Rugged Tablets for Air Force Operations: Performing in Tight Spaces

Air Force personnel had a specific space constraint they needed to be solved when they talked with the DT Research team for a military-grade mobile computer to fit in tight spaces. They realized having a laptop or a tablet built for mission-critical environments wasn’t enough. They needed a dependable laptop and tablet that could also fit into tight spaces.

One benefit of working with DT Research, is we work with our customers to design and build rugged computing solutions based on their needs, not just based on what the general market decides is important. We listen to our customer’s concerns, what they like and what they don’t like about what they currently are using, and to their wishlist of what they would love to have. Our engineers then get to work to design and manufacture a targeted solution-based device that meets their requirements. 

Let’s get back to the “tight squeeze” problem the Air Force needed a solution for. When their mechanics work on aircraft they realized that they needed to be able to fit into a small compartment while maneuvering around the plane to complete repairs. Taking a standard-sized military-grade laptop or tablet into that small compartment, sometimes where it is even difficult for a person to get into, much less a person with tools and a tablet to get into – just didn’t work. 

So our engineers created the LT300 series of convertible laptop-tablets. Convertible laptop-tablets are a unique design that addresses some of the issues with other convertible laptops, making these the leading laptop-tablets of their kind. The LT320, LT330 and LT350 convertible laptops have a 360 degree rotating display purpose-built for military, first responder, law enforcement, field service and warehouse environments with IP65, MIL-STD-810G/H, MIL-STD-461F ratings, EPEAT certification and TAA compliance.

Convertible laptop-tablets – meaning it is a full laptop computer, that can smoothly transform into a tablet rather than having to detach and reattach the keyboard, which can be very cumbersome in confined environments. The even better news about this tablet, the switch from laptop to tablet can be done in only a few seconds with minimal handling. Perfect for use in “tight” places. This innovative design makes the transition from laptop to tablet possible within confined or crowded spaces, such as a plane tail section or in an engine room.

No information is lost, and neither is time. Now aircraft carriers can be maintenanced or worked on in the “hard to reach places” with less frustration and more ease. Thus improving the efficiency of maintenance and repairs to aircraft and vessels and the time it takes to get them back in operation. Reducing downtime, and improving internal operational flow.

These convertible laptop tablets offer flexibility as well as hot-swappable batteries for continuous operation where the batteries can be easily replaced without losing crucial data or losing time to charge the device.

Each of these tablets aid infection control with antimicrobial enclosures that inhibit the spread of microorganisms, such as bacteria, on the surface of the units. 

Other important features include:

  • Two-factor Authentication – Built-in smart card/CAC reader with NIST compliant BIOS available.
  • Network Communication – Built-in Intel AX200 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 LE and 4G LTE/AWS mobile broadband.
  • Optional Cameras – Front and back full-HD cameras with auto white balance and gain/exposure control enable facial recognition security.
  • Optional GNSS Module – U-blox M8N GNSS module.

These robust, high-performance convertible laptop tablets are built to perform running on Intel® 10th Generation Core™ i5 or i7 processors with a fanless, robust design.