Non-traditional environmental test methodologies for electronics

6/29/2009 9:47 PM EDT

We know that electronics have many different test methodologies and standards when it comes to defining reliability.  From my experience in semiconductor reliability test I know of many JEDEC standards including HAST (highly accelerated stress test), HTOL (high temperature operating life), LTOL (low temperature operating life, Autoclave, among other,--but have you heard of the "tiger test"?  Perhaps the "elephant stomp test".   Brian Caufield of Forbes.com puts the Panasonic Toughbook rugged laptop through a few "unconventional" electronics reliability tests.  Check out the article here, and be sure to watch the video if you get the chance.  I must admit, I am impressed.  But I doubt that contract manufacturers will be getting their own tiger's in order to conduct environmental hazard testing!

For more on creative Toughbook testing, check out youtube videos such as this one.