Modern naval vessels from warships to unmanned surface vehicles rely on robust Human-Machine Interface systems for control and monitoring.
These shipboard and remote HMIs must endure extreme conditions at sea, including salt spray, high-impact shock events, and continuous vibration typical of naval environments, conditions commonly described by shipboard standards such as MIL-STD-901 for shock and MIL-STD-167 for mechanical vibration.
Unlike commercial-grade electronics, rugged naval computers and displays are built to stringent military standards for reliability in mission-critical situations. They feature sealed enclosures, high-brightness screens for daylight visibility, and hardened components that keep the mission on track under any conditions.
On surface ships, HMIs are the nerve center for navigation, propulsion control, and system monitoring.
Our DiamondVue and ToughStation series provide dependable consoles for bridge and control rooms and based on application, they can feature fully sealed or bezel sealed designs. These units withstand the constant engine vibration and occasional shock impacts of life at sea, meeting MIL-STD-810H test criteria for temperature, humidity, shock, and vibration.
High-bright, anti-glare displays up to 1800 nits to ensure that navigational readouts and camera feeds remain visible even in direct sun on an open bridge. Both DiamondVue and ToughStation HMIs support multiple touchscreen technologies, including resistive touch and projected capacitive (PCAP). These interfaces can be configured to support operation with gloved hands and under demanding shipboard conditions, while maintaining intuitive control of ship systems.
EMI-shielded designs meeting MIL-STD-461 prevent interference from the ship’s radars and radios, so critical control consoles operate without disruption.
These HMIs give ship crews a reliable, mission-oriented interface to safely helm the vessel and manage onboard systems in any environment.
Naval weapons and combat systems demand HMIs that can survive intense shock and deliver real-time data to operators.
Our All-Weather series is purpose-built for such high-impact scenarios, featuring fully sealed military-grade construction tested for shipboard shock resistance. These rugged computers and monitors often mount near weapon stations or in combat information centers, where they must keep running through gunfire concussion and vibration from missile launches.
All-Weather consoles meet key military standards including MIL-STD-810 for environmental stress and MIL-STD-461 for electromagnetic compatibility, ensuring resilience amid blasts and electromagnetic energy.
They also offer MIL-STD-3009 compliance for Night Vision Imaging System compatibility, so displays can be dimmed for use with night-vision devices without compromising the mission. To support modern weapons systems, these HMIs interface with a variety of sensors and video inputs.
All-Weather computers can ingest HD-SDI camera feeds with zero latency, allowing gunnery cameras or thermal imagers to feed directly into the console and overlay targeting data in real time. Touchscreen support enables quick interaction for weapons control, while sunlight-readable, optically bonded screens ensure clear viewing on deck or in bright combat information centers.
From missile launch panels to remote weapon station displays, these rugged HMIs provide the battle-ready reliability and responsiveness that weapons integration demands.
Unmanned Surface Vessels and other robotic naval platforms introduce new HMI requirements both onboard and at the control station.
On the vehicle side, embedded computers must function as the brain of the unmanned craft in austere conditions without human intervention. All-Weather computers excel here with IP67 and IP68 all-weather sealing that protects against full water immersion and constant sea spray.
These units run powerful processors including AI accelerators when needed to process sensor data, navigation, and weapons control algorithms locally. With operating temperatures ranging from -40°C to 70°C, they handle both Arctic cold and equatorial heat on exposed decks.
Command personnel rely on DiamondVue or ToughStation consoles at the control center whether onboard a host vessel or at a shore-based facility to pilot and monitor unmanned vessels.
These consoles offer the same rugged pedigree including shock-mounted components, stabilized displays, and EMI-hardened electronics, ensuring a stable control interface during missions. High-bright wide-screen monitors allow multiple video feeds such as live camera, lidar, or sonar data to be viewed simultaneously even in daylight, aiding situational awareness.
The HMIs are compatible with standard control software and communication links, supporting modern digital interfaces and legacy analog video including HDMI, DisplayPort, and HD-SDI inputs.
The All-Weather family is engineered for fully exposed maritime environments. These systems feature sealed enclosures designed to protect against water ingress, salt spray, and airborne contaminants.
They are commonly deployed on open decks, small craft, and unmanned platforms where exposure to the elements is unavoidable.
All-Weather systems support a wide operating temperature range and are available with high-bright displays and night-vision-compatible configurations, making them suitable for continuous naval operations.
ToughStation systems are designed for harsh indoor or semi-exposed naval environments such as ship bridges, machinery spaces, and technical compartments. Their sealed enclosures allow them to withstand washdowns, humidity, and corrosive marine atmospheres.
Available in a wide range of display sizes and mounting configurations, ToughStation computers and monitors integrate easily into existing shipboard consoles while delivering reliable 24/7 operation.
DiamondVue systems provide flexibility for sheltered naval environments including control rooms, combat information centers, and vehicle or vessel interiors.
Known for dependable long-term operation, DiamondVue computers and monitors support a broad range of configurations, display sizes, and mounting styles. High-bright displays and touchscreen capability enable effective interaction in demanding operational settings while maintaining compatibility with a wide variety of naval systems.
Each of these rugged hardware families shares a commitment to mission-oriented design. They are built and tested to military and marine standards so that naval operators can trust their control systems and weapon interfaces to perform under pressure.
From the bridge of a surface combatant to the console of an unmanned patrol craft, these HMI solutions provide the durability, clarity, and control precision required to complete the mission successfully.
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.
