Modern armored vehicles rely on external camera systems to monitor their surroundings and protect personnel inside. These camera feeds provide critical situational awareness, but the raw video is only as useful as the operator's ability to interpret it quickly under pressure. Edge AI computing processes video feeds locally and delivers intelligent overlays that highlight threats, identify targets, and provide tactical data in real time.
VarTech Systems' All-Weather computers bring this capability to military vehicle applications through HD-SDI video integration and onboard AI processing. The result is a complete computing solution that transforms existing camera infrastructure into an AI-enhanced surveillance platform without requiring cloud connectivity or external processing resources.
Why HD-SDI Matters for Military Applications
HD-SDI (High-Definition Serial Digital Interface) is a professional video transmission standard that sends uncompressed high-definition signals over coaxial cables. Unlike compressed video formats that sacrifice quality for smaller file sizes, HD-SDI preserves every pixel of captured footage as the camera recorded it.
This matters for military applications because compression introduces two problems: quality loss and latency. Compression artifacts can obscure fine details that operators need to identify threats or targets. Processing delays, even those measured in milliseconds, can mean the difference between detecting a threat in time and missing it entirely.
HD-SDI significantly reduces latency compared to compressed IP-based video systems. The signal travels from camera to display with near-zero latency (typically <1 millisecond for the transport layer), and the uncompressed format ensures that AI algorithms receive the highest quality input for accurate inference. When a thermal imaging camera captures a heat signature in the distance, that data arrives at the computer exactly as recorded, giving edge AI software the best possible foundation for threat detection and identification.
The technology also supports loopback configurations, allowing multiple devices to receive the same signal without splitting or degrading it. Many HD-SDI cameras and capture devices include loop-through outputs, allowing the same signal to be displayed, recorded, and processed simultaneously
Processing video feeds at the edge—on the computer itself rather than in the cloud—offers significant advantages for military operations. Most notably, it eliminates dependence on network connectivity. Armored vehicles operate in environments where communication links may be unreliable, contested, or unavailable entirely. Edge AI continues functioning regardless of network status.
Equally important, edge processing keeps sensitive data contained within the vehicle. Transmitting surveillance footage to external servers creates security vulnerabilities. When all processing occurs locally, the risk shrinks considerably.
VarTech's All-Weather computers can integrate AI accelerators—GPUs, NPUs, or specialized processing units selected based on the application's requirements—that execute computer vision algorithms in real time. These systems can run multiple AI models simultaneously, analyzing thermal imagery for heat signatures while processing optical video for object recognition.
Military vehicles subject their electronics to punishing conditions. Vibration from rough terrain, temperature extremes from desert heat to arctic cold, dust and moisture infiltration, and electromagnetic interference from onboard systems all threaten computer reliability. Standard commercial hardware fails quickly in these environments.
Our All-Weather computers are built to meet MIL-STD 461 requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, preventing interference with other vehicle electronics while resisting external EMI. MIL-STD 810 support covers temperature, humidity, shock, and vibration resistance, while MIL-STD 1275 addresses military vehicle power systems, which can produce voltage spikes and fluctuations that damage unprotected equipment.
The IP67/IP68-protected enclosures keep out dust and water, and operating temperature ranges extend from -40°C to 70°C, covering nearly any climate. High-bright displays reaching 1800 nits remain readable even in direct sunlight, essential for operators who may need to view screens through vehicle windows or open hatches.
Multiple mounting options—including console, rack, and VESA configurations—allow installation in the confined and irregular spaces inside armored vehicles. Display sizes from 8.4" to 32.0" provide flexibility to match the available mounting location and operator viewing distance.
The combination of HD-SDI video capture and edge AI processing enables several tactical applications. Threat detection systems can analyze thermal camera feeds and highlight potential hostile forces with visual overlays, drawing operator attention to areas of concern. Automated target recognition can identify vehicle types, weapon systems, or other objects of interest and tag them on screen.
Augmented reality displays can fuse data from multiple sources—cameras, sensors, navigation systems, and communications—into a unified tactical picture. Distance measurements, bearing indicators, and threat assessments appear directly on the video feed, reducing the cognitive load on operators who would otherwise need to correlate information from multiple displays.
These capabilities turn passive camera systems into active intelligence tools. Rather than simply displaying what cameras capture, AI-enhanced systems interpret that footage and present actionable information to operators, improving both the speed and accuracy of tactical decisions.
VarTech Systems engineers and manufactures these solutions in Clemmons, North Carolina, with full ITAR registration for defense applications. We comply with BABA, NDAA, and TAA regulations. Each of our rugged computers are built to customers’ unique specifications and backed by an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management program.
At VarTech Systems, our Project Managers—with an average of 15+ years of industry experience—are ready to customize a computer, monitor, or HMI workstation solution to meet your needs. Drawing from extensive backgrounds in manufacturing, military, oil and gas, and marine applications, they provide expert guidance throughout your project journey.
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Based in Clemmons, North Carolina, VarTech Systems Inc. engineers and builds custom industrial and rugged computers, monitors, and HMIs.
