What We Do
Rugged Circuits provides innovative off the shelf (OTS) Arduino compatible microcontrollers, shields, and accessories. Additionally we offer engineering services to design and build custom printed circuit board assemblies with supporting software/firmware that meet customer specific goals. These custom PCBAs do not have to be Arduino based.
Our Start
Rugged Circuits LLC was established in 2007 to provide Arduino users with a more stable and durable microcontroller board. Our goal was to produce a more “Rugged” version of the Arduino Uno R3 that retained full compatibility with the board layout, libraries, and IDE. We carefully studied various failure points of the Uno and authored our now famous 10 Ways to Destroy an Arduino”. This was a compilation of real world studies and focus group data. We then integrated innovative circuitry to protect against these failure points thus creating the Ruggeduino. Initially our products were offered to college level students to assist them with their engineering course work. We discovered the students were able to delve further and more confidently into the curriculum. Downtime associated with destroyed boards was eliminated. The students then took the ultra reliable boards with them post graduation and used them to further their career. As the companies were introduced to these new Ruggeduinos through the newly hired students the demand increased many fold. Rugged Circuits quickly expanded into almost every market. Presently Rugged Circuits products can be found lurking below the Antarctic ice in submersible rovers all the way into outer space in satellites.
Product Expansion
We later expanded our product line to include several other Arduino compatible microcontrollers with similar protective features. Listening to our customers, we modified our boards to be more adaptable to user needs. This included offering extended temperature (ET) variants of our boards which would provide reliable operation down to -40C and up to +85C. Industrial users wanting to replace PLCs in favor of more customizable and flexible Arduino hardware, requested that we offer 24V connectivity. We obliged and upped operating voltage thresholds up to 30V and offered 24V input on the GP input pins on select models. Screw Terminal (ST) versions were also added to our product line as users wanted more secure mounting options.
We also offer several Arduino compatible shields and accessories. These shields target more commercial applications.
Custom Design Program
Early on we discovered a need to custom design products for our users. Arduino is a fantastic platform but our talented customers are always innovating. To accommodate we developed a custom design program to provide our customers with engineering services to develop products to meet their exact needs. We offer a very diverse portfolio of services ranging from design to end manufacturing. We also extend the option to sell products developed through the custom design program on the Rugged Circuits website.
Loyal Customers
We are very fortunate to have served over 4,000 customers in almost 18 years of business. We appeal to a wide range of customers from individuals to corporations; universities to government contractors. Our products are integrated in just about everything from simple widgets to OEM products; industrial controls to simulators. We can say with confidence that we have essentially a 100% satisfaction rate. Check out our testimonials and online forums. We pride ourselves in our large and growing customer base and the truly inspiring applications which the Rugged brand is integrated. We are so very proud of our customers and thank them for the support they provide and their efforts to promote the Rugged Circuits brand. Each and every word of mouth recommendation, our only advertising, is so greatly appreciated. THANK YOU! All of our customers are GREAT!
Ambassadors of Our Brand
We are always looking for ambassadors for the Rugged brand. If you think you have what it takes to help promote our products or services please reach out to us with your talents.