A defense technology leader approached us for a compact, low-power System on Module (SoM) for their Ruggedized Handheld Computer (RHC). We delivered a solution tailored to military-grade requirements. The project’s success led to a long-term partnership focused on advancing embedded systems for next-generation aerospace and defense applications.
Company Profile
A globally recognized expert in aerospace and defense technology, this customer brings over 50 years of engineering excellence. They serve governments worldwide with advanced solutions ranging from aircraft systems to secure defense communications and pioneering space technologies.
Challenge
The RHC had to securely handle encrypted data and cryptographic keys for military communications—demanding strict compliance with regulatory standards. It needed to be lightweight and compact for easy field deployment and intuitive to operate via a Linux-based touchscreen GUI. Since military gear often stays in use for years, the embedded system had to be backward-compatible with current tech and forward-compatible with future devices.
The biggest technical hurdle was designing a ruggedized system that could boot up quickly while operating in extreme temperatures, pressure, and moisture conditions. With size, speed, security, and durability all critical to success, the project required meticulous attention to embedded system design and long lifecycle support.
Solution Summary
Powered by the ultra-compact Torpedo SoM with Wattson™ Power Management, we developed a rugged, secure handheld computer for military use with fast boot-up and long product lifecycle.
Solution
Our compact Torpedo SoM was the perfect fit for the RHC, measuring just 27mm by 15mm. Despite its size, it delivered powerful processing up to 1 GHz and met all ruggedized, military-grade requirements. Its small footprint allowed for a highly portable device, critical for field use. The Torpedo SoM also enabled fast boot-up capabilities - essential for real-time deployment.
All our SoMs include full support through board support packages (BSPs) and software tools, including our Wattson™ Power Management utility. This allowed the customer to optimize battery life, ensuring reliability across extended operations. The SoM’s ability to function in industrial temperature ranges (-45 to 85°C) and its 10+ year lifecycle made it an ideal solution for a long-lasting product.
Our solution’s low power consumption, ruggedness, and compactness gave the customer the confidence to adopt it as the foundation for both their current and future military-grade handheld devices, with minimal additional engineering.
Result
The customer’s RHC project was a success, powered by our compact Torpedo SoM. It met all performance, durability, and lifecycle expectations, including fast startup, secure data handling, and efficient power usage. Field deployment was swift due to its intuitive interface and compatibility. Impressed by our results, the customer continues to rely on our team for ongoing support and future defense-related embedded development initiatives.
Torpedo System-on-Chip (SOC)
