Remote assistance in hazardous areas
Teleconferencing has been an important method of saving time and costs in most industries for many years. The recent travel restrictions and social distancing caused by the coronavirus pandemic have made video calling an important tool for ensuring business continuity.
This is especially true for dangerous areas, which are often located in remote locations and require specially trained personnel. If an outbreak occurs, such as oil spill, it can lead to suspension and financial losses. In this post, we’ll show you how BARTEC devices allow you to provide remote assistance in hazardous areas. We will look at different use cases in combination with standard and widely used enterprise teleconferencing applications.
Safety comes first.
When choosing the right equipment for any application in hazardous areas, safety should always be a top priority. What are the requirements for EX? In which area will the device be used? BARTEC’s top priority is the safety and integrity of our devices, and we set the highest possible standards for our certifications. A BARTEC device is always a safe choice, regardless of the environment.
BARTEC offers essentially secure and unintentional devices in a variety of form factors and operating systems. The use cases below range from “hands-on”, where field workers need to perform tasks while receiving instructions, to “freehand” scenarios that do not require physical action from the field worker.
“Transmission.”
Script:
A worker in a hazardous area requires expert technical assistance and needs to use both hands to work. For example, he or she may need their hands to manoeuvre in tight spaces, operate heavy machinery or use tools that require both hands.
Solution: teleconferencing application based on Orbit X + SIP
The Orbit X is a small and lightweight helmet camera that can both record and store video and photos locally and stream video online. By mounting it on a helmet, a worker in a factory can record or stream their vision live, and can switch the laser indicator to see exactly where the camera is pointing. In combination with their own safety headphones, the worker in the plant can communicate and receive instructions from the viewer at the same time.
For live video viewing, Orbit X can use a teleconferencing solution that supports SIP, making applications that are heavily used. We have tested and confirmed compatibility with Cisco WebEx Meetings, Lifesize, and Pexip (please contact us if you want to test compatibility with another teleconferencing application). The Orbit X can be configured using a standard Android smartphone or tablet via the Orbit X app. If configurations are required while the user is in a hazardous area, an intrinsically safe smartphone can be used.
Simple, small operations
Script:
Any situation where an employee at an enterprise can carry and use their own secure smartphone (or an android camera) without needing to use both hands (e.g. tools, equipment). This can be true for a variety of use cases, but perhaps especially for verification and documentation.
Solution: applications for Impact X / Gravity X+ video signal
The Impact X and Gravity X are secure Android devices and support most applications available in the Google Play store. If Wi-Fi is available on site, the Gravity X will suffice, while if LTE is available, a smartphone (Impact X) will be required.
If an employee in an enterprise needs to send a video to only one recipient, any Android application that supports video calls can be used. However, most businesses operating in hazardous areas will have strict requirements for the use of applications. Microsoft Teams is one such widely used application and also supports cross-platform calling and group calling. Staff required to view the live stream, such as engineers or project managers, will typically sign in to their Microsoft Teams account and can be invited to the call.
‘Hands off’
Script:
There are several situations where an employee needs a bigger screen than they would on a smaller handheld device when they are in the enterprise. Tablets are often used for routine inspections, asset management, and other use cases that require either more screen real estate or heavier applications than are possible on small pocket portables.
Solution: Agile tablet series + any Windows-based teleconferencing application
Running on a full Windows 10 system, the BARTEC Agile tablet series supports a wide range of common enterprise applications used for inspection and asset management. If there is a specific need for remote assistance during, for example, a work inspection or a routine inspection, Agile tablets offer both front and rear cameras. Virtually all teleconferencing applications are supported on Windows, including Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams, which are widely used applications among large enterprises. The ability to quickly switch between data entry and teleconferencing applications while in the field can increase worker efficiency, as the alternative is to initiate calls when returning from a hazardous environment.
Teleconferencing has been an important method of saving time and costs in most industries for many years. The recent travel restrictions and social distancing caused by the coronavirus pandemic have made video calling an important tool for ensuring business continuity.
This is especially true for dangerous areas, which are often located in remote locations and require specially trained personnel. If an outbreak occurs, such as oil spill, it can lead to suspension and financial losses. In this post, we’ll show you how BARTEC devices allow you to provide remote assistance in hazardous areas. We will look at different use cases in combination with standard and widely used enterprise teleconferencing applications.
Safety comes first.
When choosing the right equipment for any application in hazardous areas, safety should always be a top priority. What are the requirements for EX? In which area will the device be used? BARTEC’s top priority is the safety and integrity of our devices, and we set the highest possible standards for our certifications. A BARTEC device is always a safe choice, regardless of the environment.
BARTEC offers essentially secure and unintentional devices in a variety of form factors and operating systems. The use cases below range from “hands-on”, where field workers need to perform tasks while receiving instructions, to “freehand” scenarios that do not require physical action from the field worker.
“Transmission.”
Script:
A worker in a hazardous area requires expert technical assistance and needs to use both hands to work. For example, he or she may need their hands to manoeuvre in tight spaces, operate heavy machinery or use tools that require both hands.
Solution: teleconferencing application based on Orbit X + SIP
The Orbit X is a small and lightweight helmet camera that can both record and store video and photos locally and stream video online. By mounting it on a helmet, a worker in a factory can record or stream their vision live, and can switch the laser indicator to see exactly where the camera is pointing. In combination with their own safety headphones, the worker in the plant can communicate and receive instructions from the viewer at the same time.
For live video viewing, Orbit X can use a teleconferencing solution that supports SIP, making applications that are heavily used. We have tested and confirmed compatibility with Cisco WebEx Meetings, Lifesize, and Pexip (please contact us if you want to test compatibility with another teleconferencing application). The Orbit X can be configured using a standard Android smartphone or tablet via the Orbit X app. If configurations are required while the user is in a hazardous area, an intrinsically safe smartphone can be used.
Simple, small operations
Script:
Any situation where an employee at an enterprise can carry and use their own secure smartphone (or an android camera) without needing to use both hands (e.g. tools, equipment). This can be true for a variety of use cases, but perhaps especially for verification and documentation.
Solution: applications for Impact X / Gravity X+ video signal
The Impact X and Gravity X are secure Android devices and support most applications available in the Google Play store. If Wi-Fi is available on site, the Gravity X will suffice, while if LTE is available, a smartphone (Impact X) will be required.
If an employee in an enterprise needs to send a video to only one recipient, any Android application that supports video calls can be used. However, most businesses operating in hazardous areas will have strict requirements for the use of applications. Microsoft Teams is one such widely used application and also supports cross-platform calling and group calling. Staff required to view the live stream, such as engineers or project managers, will typically sign in to their Microsoft Teams account and can be invited to the call.
‘Hands off’
Script:
There are several situations where an employee needs a bigger screen than they would on a smaller handheld device when they are in the enterprise. Tablets are often used for routine inspections, asset management, and other use cases that require either more screen real estate or heavier applications than are possible on small pocket portables.
Solution: Agile tablet series + any Windows-based teleconferencing application
Running on a full Windows 10 system, the BARTEC Agile tablet series supports a wide range of common enterprise applications used for inspection and asset management. If there is a specific need for remote assistance during, for example, a work inspection or a routine inspection, Agile tablets offer both front and rear cameras. Virtually all teleconferencing applications are supported on Windows, including Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams, which are widely used applications among large enterprises. The ability to quickly switch between data entry and teleconferencing applications while in the field can increase worker efficiency, as the alternative is to initiate calls when returning from a hazardous environment.
