Top 5 Mobility Features to Keep Electric Linemen Productive in the Field

Top 5 Mobility Features to Keep Electric Linemen Productive in the Field

Jim Dempsey

Electric linemen work in hazardous conditions on a regular basis. The high voltage lines they service are located in difficult to reach areas, and combined with inhospitable terrain, variations in weather conditions, and the need to access areas far from population centers make their choices of equipment critical. With so much depending on the lineman’s ability to perform their duties safely and reliably in all locations and conditions these five features are the most important criteria for selecting mobile devices for use in the field.

1. Visibility
The majority of the work a lineman does is outdoors and needs to be accomplished regardless of the weather conditions. Bad weather can interfere with the use of handheld and laptop computers because consumer grade equipment is not designed to withstand contact with water and dirt. Rain often keeps linemen from even using their tablets, and dirt can make screens unreadable until the dirt is washed away. But bright sunlight on a beautiful day can be the most common deterrent to readability because consumer oriented tablets are simply unviewable. Linemen must have tablets and laptops they can see and use in all kinds of weather.

2. Shock and drop durability
Anyone working outdoors is likely to encounter rough work conditions, but electric linemen have an additional set of hazards to consider. They often work high above the ground and in close proximity to electric towers and live power lines. There is always a possibility they may drop equipment, and if they drop their tablet and it is damaged they face the possibility of having to interrupt their work day to get a replacement. Consumer grade tablets encased in ruggedized housings are only partial answers to drop survival because the device’s internal components have not been ruggedized. Linemen need to have tablets and laptops that have been fully ruggedized internally to prevent damage and ensure there's no downtime for improved productivity.

3. Long battery life
Electric linemen don’t always have time to recharge their tablet’s battery when they are working in the field for long hours. Consumer oriented tablets and notebooks are optimized to deliver acceptable battery life in favor of other design considerations like battery capacity. Rugged portables are powered for long work hours by providing longer battery life, swappable batteries, and quick charge capabilities so that linemen can do their work without interruption.

4. Integrated mounts
Electric line maintenance can require both hands in order to safely work with live power lines. Mounting their tablet securely so it can be seen while they use both hands requires more than simply leaning the tablet against a rail and hoping it doesn’t get bumped and fall to the ground. While there are lots of options for third-party mounting systems, they are not always secure in rugged work environments. Linemen need to be able to count on mounting systems that have been designed by the tablet manufacturer and provide secure mounting.

5. Robust communication ability
Electric lines can interfere with radio signals that linemen rely on to connect their tablets to remote resources like documentation and scheduling services. That communication is critical to completing their work because it allows them to access equipment history, real time status updates, and remote expertise when necessary. Consumer grade tablets created for non-industrial environments are not designed to avoid radio frequency interference (RFI) and may lose connectivity when working in close proximity to high voltage lines. Linemen need to be able to count on connectivity at all times and in all locations by having tablets designed with specialized antennae that can cope with interference for streamlined efficiency.

Each of these factors is important to effective and continuous use and keeping linemen productive and able to complete their work on time while keeping them out of potentially dangerous situations.

For more information on Panasonic mobility solutions for Utilities, visit us online. 

The growing power of voice in B2B

Voice Revolution

The growing power of voice in B2B

5 minute read

One needn’t look any farther than a Panasonic-backed business accelerator for proof that voice assistance has the potential to change the way the world communicates. There you will find projects like the Fukidashi, a translation device that enables users to overcome language barriers and speak directly to people from different countries.

Created by Panasonic’s artificial intelligence group and 100BANCH, a Tokyo-based accelerator, the gadget is designed to look like a speech bubble – the universal sign for conversation – and features two screens that write out what each person is saying in real time, in that individual’s native language. The Fukidashi is a prototype, but the goal is to have it ready for prime time by the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and eventually be used to bridge the language gap in places like airports and restaurants.

As advances in speech recognition push the boundaries of what’s possible, there is no doubt the voice revolution is coming.

It’s here now.

The voice of disruption

At CES 2018, Panasonic announced plans to bring voice-integrated artificial intelligence to our cars via partnerships with both Amazon and Google Assistant, incorporating these smart platforms into next-gen infotainment systems. “Voice is the new UI,” Dave Isbitski, chief evangelist for Alexa and Echo, told a CES crowd.

Imagine this: Voice for everything, and everyone. It’s only a matter of time before voice search expands beyond translation, recipes and restaurant drive-thru orders to B2B queries such as, “What’s my competition doing or show me last week’s sales data trends.” Savvy marketers should be strategizing how they can be the first to answer.

Ease of use = captive audience

The biggest benefit of voice is the ease of use. Pew Research reports that 46 percent of adults use smartphone voice apps, and 55 percent use them primarily to interact hands-free. A Forbes survey found that 90 percent of executives conduct research via mobile devices prior to making a purchase, and it’s inevitable that these decision makers will transition to voice search. Leading the way? Next-gen customers already relying on voice at home, on their commute and in their office.

What’s really interesting to think about is how to use voice with other disruptive technologies to create entirely new experiences. Panasonic Corp. of North America recently commissioned a research series, Moving Forward, on how CTOs and other decision makers see the impact of disruptive technologies. Three in five respondents are using the Internet of Things in their companies.

Renewable energy, advanced materials, energy storage and artificial intelligence (AI) are each expected to be a near-term investment for two in five companies. Artificial intelligence is vital to voice tech, and as AI evolves, it will have the capability to better match searches to more finely-tuned information that the business world often needs. Considering Gartner’s estimate that the buyer's journey is about 57% complete before the prospect wants to talk to a human, having voice embedded into that part of the journey as well as post-sale, can only deepen customer relationships. From start to finish, think voice.

Authors
Michael Moskowitz - President of Panasonic Canada and Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co.

Community safety in the digital age

a new age of security and public safety

Community safety in the digital age

4 minutes

You don’t have to look further than the news to see how technology is transforming the way law enforcement fights crime. Take the NYPD’s 2018 arrest of the “Tip Jar Bandit.”  After a theft at a Staten Island deli, police used surveillance video to capture the perpetrator’s image and circulate it via social media to publicize it across the command and community. This spurred new info. When officers received a report of a person stealing a tip jar at a local tea shop, they were able to quickly apprehend the woman, using their smartphones to establish her identity and collaborate with other precincts to put an end to a cross-city crime spree.
 

Integrated intel

From bystander videos and streetlight surveillance to body-worn cameras and facial recognition software, digital advancements in the way evidence is captured, stored and shared promise to make police work more efficient, while strengthening relations between a community and its force. But for all this digital intelligence to be helpful, it needs to be actionable – which means connecting all these technologies and getting them to work together. 

As a leader in connected solutions that support law enforcement, Panasonic is deeply engaged in developing technology and systems to address policing in the 21st century. We provide security and video surveillance systems designed to integrate with our mobile, communication and evidence management platforms. That’s important because when you’re leveraging disruptive technologies, such as new forms of mobile content, cloud storage and the challenges brought on by the Internet of Things (IoT), there’s a very real need to synergize these technologies into a unified, simple and secure technology ecosystem.  

Here’s a look at what’s possible in public safety in a digitally connected community.

Extra eyes and ears

The Tip Jar Bandit is one example of how digital assets can expand a community’s watch. But imagine if the suspect had taken off in a getaway car. In a connected city, police officers can associate data like a license plate number to that individual. Then, the suspect’s car can be tracked through smart streetlights and other city surveillance as she drives around town. Advanced camera features like intelligent zoom image stabilization enable officers to widen the search and provide a clear picture of the culprit, even in a high-speed chase.

In her haste, perhaps the perpetrator runs a red light. Traffic analytics software integrated into city cameras would detect this unusual activity and automatically alert law enforcement for a quick response. If she chooses to take the subway, transportation surveillance, with cameras offering wide views, would see her boarding the train. Should she flee on foot, facial recognition security algorithms, like those in use in a program at NJIT, can be used to identify her in real-time and alert the community to be on the lookout. 

In addition, surveillance recordings can be forensically searched to confirm the presence of persons of interest after the fact. Connected technologies enable more efficient policing, not only in desk work but in how investigations are handled. In an emergency, this free flow of public safety information can improve response times.

Information flows freely

Police work doesn’t stop once a suspect is caught. There’s an arrest process, cross-examination, court and possible jail time. In a connected community, an integrated video evidence management system can automatically and securely share evidence with prosecutors. Having central access to digital evidence across the law enforcement chain is powerful, providing not just labor but cost efficiencies. It can also lead to more indictments. 

In this tech-driven world, everyone with a smartphone becomes a potential witness. When technology, law enforcement and the public all work together, they can create a safer, connected community.

Learn more about connected security solutions.

Authors
M. Faisal Pandit - Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Officer of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America

One way China is overtaking the U.S. that might surprise you

Meeting China's mobile needs in aviation

One way China is overtaking the U.S. that might surprise you

4 minutes

When you think tourist, the stereotype of the sunburnt, sandal-wearing American is often the image that often comes to mind. But as China’s middle class experiences strong growth, look for a new wave of tourists and businesspeople to influence world travel. Already, China is reporting record travel numbers. Last year, its citizens took a reported 4.5 billion domestic and international trips. That’s nearly three times the country’s total population. 

China’s travelers with disposable income are a top reason why the country is expected to replace the U.S. as the world’s largest aviation market by 2022, according to the International Air Transport Association’s 20-Year Air Passenger forecast.

China’s digitally connected and aspirational middle class represents 300 million consumers — and that number is growing. Companies looking to compete for customers in the region are adapting and preparing to meet their hyper-connected requirements.

Middle class growth

The passenger base in China is growing faster than the airline industry predicted, and that’s inspiring airlines to adapt their businesses to cater to this powerful and expanding market. China’s digitally connected and aspirational middle class represents 300 million consumers — and that number is growing. As people are traveling in record numbers, they’re also using internet-connected devices en masse, and that’s causing a significant shift in the airline industry.

As airlines adopt inflight Wi-Fi and capitalize on the personalization capabilities of inflight entertainment systems, they’ll soon be finding themselves moving at warp speed to meet the demands of Chinese passengers. Asian-Pacific, and particularly Chinese, customers rely heavily on mobile platforms in their day-to-day lives and carry those same expectations when they travel. 

“China is more advanced than the EU or U.S. when it comes to mobile technology. That's why you have to offer Wi-Fi onboard. You have to be able to connect throughout the journey. That's what they expect and that's how we build a platform that also creates loyalty,” says one top airline exec.

Read details in “How the Airline Industry is Adapting to China’s Exponential Growth.”

 

Authors
Panasonic Avionics

A new approach to community engagement in smart cities

Colorado Springs hero header

A new approach to community engagement in smart cities

5 minutes

Some 6,035 feet above sea level, and nestled into Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs wows visitors with its natural beauty. Ranked one of America’s best places to live, the city is now looking towards technology to further improve residents’ quality of life.

Just an hour drive from Denver, Colorado Springs hosts the country’s flagship Olympic training centers and is building the nation’s only U.S. Olympic Museum. It is also embarking on a smart city endeavor called SmartCOS to positively impact the community and drive economic development, focusing on projects in energy, mobility, city services and smart buildings.  
 

Which technologies would benefit citizens most?

When the municipality of Colorado Springs began investigating smart technologies to improve city services and reach community goals, a challenge arose: how to determine which opportunities would benefit citizens most? City officials turned to Panasonic, a leader in smart city initiatives, for help narrowing the tech focus.

It all started with a visit to Panasonic’s CityNOW hub at Peña Station NEXT in sister city Denver. There, Panasonic is overseeing deployment of a range of technologies from a micro-grid and solar canopy to smart streetlights and parking, ultra-fast community Wi-Fi and a Connected Vehicle ecosystem. This 382-acre hub serves as a living lab for emerging technology, and an optimized business model in which cities, utilities, developers and transportation entities come together to share in the planning and resources for smart city projects.
 

If there is one thing that can predict a smart city’s success, it is a strong public-private partnership.

If there is one thing that can predict a smart city’s success, it is a strong public-private partnership. At Peña Station NEXT, businesses, energy and city service providers, landholders and government established a process to vet vendors and greenlight projects. CityNOW played a lead role as the Smart and Sustainable general contractor and systems integrator, employing its stakeholder alignment platform. Now Panasonic and Colorado Springs are partnering to implement a similar process, with an expanded focus on community involvement. Here are three clear benefits of a public-private collaboration such as ours.

Project optimization

Colorado Springs has a head start in that its utility company is municipally owned – and heavily engaged in smart city efforts. In fact, Colorado Springs Utilities was already exploring advanced metering infrastructure before we began developing the city’s SmartCOS Implementation Strategy.

Now there are conversations between the city, the utility and the community on how to future proof an advanced metering system, and this input is being injected into the utility’s requirements as it pursues proposals. This is just one example of the opportunities that collaboration creates. 

A clearer path to execution

The mayor’s office invited early involvement in a joint task force from different private institutions, the military (the city is home to four installations; Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Academy and Schreiver Air Force Base), and other key community members, garnering input on which ideas would most benefit Colorado Springs. Having decision makers in the same room was priceless. This joint task force identified shared goals such as resiliency, energy and connectivity. The task force also came up with a path forward.

The largest hurdle to smart city progress is not technology, but bringing together large, complex organizations and finding ways to gain agreement on mutual priorities, and ways to achieve them. It’s like a seven-legged race: we are all equally tied at the hip and we only make progress together. 

Increased ownership and accountability

Community engagement is crucial to the SmartCOS process. City officials have initiated open discussions with the community – both publicly at scheduled events, and online via a tool called SpeakUp! on the city’s website. This live link enables citizens to provide feedback on what they would like to see in the areas of transportation and mobility, energy and utilities, buildings, sustainability and city services.

This ongoing dialogue has been invaluable, creating a sense of excitement and ownership in the community. Rather than getting distracted by ‘bright and shiny new technologies,’ this robust process keeps us focused on projects that will add value to the lives of residents. 

Authors
Mayor John Suthers and Jarrett Wendt
John Suthers is Mayor of Colorado Springs, CO. Jarrett Wendt is Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company.

Power play: energizing passengers’ devices

keeping up with passenger devices

Power play: energizing passengers’ devices

5 minutes

5G is on its way and its many capabilities are expected to benefit the mobile lifestyle including inflight travel. Imagine the possibilities: exploring the aircraft via virtual reality, downloading a movie in seconds, or transferring data in real-time at 32,000 feet. All this hyperconnected internet awesomeness means more travelers will be using more personal electronic devices than ever before. This rise in electronic devices presents airlines with a unique challenge: How to keep customers happy by maximizing the onboard power supply — without straining flight-critical systems. Already airlines are working on ways to keep passengers plugged in throughout flights, and face some complicated issues. For instance, what kind of power system to install.

Passengers are traveling with devices that require a variety of outlets: 115V AC and high power USB outlets are most common, but wireless charging such as Qi is also getting some attention.

The right connections

According to SITA’s 2017 Passenger Trends IT Survey, the vast majority of airline passengers fly with at least one electronic device, and more than half carry two or more devices.

Meanwhile, consumer trends show that while laptops – which require AC outlets — are still popular with a large number of flyers, most passengers use one or more USB-enabled devices during their journey.

Does that mean getting rid of AC power altogether? Not necessarily, says Panasonic Avionics Product Marketing Manager Gary Kaplan. He explains that AC power still has a role to play in powering thirsty laptops. What’s changing the game is the development of USB Type-C power outlets. These allow larger tablets to be used inflight and also support fast-charging for smartphones.

Figuring out what power outlets will work in the future is one challenge. Another is overall power distribution. Aircraft electrical supply is limited – so ensuring critical aircraft operations is a top priority.

For safety reasons, original-equipment manufacturers set limits on the power distributed to passenger applications. Aircraft power-management systems dynamically distribute the power supply to seats; during periods of peak demand, power will go into “restricted mode” by cutting-off supply to non-critical electrical equipment.

In Panasonic’s case, the company works with manufacturers to ensure its equipment offers optimal power delivery and aircraft safety, while keeping as many passengers plugged-in as possible throughout the flight.

Learn more in Keeping up With Growing Passenger Demand for Inflight Juice

Authors
Panasonic Avionics