IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A turnkey engineering and manufacturing company of rugged computer displays, monitors, COTS tablet computers and HMI systems for the military and marine industry, American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS) announces their Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress Screen (HASS) capabilities, in conjunction with Accelerated Stress Testing (AST) technologies. The AST testing techniques and methods that AIS conducts subject their HMI military and marine products and systems to a series of overstress patterns, effectively forcing product weak links to emerge by accelerating fatigue. Unlike traditional single axis vibration test methods or thermal only methods, the AST technology that AIS utilizes requires specialized HALT/HASS equipment to render the required stress - random six-degree-of-freedom vibration and rapid thermal change rates - in the combined environment necessary to drive out latent failure modes.
While the operator control or monitoring systems are under test, they are continuously monitored for failures. AIS engineers apply a variety of HALT and HASS stress tests incrementally in a controlled environment. The weaknesses of the computer displays or monitors under test are uncovered and corrective actions are taken. The limits of the HMI hardware solution are revealed as the operating margins have been extended as far as possible before failure. The end results are military or marine control and monitoring solutions that deliver the highest degree of reliability and performance.
Pinpointing Failures or Weaknesses Early On In Product Development Stages, While Reducing Costs Greatly Improves Product Reliability
AIS Accelerated Stress Testing (AST) chamber and technology uses Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress Screen (HASS) equipment (Typhoon 4.0) that provides the optimal framework for effective Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) & Failure Mode Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA) for products specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty conditions. Nelson Tsay, President of AIS, adds, “With our AST, HALT and HASS testing capabilities, AIS is able to very quickly pinpoint any failure issues and reduce testing, repair and rework costs. Our testing provides critical product engineering and reliability data that aids us in developing the most rugged and reliable HMI designs for future military and marine projects.”
At AIS, Reliability Isn’t Just Achieving the Lowest MTBF, it’s Delivering Failure-Free Operation
Product reliability engineering has quickly eclipsed many long standing military standards, practices and references established decades ago. The military now seeks more flexible, efficient, COTS-based or commercially available solutions that deliver high reliability and performance at the lowest possible costs. The Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) Reliability Best Practices guide places emphasis on identifying failure mechanisms and taking corrective action to achieve design optimization, integrating HALT and HASS as part of DOD supplier reliability programs. Historically, MTBF was a critical benchmark for measuring product engineering reliability for military applications. AIS’s AST methods ensure their rugged control and monitoring solutions will provide maximum, failure free operation in the field.
AIS Employs AST Technology Across All Their COTS-Based Military & Marine Product Engineering
AIS engineers use the Accelerated Stress Testing (AST) chamber and the Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) stress testing methodology to accelerate product reliability testing during the engineering development process for their entire offering of military and marine computer displays and monitors. AIS offers a wide assortment of ruggedized military display monitors, integrated display computers, military panel computers and tablet PC computers with touch screen interface technology. Specifically designed for the Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) military marketplace, their HMIs and integrated computer displays and monitors are engineered to withstand extreme and harsh environment. Meeting MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461 standards and specifications, they are also deemed suitable for ground mobile, homeland defense, and ship board applications.
AIS also offers a variety of ruggedized display monitors and integrated display computers for marine applications. These marine ECDIS display monitors, marine display monitors, naval rugged displays, naval rugged display computers, and marine panel computers are designed to operate and withstand the challenges and demands of the maritime environment. AIS marine HMIs, panel PCs, computer displays and operator interface solutions are suitable for use in: the Combat Information Center (CIC) on board surface ships, combat ships, submarines, and military vessels, as well as for bridge control display, navigation, monitoring and ship automation applications.
About AIS
Headquartered in Irvine, California, USA, American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS) offers in-house electronic and mechanical design, software development, manufacturing, production and quality control services. Offering one of the widest ranges of industrial computing solutions, AIS solutions are available in a multitude of configurations for industrial, oil & gas, military and marine applications. The company is fully committed to empowering, improving and delivering turnkey HMI, monitoring and display solutions for OEM, ODM and end-user customers. AIS is an ISO 9001:2008 certified supplier and manufacturer of rugged computers and displays, and received completion of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). For more information, visit: www.aispro.com, email: sales@aispro.com or contact: 1-888-485-6688.
