Category: Case studies

The scenario presented here serves as an example and illustrates the full performance spectrum and unique features of the spo-comm QUADRO P1000.

Performance, design, stability – high demands on the PC

The hardware requirements for the more than 50 control workstations are extremely high and specific:

Multi-monitor performance: Each workstation must drive four high-resolution monitors (4K) to display real-time flight plans, weather data, live camera feeds and highly complex 3D visualizations of the tarmac, all smoothly and without delay.

Compact design: The space under the consoles is very limited. Standard tower PCs were out of the question due to their size and greater susceptibility to dust and vibrations.

Long-term stability: As a critical infrastructure, the airport requires a hardware and operating system platform that can be operated in a stable, secure and low-maintenance manner over a period of at least ten years. Frequent operating system upgrades were not feasible for reasons of certification and training.

The solution: concentrated graphics power in mini format

The choice fell on our QUADRO P1000. This mini PC not only impresses with its compact design, but also with the integrated NVIDIA Quadro P1000 graphics card, thus fulfilling all of the customer’s core requirements.

1. Ultimate multi-display capability
   The main advantage of the QUADRO P1000 lies in its Quadro graphics power. Unlike other mini PCs, which often only support two displays, the NVIDIA Quadro P1000 reliably delivers enough power to run four monitors simultaneously in high resolution at each control station. This allows control center staff to see all critical information at a glance without having to constantly switch between applications. The dedicated VRAM architecture of the Quadro series guarantees the highest image quality and stability, which is essential in a 24/7 control room.
2. Accelerated data analysis thanks to CUDA
   The company also benefits from the support of the NVIDIA CUDA architecture. CUDA enables control center applications to outsource highly complex calculations for analyzing flight paths, real-time collision warnings or weather models directly to the graphics card. This reduces the load on the CPU and ensures significantly faster data processing. In critical air traffic control, this increase in speed leads directly to more precise and faster decisions.
3. Compactness and robustness
   The compact design of the spo-comm Mini-PC allows it to be mounted inconspicuously directly under the control center consoles, which frees up valuable workspace. The robust design of the industrial PC also ensures high reliability in continuous operation.

Planning security through long-term availability

However, the most decisive factor for the airport is planning and investment security.

The QUADRO P1000 can be equipped with the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 operating system. While the standard versions of Windows 10 have reached the end of support, Microsoft guarantees security updates for this special LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) version until January 13, 2032.

In an environment as critical as an airport, an update cycle of ten years is essential. The combination of the QUADRO P1000’s high-performance graphics and the guaranteed long-term support of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 provides the necessary investment security required for the control center infrastructure.

The long-term security guarantee ensures that the operating system is also protected against new cyber threats in the future, without the need for complex and cost-intensive roll-outs of new versions of the operating system. This minimizes both the security risk and the total cost of ownership.

Conclusion and outlook

With the spo-comm QUADRO P1000, the company has implemented a future-proof, powerful and extremely compact solution for its central traffic control center – maximum control in minimum space. The combination of dedicated NVIDIA graphics, CUDA computing power and the extended support cycle of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 delivers the necessary performance and security for critical 24/7 applications. The QUADRO P1000 has thus established itself as an essential building block for the airport’s long-term security and efficiency concept.

Particularly in the context of critical infrastructures (KRITIS) such as airports, traffic control centers or energy suppliers, the requirements for stability, reliability and IT security are extremely high. The option of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 with guaranteed security support until January 13, 2032 emphasized in this case study is of crucial importance in such sensitive areas. It offers operators the necessary planning security and compliance to secure their critical information and communication technology systems (CICS) in accordance with strict national and European security regulations (e.g. BSI IT-Grundschutz, NIS-2 Directive) over a long period of time.

The QUADRO P1000 demonstrates its ability to deliver both the highest graphical performance (four monitors, CUDA acceleration) and uncompromising long-term stability for the most demanding industrial and safety-critical applications.

The challenges

The requirements of modern fleet management are high. There is often no precise way of locating vehicles, determining their arrival times or tracking their routes. Irregular driving behavior can cause damage and generate unnecessary costs. Another problem is that outside the company there is often insufficient information about the whereabouts and driving behavior of vehicles. As a result, valuable data for analyzing operational processes and safety aspects is lost. Manual management processes are time-consuming and often not accurate enough to map actual vehicle operation.

Our spo-comm RUGGED tablets (and our sales team) support you in finding individual solutions.

The solution

The use of a RUGGED tablet as a permanently integrated vehicle device enables the recording and evaluation of operationally relevant information in real time. This includes data such as speed, driving behavior and vehicle distance. This forms the basis for intelligent traffic solutions that allow managers to dynamically monitor vehicle positions and routes and react quickly. This makes particularly efficient fleet management a reality.

Key features of the spo-comm RUGGED tablets

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Entry

• Robust 10″ tablet
• Industry Tablet
• -20°C to +60°C
• 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1, 1x LAN
• IP 65 Dust and water protected

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Pro

• Robust 10″ tablet with WUXGA display
• Hot-swap battery – battery change during operation
• -10°C to +50°C
• Integrated 4G module, WiFi6 & Bluetooth
• IP 65 and MIL-STD-810G certification

Depending on the requirements, the RUGGED Entry and Pro series tablets offer different performance and equipment levels for a wide range of industrial and outdoor applications. While the Entry models are designed for a particularly attractive price-performance ratio, the Pro series offers additional performance and advanced features for more demanding applications.

Advantages of an industrial tablet in the vehicle

An industrial tablet enables the precise recording of all vehicle-related data. This data is automatically transferred to the management system – for precise analyses and a sound basis for decision-making. The calculation of optimal routes reduces unnecessary journeys, saves fuel and thus also contributes to environmental protection.

At the same time, the system supports proactive driving behavior analysis in order to identify risks at an early stage and increase the safety of drivers, cargo and vehicles. External cameras can be easily connected and provide additional image and video material for better documentation.

Thanks to its robust design, the outdoor tablet is protected against shocks, vibrations, moisture and extreme temperatures – ideal for use in demanding conditions. Easy assembly and disassembly as well as functions such as fast scanning of shipping documents make the devices versatile all-rounders in everyday use.

To our RUGGED tablets

The RUGGED tablets from spo-comm have been specially developed for professional use in demanding industrial and outdoor environments. They combine maximum durability with state-of-the-art technology – making them the ideal solution for digitized, efficient fleet management.

Note on data protection:

The functions described in this article for collecting vehicle and driver information serve the sole purpose of operational optimization, safety and route planning as part of fleet management. All data collected must be processed in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations (in particular the GDPR). Personal data may only be collected with the appropriate legal basis or with the consent of the data subjects. Companies are obliged to inform their employees transparently about the type, scope and purpose of data collection.

The central challenges

1. Gaps in communication:
   There is often a lack of direct, timely contact between management headquarters and players.
2. Lack of data availability:
   Weather information, exact location coordinates and optimal routes are often not available to players in real time.
3. Missing history:
   players have no access to past consumption and performance data – their experience therefore remains incomplete.

Our RUGGED tablets (and our sales team) support you in finding individual solutions.

The solution: outdoor tablets with integrated management system

To overcome these hurdles, spo-comm industrial tablets are used, which are specially designed for demanding environments. The RUGGED tablets…

1. … optimize operational processes through seamless data transmission via mobile radio and WLAN.
2. … improve communication by providing weather data, personnel and vehicle locations in real time both to the management and directly to the players.
3. … enable exact navigation on the course thanks to high-precision GPS positioning.
4. … ensure real-time recording of scores and match statistics – available to players and management at any time.

The use of outdoor tablets guarantees that the devices work reliably even in wet, dusty or shocky conditions.

Key features of the spo-comm RUGGED tablets

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Entry

• Robust 10″ tablet
• Industry Tablet
• -20°C to +60°C
• 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1, 1x LAN
• IP 65 Dust and water protected

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Pro

• Robust 10″ tablet with WUXGA display
• Hot-swap battery – battery change during operation
• -10°C to +50°C
• Integrated 4G module, WiFi6 & Bluetooth
• IP 65 and MIL-STD-810G certification

Depending on the requirements, the RUGGED Entry and Pro series tablets offer different performance and equipment levels for a wide range of industrial and outdoor applications. While the Entry models are designed for a particularly attractive price-performance ratio, the Pro series offers additional performance and advanced features for more demanding applications.

Implementation and integration using a practical example

A golf resort in southern Spain uses around 50 RUGGED tablets and after three months reports 20% shorter service cycles for caddy coordination, 15% more sales through in-app store ads and 90% praise in the member survey for the new navigation and statistics function. The implementation process in bullet points:

1. Project start: Joint analysis of the site structure and communication channels
2. Hosting: Setting up a cloud-based management backend
3. Roll-out: Distribution of RUGGED tablets to caddy stations, administration offices and player lobby.
4. Training: Instruction of employees and golf instructors in the operation of the system
5. Continuous support: software updates and remote maintenance via a central dashboard

Economic benefits and ROI

Reduced operating costs through optimized personnel planning and vehicle use.

More sales through targeted advertising and upselling via the tablet.

Customer loyalty through a personalized gaming experience and thus an increase in customer satisfaction.

Rapid amortization: Investments in industrial tablets generally pay for themselves within a year through savings and additional revenue.

However, robust tablets from spo-comm not only make golf course management effective, but also many other processes. You can find more information about our outdoor tablets and their use cases on the overview page:

If you have any questions about our products, discover our website or contact our sales team:

The challenges of storage and picking systems

Problems often occur when leaving the warehouse as operators cannot find the correct location, which significantly impairs efficiency. New employees are often unfamiliar with the materials and their locations when entering the warehouse, which complicates the workflow. In addition, the complexity and volume of data during stocktaking makes the work more difficult and leads to a high expenditure of time.

The solution: RUGGED tablets for clarity and structure

An industrial tablet guides employees to the relevant locations using visual cues at shelves and storage locations. By using the rugged handheld device, which scans QR codes and offers user-friendly touchscreen interaction, tasks such as storage, retrieval and stocktaking can be carried out efficiently. This technological support transforms the traditional, personnel-oriented warehouse management system into an assisted system that makes warehouse management more structured, automated, standardized and efficient.

Key features of the spo-comm RUGGED tablets

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Entry

• Robust 10″ tablet
• Industry Tablet
• -20°C to +60°C
• 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1, 1x LAN
• IP 65 Dust and water protected

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Pro

• Robust 10″ tablet with WUXGA display
• Hot-swap battery – battery change during operation
• -10°C to +50°C
• Integrated 4G module, WiFi6 & Bluetooth
• IP 65 and MIL-STD-810G certification

Depending on the requirements, the RUGGED Entry and Pro series tablets offer different performance and equipment levels for a wide range of industrial and outdoor applications. While the Entry models are designed for a particularly attractive price-performance ratio, the Pro series offers additional performance and advanced features for more demanding applications.

Advantages of using an industrial tablet

A RUGGED tablet enables a paperless way of working by making picking quick and easy by scanning materials. When leaving the warehouse, the system helps to increase the efficiency and accuracy of material preparation through the use of warehouse lights. During the putaway process, the system automatically links the information of the materials to the corresponding storage locations and organizes them systematically. Stock levels are displayed in real time, ensuring a continuous overview. In addition, no in-depth knowledge of materials is required, which means that new employees can be trained quickly. Overall, the device helps to solve efficiency problems in storage and picking systems and to optimize operational processes.

Robust tablets from spo-comm not only allow intelligent warehouse management to be implemented, but also many other processes. You can find more information about our outdoor tablets and their use cases on the overview page:

If you have any questions about our products, discover our website or contact our sales team:

The challenges of power line inspection

• Manual entry: Handwritten notes can be difficult to read or get lost. Data entry errors are possible.
• Delayed data transmission: If inspection data is only passed on later, problems cannot be detected and rectified immediately.
• Complex documentation: Reworking inspections on paper takes time and makes tracking more difficult.

The solution: RUGGED tablets for outdoor use

A robust RUGGED tablet – specially developed for use in demanding conditions – can make everyday work in power line inspection much easier. As an outdoor tablet, it is protected against dust, water, extreme temperatures and vibrations thanks to IP65 certification and is ideal for working in the field.

Our spo-comm RUGGED tablets make this easier:

• the processing of digital checklists
• Automatic reading of device information (e.g. via RFID)
• Direct capture of photos or measurement data on site
• upload the data immediately to a central system

This means that all information is available in real time – for quick decisions and targeted measures.

Key features of the spo-comm RUGGED tablets

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Entry

• Robust 10″ tablet
• Passively cooled system
• -20°C to +60°C
• Integrated GPS, 4G/5G module & WiFi6
• IP 65 Dust and water protected

RUGGED Tab 10 i5 Pro

• Robust 10″ tablet with WUXGA display
• Hot-swap battery – battery change during operation
• -10°C to +50°C
• Integrated 4G module, WiFi6 & Bluetooth
• IP 65 and MIL-STD-810G certification

Localization via GPS can also offer advantages: This makes it possible to track which pipe sections have already been checked and how long the respective checks took. On this basis, work processes can be better planned and documented.

The recorded data can also be used to create so-called operating curves. These show how the condition of individual pipes develops over time – and help to identify maintenance requirements at an early stage.

Depending on the requirements, the RUGGED Entry and Pro series tablets offer different performance and equipment levels for a wide range of industrial and outdoor applications. While the Entry models are designed for a particularly attractive price-performance ratio, the Pro series offers additional performance and advanced features for more demanding applications.

Conclusion

The use of modern industrial tablets – especially rugged tablets for outdoor use – makes power line inspections more efficient, reliable and transparent. These robust solutions replace paper forms and simplify day-to-day work – to the benefit of network operators, employees and consumers alike.

Robust tablets from spo-comm not only simplify these processes, but many more. You can find more information about our tablets and their use cases on the overview page:

If you have any questions about our products, discover our website or contact our sales team: