Carlson Software’s newest data collector, the Carlson MINI2, packs a punch for its compact size. The new handheld computer is taking the place of its predecessor, the Carlson MINI.
With an IP68 rating (better than the original MINI), the MINI2 is waterproof and dustproof, and is tested to MIL-STD-810G to meet the environmental demands of the surveying industry. The MINI2 also has several advancements over the MINI, including a bright display, a custom battery that lasts 20+ hours on one charge, and a scratch-resistant capacitive touchscreen with glove-friendly numeric keypad, for faster and more accurate data entry.
The Carlson MINI2 was designed and manufactured by Juniper Systems, which specializes in building ultra-rugged handheld computers. Juniper Systems also manufactures the Carlson Surveyor handheld computer. Carlson Software packages these rugged handhelds with its own software to provide a total solution for surveying professionals.
“Carlson Software has been a great partner of Juniper Systems for many years now,” said Debbie Trolson, Geomatics Market Manager at Juniper Systems. “Their high level of service as well as their attention to customer needs has made them not only an excellent company, but also a leader in the surveying market. I believe our cooperation with Carlson in providing the MINI2 to surveying professionals will continue to strengthen our partnership for years to come.”
“Working with the team at Juniper Systems has allowed Carlson to offer our customers the kind of rugged and reliable hardware they need out in the field,” said Butch Herter, director of Hardware for Carlson Software. “The Juniper-produced MINI2 and Surveyor are the perfect complement to Carlson’s popular and efficient data collection software choices.”
Photo credit: Mark Fisher at www.fishercreative.com, Instagram: @fishercreative; via Juniper.
Juniper Systems’ Archer Field PC has beenused to record the elevation of a never-before-climbed peak in the remote Myanmar Himalaya. The peak, Mount Gamlang Razi, has historically been known as the second highest peak in Southeast Asia, but a joint American-Myanmar-led expedition set out on a mission last September to hopefully prove that it is in fact the tallest. Read the whole story on Juniper Systems’ blog.
Standing at a reported 5,881 meters tall, Mount Hkakabo Razi has long been known as Southeast Asia’s highest peak. In recent years, however, the legitimacy of the elevation of Hkakabo Razi has come into question. Current digital analysis suggests that initial surveys of Mount Hkakabo Razi were overstated and its actual elevation is as much as 100 meters lower than originally believed. At the same time, digital analysis suggests that virgin-peak Gamlang Razi may in fact be the taller peak. This controversy prompted Idaho resident and experienced climber Andy Tyson to lead an American-Myanmar expedition team on a three-week approach through 150 miles of cobra-riddled, mosquito-infested jungle, and from there up to the peak of Gamlang Razi to measure its elevation in person.
Tyson needed a device that could accurately record the elevation at the summit, while being able to withstand the extreme conditions of the hot, wet jungle and the frozen mountaintop. With this in mind, Tyson requested from Juniper Systems a top-of-the-line rugged handheld. In response, Juniper Systems provided the team with an Archer Field PC with Hemisphere GPS XF101 receiver, along with training to record the GPS data they needed.
Setting up the Archer Field PC to collect GPS data. Photo credit: Mark Fisher at http://www.fishercreative.com/Instagram: @fishercreative/via Juniper.
After a 35-day journey, Tyson and the team successfully summited Gamlang Razi, with the Archer Field PC in hand. After collecting GPS data at the top, the data was sent via satellite phone to Juniper Systems for analysis. After post-processing the data against terrestrial base stations in Lhasa, Tibet, and confirming the results with Effigis in Montreal, Canada, Juniper Systems concluded that the elevation of Gamlang Razi was 5,870 meters, ±2 meters. This suggests that Gamlang Razi is taller than nearby Hkakabo Razi by approximately 112 meters and should be considered Southeast Asia’s new highest peak.
However, there are many — particularly natives to Myanmar — who are not ready to accept changes to Hkakabo Razi’s original elevation measurement. This was made apparent in a letter Myanmar’s president, Thein Sein, wrote to Tyson and the team after their successful summit, congratulating them for summiting Southeast Asia’s second-tallest peak.
Tyson remains firm in his assertion that Gamlang Razi is the country’s highest peak, but some have suggested that the debate may not be over until someone actually climbs Hkakabo Razi and measures it in person. Juniper Systems said they have a handheld for the job, should that time come.
The expedition team. Photo credit: Mark Fisher at http://www.fishercreative.com. Instagram: @fishercreative/via Juniper.
“When paired with the performance, portability and flexibility of the APS-3, the new Archer 2 provides an unbeatable value proposition,” said Neil Vancans, president of Altus Positioning Systems. “This dynamic duo will allow surveyors to improve productivity by capturing data faster and staying in the field longer.”
The Archer 2 is a powerful handheld computer with an IP68 certification and MIL-STD-810G compliance, and operates between -30 to +60 degrees C. It features a 1.0 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM and 8 GB flash storage. This second-generation instrument introduces an impressive line-up of new features, including the exclusive IllumiView brilliant display that overpowers the brightest sunlight, custom Overtime Technology intelligent Li-Ion battery yielding over 20 hours service between charges, and a glove-friendly capacitive touchscreen and keypad. As a successor to the popular Archer Field PC, the Archer 2 builds upon a reputation of quality, adding big improvements and new features, Altus Positioning said. Like Juniper Systems’ other rugged handhelds, the Archer 2 is made to take a beating.
The APS-3 has won accolades from surveyors for its accuracy, reliability and ease of use in the field. The 136-channel GPS/GLONASS RTK receiver includes an integrated quad-band GSM/GPRS modem, digital 406-470 MHz UHF transceiver and wireless Bluetooth connectivity. The flexible architecture allows the same device to be used either as a rover or base station. A popular feature is the dual hot-swappable Li-Ion batteries that allow field work to continue without interruption to change batteries.
“We are excited to get the Archer 2 into the hands of our customers,” said Julie Johns, Project Manager at Juniper Systems. “We have designed the Archer 2 according to our customers’ needs, and we are very happy with how the final product has turned out. It feels great to send another new product out the door that we can be proud of.”
Juniper Systems has announced the availability of a new rugged handheld, the Archer 2. With radical improvements over the first generation Archer, the Archer 2 promises better overall performance with an astonishingly bright display, an extra-long battery life, enhanced GPS capabilities, and rugged IP68 construction.
Juniper Systems will be showcasing the Archer 2 at the Intergeo 2013 conference from October 8-10 in Essen, Germany.
According to the announcement, the latest generation handheld incorporates several new technological advancements. Sporting a custom 4.3-inch Illumiview high-visibility display, the Archer 2’s screen brightness has been well received by reviewers. Its battery features a unique technology inspired by the technology used in hybrid car batteries to prevent excessive battery drainage in low temperatures. Referred to as Overtime Technology, this Archer 2 super battery will last 20 hours and up on one charge.
The new device is the first Juniper Systems handheld to feature a capacitive touchscreen for improved response and ruggedness. The Archer 2 also includes a glove-friendly numeric keypad for rapid data entry, a feature which many Juniper Systems customers highly value. Like other Juniper Systems handhelds, the Archer 2 is built to very strict standards at its ISO 9001:2008-certified facility, having been tested to MIL-STD-810G and given a top IP68 rating for dust and water.
Photo: Juniper Systems
“We have been looking forward to the release of the Archer 2 for some time,” said Rob Campbell, CEO at Juniper Systems. “We have taken special care in addressing the needs of customers in the design of the Archer 2. It is a product of utmost quality, and the excellent reviews we have received on our Archer 2 beta units have made us very optimistic that the Archer 2 is going to meet our customers’ needs exceptionally well.”
Juniper Systems has released a new version of its field mapping software, Juniper Aspect 1.2. The release builds upon and adds to its previous strengths as an easy-to-use, versatile mapping tool.
Juniper Aspect is a field mapping software designed to boost efficiency and productivity, while being simple enough that anyone can quickly learn how to use it, according to Juniper. It places the capabilities of GPS and GIS in the hands of field workers, resulting in more streamlined processes, the company said. Used for any job that requires locating, documenting, and inspecting assets, Juniper Aspect is a flexible solution for many different lines of work.
Juniper Aspect version 1.2 offers improvements designed to boost worker efficiency and user-friendliness. With a new feature to more extensively filter and organize data, and an ability to more easily import large amounts of data into Excel, Juniper Aspect 1.2 offers greater benefits in time-savings and ease of use, the company said. Furthermore, the software appeals to a broad audience, as it will now operate on most devices running Windows Mobile 6.0 or higher.
“At Juniper Systems, our focus is on the customer,” said Jim Benson, Public Works Market Manager at Juniper Systems. “And that’s why we have implemented many of the new changes in Juniper Aspect 1.2—to respond to the requests of our users. This new release is amazingly easy to use, and yet it does more to make jobs easier and workflows run smoother.”
Current Juniper Aspect customers will automatically receive the new upgrade simply by checking for new updates in their current software version. New customers can contact Juniper Systems to learn more about Juniper Aspect 1.2. They can also download a free preview version of Juniper Aspect.
Several new rugged GPS-enabled devices were announced this week.
Juniper Systems has partnered with Pennsylvania-based SDG Systems to market the Mesa Rugged Notepad with Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system, a rugged handheld computer known as the RAMPAGE 6 and distributed through SDG Systems. Availability of the RAMPAGE 6 is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012 and its first public presentation will be at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego, July 23–27, 2012.
The Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system on the RAMPAGE 6 offers many advantages for data collection, including easy multi-tasking, a modern user interface, rich programming environment, multi-platform development, abundant application data storage, open source flexibility, and the opportunity for a custom Android interface developed by SDG Systems, according to Juniper Systems. Additionally, its optional kiosk mode allows only certain applications to be accessible by the user, creating a single-purpose device without distractions, Juniper Systems said.
The RAMPAGE 6 will have the same features as the Mesa Rugged Notepad, including a large 5.7-inch viewing display, IP67 ingress protection rating for water and dust, integrated 2–5 meter GPS receiver, optional integration of a 1D/2D barcode scanner, and optional Class I, Division 2 certification for use in hazardous locations.
Meanwhile, DRS Technologies, Inc., announced today that its Tactical Systems division has expanded its product portfolio with three new ARMOR rugged tablets. The ARMOR X7et and the ARMOR X7ad are thin, lightweight tablets based on customers requesting even more portable computers from ARMOR, the company said. “The 7-inch multi-touch tablets shatter the perception of bulky, rugged computing, and offer field service workforces the ability to choose between the fast-growing Android OS and the enterprise-friendly Microsoft Windows platform,” The company said. Additionally, DRS is now offering a new light convertible tablet, the ARMOR X12kb, that meets MIL-STD-810G. All three follow introduction of the ARMOR X7 compact rugged tablet launched in 2011.
The ARMOR X7et is a Windows-based tablet that weighs less than 1.5 pounds and provides six hours of battery life. It features an Intel Atom Z670 processor and runs Microsoft Windows 7 Professional. Its Android counterpart, the ARMOR X7ad, weighs 1.3 pounds and operates for up to eight hours. It features a NVIDIA Tegra 2, 1.0-Ghz dual-core processor, and operates on Android v3.2. Both lightweight tablets feature a 7-inch outdoor-readable multi-touch screen display. They are certified to MIL-STD 810G for extremes in temperature, vibration, shock, and four-foot drops and have an IP65 rating for ingress protection, which means they are fully protected against dust and can withstand low pressure jets of water from all directions.
Weighing 5.5 pounds, the ARMOR X12kb features a 12.1-inch sunlight-readable swivel touchscreen that incorporates polarized LCD glass and anti-reflective technology. The ARMOR X12kb offers the Intel Core i5-560UMCPU processor and runs Microsoft Windows 7 Professional. It has a long battery life, operating for up to eight hours, as well as a spill-proof keyboard and touchpad. Additionally, the one-click stealth mode operation disables all emitting light and sounds, a feature designed for the unique applications of covert operations.
The three new ARMOR mobile computers include connectivity options including Gobi Wireless Broadband, integrated GPS, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth wireless. They are designed to make it easier for workers to use mobile computing in rugged environments, as this product video shows:
Juniper Systems announced the Mesa Rugged Notepad with Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system. In a partnership with Pennsylvania-based SDG Systems, the RAMPAGE 6 will be distributed exclusively through SDG Systems.
“Our new partnership with SDG Systems will further enhance our ability to provide the best rugged handheld computing solutions to our customers. By working together, we have created a very unique and in-demand handheld computer with the Android (AOSP) operating system, now known as the RAMPAGE 6,” said Rob Campbell, President and CEO of Juniper Systems. “Leveraging the Android expertise of SDG gives our customers an original and powerful data collection device and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities this new partnership will bring.”
According to the announcement, the Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system on the RAMPAGE 6 offers many advantages for data collection, including easy multi-tasking, a modern user interface, rich programming environment, multi-platform development, abundant application data storage, open source flexibility, and the opportunity for a custom Android interface developed by SDG Systems. Additionally, its optional kiosk mode allows only certain applications to be accessible by the user, successfully creating a single-purpose device without distractions.
“SDG Systems is proud to develop and distribute the RAMPAGE 6 as our very first SDG-branded handheld computer. Collaborating with Juniper Systems on a product as unique and dependable as the Mesa Rugged Notepad has made this experience very rewarding and we’re excited to put the SDG name on it. Our decision to develop Android (AOSP) for the Mesa was based on its extreme ruggedness, quality design, and dependability. I am confident that the RAMPAGE 6 will live up to those standards,” said Todd Blumer, President and CEO of SDG Systems.
Juniper reports that the RAMPAGE 6 will feature the many advantages and benefits of the Mesa Rugged Notepad, including a large 5.7 inch viewing display, IP67 ingress protection rating for water and dust, integrated 2–5 meter GPS receiver, optional integration of a 1D/2D barcode scanner, and optional Class I, Division 2 certification for use in hazardous locations.
Availability of the RAMPAGE 6 is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012 and its first public presentation will be at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego, July 23–27, 2012.
