply chain uses compliant and encrypted chipsets,” he says. “They know where their components came from.”

Finally, Nollman says to pick a vendor that offers field support. “These companies will come to you when there is an issue in the field,” he says. “Ideally, you want a company that has field engineers that can be on site within a day or less.”

By taking these seven factors into account, agencies can ensure the rugged computers they purchase function properly and enhance officer efficiency and safety in the field.