Rugged slate computer for vehicle applications
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

The DRS Scorpion Rugged Vehicle Terminal, or "RVT," is a rugged touch-screen tablet computer with external keyboard capability that's based on an internal "COTS" architecture, which means it uses Commercial Off The Shelf components. The RVT is designed as a rugged war fighter computer that can be used on the digital battlefield, at sea or on the flight line. The 12-pound slate can be mounted inside a wide variety of combat vehicles and operated on the move. It can either run off vehicle power or independently using its internal rechargeable batteries.

Technologically, the RVT is based on off-the-shelf parts that are tried-and-proven rather than state-of-the-art. There's a 700MHz or faster Pentium III that can do with 128MB of PC100 SDRAM and run virtually all of Microsoft's OS platforms as well as SUN Solaris off its removable internal 20GB hard drive. The device measures 12 x 12 inches and is 2.7 inches thick. The 12.1-inch transflective TVT uses 800 x 600 resolution and there is a touch screen option. Two PC Card slots provide expansion, and there is an abundance of onboard connectivity: four serial (RS232/422/423), parallel, 2 USB, and LAN. There's a CD/DVD optical drive, and an optional AC converter in addition to the hot-swappable Li-Ion battery.

As one would expect, the Scorpion RVT is designed to operate under extreme conditions. With optional heaters, it can be operated in a temperature range of -32 to 60 degree Celsius. It can survive extreme shock, operate at altitude, and has been tested to MIL-STD specs too numerous to list here (see website for info).

This is a machine equally at home in a tank as hanging on a shouler strap on a solider's body.