The Rugged Mobile Power Unit (RMP) builds on the latest technology in field generators Advanced Medium Mobile Power Sources (AMMPS). The RMP has significant operational benefits for all military services including reduced logistics footprint, improved mobility and transportability in addition to sig Contact online >>
The Rugged Mobile Power Unit (RMP) builds on the latest technology in field generators Advanced Medium Mobile Power Sources (AMMPS). The RMP has significant operational benefits for all military services including reduced logistics footprint, improved mobility and transportability in addition to significant operations and maintenance cost savings. The RMP has a full line of generator sets ranging from 5 kW to 60 kW.
For utility leaders in 2024, the energy transition is top of mind. Experts predict that to reach 100% carbon-free electricity in the U.S. by 2035, annual installation rates of renewable infrastructure in the coming years need to nearly double compared to 2023. That means the already limited utility workforce is not only taxed with maintaining current infrastructure but also rapidly preparing us for the renewable energy of the future.
What makes this even more challenging is that today''s power grid and utility infrastructure are aging, and unpredictable weather patterns are increasing. Older equipment can''t always withstand a harsh snowstorm or multiple days of 100-plus-degree weather. To keep these grids up and running, utility workers are in a constant loop of maintaining, repairing, and replacing equipment while also modernizing and expanding the grid to create a more sustainable ecosystem.
These are four ways rugged mobile technology like laptops and tablets will help the industry balance both current and future demands of transitioning to renewable energy with a limited workforce.
Rugged mobile technology can work just as hard as a utility technician — they are both meant for the harsh conditions of utility fieldwork. Rugged devices also help digitize and automate manual tasks, like reporting. Traditionally, reporting involved carrying around paper forms, manually entering the necessary information, physically taking the form back to the central office, getting supervisor approval, and filing it in the right place or sending it to the appropriate customer or regulatory agency.
Renewable energy initiatives often take technicians to remote locations — including some hours away from the reliable connectivity found in populated areas. That can present a challenge when the job depends on easy access to digital plans, CAD drawings, and GIS.
Rugged mobile devices are built for these conditions and offer multiple connectivity options to remote workers so they can communicate critical information in real-time, even when they''re in a remote solar field. For example, when in range, a device could use a traditional 4G network but then transition to Wi-Fi 6 or private LTE when in more remote areas or in need of faster connection speeds.
These devices also come standard with FirstNet™, CBRS Private Network, and dual SIM for maximum flexibility and reliability, especially during severe weather and outages when standard connectivity may be limited.
Modernizing the grid includes enhancing security and sustainability, especially as it becomes more connected and cyberattacks and malware become an increasing threat. Just as workers wear gloves, boots, and goggles to stay safe in cold weather, they need mobile technology with safety features like fingerprint readers and multi-factor authentication to minimize risk.
Accessing secure information is especially important for utilities, as data is collected and referred to in real time to inform in-the-moment decisions. For example, secure information about which areas of a grid may be failing helps utility companies know where to deploy technicians, who also need to be able to access that information securely on their mobile devices to quickly address the issues and prevent or reduce the severity of outages.
While we need technicians out in the field servicing our essential power infrastructure and modernizing grids, none of it would be possible without IT teams working behind the scenes. Utility IT teams wear many hats. They seek out the latest hardware and software solutions, like rugged mobile devices, so technicians have the best technology to support their essential jobs. Then they must prepare devices for the technicians, distribute them, and maintain them throughout their lifecycle. This takes a lot of time and resources.
However, with IT labor shortages expected to continue, IT teams may find themselves with more work to do than they have the hands for. To combat this, utility companies should seek out a technology partner that offers value-added services to streamline the deployment of rugged mobile devices and extend the device lifecycle. Panasonic Connect does this in three ways:
Learn more about how Panasonic Connect''s TOUGHBOOK line of rugged mobile devices and additional services support the unique demands of the utilities industry.
We are living through times of transition, with technological advancements enhancing the...
Keeping the lights on in the 21st century requires more than power...
Spatial intelligence modelling – the ability for computers to develop three-dimensional models...
As more and more parts of our lives connect to the Internet,...
Utilities today are facing an extensive and diverse set of threats, many...
While manufacturing has always been a numbers game — quotas met, demand and supply, downtime — discrete and process manufacturers mostly used yesterday''s data to predict what tomorrow would hold. We''re at an exciting crossroads in the industry. Not only do we have easy and cheap access to computing power, but we can also harvest data from a whole slate of new sources, the machines. The increased efficiencies in uptime, productivity, and other key performance indicators of such capabilities are hard to overstate. It''s why this data-driven approach to manufacturing is deemed as the next industrial revolution, Industry 4.0.
Rugged mobile devices are at the forefront of this digital revolution. Not only are they easy to transport and use, but computing power and memory advances also make today''s mobile devices powerful data processors on edge, close to the sources of information. Equally important, their form factor and everyday familiarity make for easier employee adoption.
Rugged mobile devices provide you with an oversight of plant operations on the plant floor or even remotely through mobile phones. Employees can access the company''s manufacturing execution system (MES) to supervise production lines at the level of granularity they need. Data from Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices can feed algorithms visualized in supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA). These are also found on mobile devices. Efficient mobile device management can also ensure a more exemplary access level, so only authorized personnel can view sensitive data. Plant facility supervisors can access real-time plant floor oversight for efficient execution of supervisory duties.
Augmented reality overlays digital images of what an ideal version of a part or process should look like over the "reality." This compare and contrast approach enables viewers to identify what the outstanding result should look like. Mobile devices with AR apps can help troubleshoot machine problems. The plant worker can pull up digital manual versions through the AR app. They can use the insights to figure out the issues. Experts can also connect with the plant worker through video conferencing. Through remote operations, they can "view" the machine to detect problems and share expertise.
Inventory management runs mostly on autopilot in a smart factory, with restocking orders going out even as raw materials are consumed. When factories share their inventory data with external vendors, all stakeholders can be on the same page and program inventory chains to replenish stock without sending purchase orders. No matter the level of automation in supply chain and inventory management, plant workers often need to check on the number of raw goods or spare parts to ensure smooth production. Rugged mobile devices with inventory management software allow employees to quickly peek at the supply chain and forecast how status will affect the day''s jobs. Employees can also use the device to ship spare parts and other goods as needed from other plant locations.
One of the much-heralded prospects of Industry 4.0 is the reduction of downtime through predictive maintenance. Instead of traditional run-to-fail mechanisms for production or premature replacement of expensive parts, machines can run until they show signs of trouble. Essentially, data from IIoT sensors can signal when an item is about to fail well before the event occurs.
Rugged mobile devices attached to machines act as the conduit for this information. These devices process IIoT data close to the "edge," or the source of the data. Facility operators and supervisors on the shop floor can get alerts using machine learning algorithms. Mobile devices help execute these advanced technologies close to the machines. Intervention then becomes faster and often more effective when necessary. Such predictive maintenance techniques also allow for greater automation. This enables the smart factory to function nearly autonomously until it needs human intervention.
Mobile devices attached to assets can help train employees on usage and safety protocols. Workers need to pass specific training to operate machines. Facility managers can upload these tests and training exercises to related mobile devices. By doing so, employees can undergo the necessary procedures on-site instead of recalling earlier lessons and risk misinformation. AR apps on mobile devices also enable employees to "tour" the equipment. This application helps workers understand what each part looks like in real life before taking the reins and beginning operations.
A comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) protocol for security and access to data needs to complement mobile use on the plant floor. This, in turn, enables employees to make the most of their mobile devices. Productivity improves in all instances whether employees use these devices for workforce management, robotic control, or accessing enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions.
In Industry 4.0, benefits need not be limited to only large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Manufacturing businesses of all sizes can switch from pen-and-paper processes to digital ones, and the efficiencies add up incrementally. No matter where you are on the arc to a nearly autonomous smart factory, rugged mobile devices help deliver the benefits of Industry 4.0. In an increasingly competitive and unpredictable global manufacturing environment, you need every advantage you can get. Leaning on mobility enables you to harness these advantages to their fullest extent.
About Rugged mobile power
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Rugged mobile power have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Rugged mobile power for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Rugged mobile power featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
