Panasonic Toughbook, official supplier to TARA Expeditions

Tara Expeditions organises research missions on board the legendary schooner Tara to study and understand the impact of climate change and the ecological crisis on our oceans. These scientific expeditions are carried out in collaboration with prestigious scientific institutions and laboratories. For more than ten years now, Tara Expéditions has been taking tangible action to increase environmental awareness among the general public and young people.

A partnership for over 8 years

Panasonic has been supplying the Tara crew and scientists with IT equipment since 2008. The devices are used to extract biological and environmental data in situ from samples of plankton in particular. The equipment is designed to withstand the conditions inherent in any ocean expedition, such as high humidity, risk of splashing, corrosive environment, bumps and vibrations typical of any sea voyage, and huge fluctuations in heat. Temperatures can vary from -40°C in the Arctic to +35°C in the Mediterranean. Here more than ever, Panasonic’s rugged products and expertise in “all-terrain” mobile solutions were put to the test.

“The Toughpad and Toughbook devices are used extensively on board Tara. Thanks to their reliability, durability and battery life – whatever the weather and despite the humid, cold and permanently iodized atmosphere – we can really rely on them for our daily work. They’re the perfect travel companions.” -Romain Troublé, Secretary General of Tara Expéditions

As supplier of IT equipment on board the Tara, Panasonic provided various laptops and touchscreen tablets, forming a diverse base of hardware: in the Toughbook range of laptops, a CF-53 (non-touchscreen model), CF-C2, CF-AX3 and CF-19, and in the Toughpad range of fully rugged tablets, FZ-G1 (10″) and FZ-M1 (7″).

Boasting different features, sizes and levels of ruggedness, the devices were used in a hazardous climatic setting, where the weather forecast was difficult to predict and icy conditions prevailed. The mobile devices successfully met the exacting requirements and specific uses of on-board research – their durability was put to the test each and every day in extreme conditions.

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