When most people think about a rugged computer, they think of some sort of toughened "shell" around fragile components. As we've shown in some of our earlier engineering videos, it isn't that simple. For units to be truly outdoor rugged, we make adjustments on even the smallest components so your handheld performs in extreme temperatures, moisture, vibration etc.

Another misconception is that the protective shell on the outside must simply be strong to withstand the shock of a drop. While that is true, it must also be flexible. This flex not only keeps the unit from falling apart, but it also absorbs much of the energy of the drop so that the internal components don't take the brunt of the shock.

Our engineers recently used a very specialized camera which captures images at the rate of 25,000 frames per second. This type of technology allows them to analyze exactly what happens to our devices when they experience a drop. If you look at the video, you'll see that the Nomad handheld computer actually flexes to an extraordinary degree. Our engineers spend a lot of time analyzing tests like this to get at the science behind what it means to be rugged.