Rugged Displays & Monitors

Ruggedized Monitors for Unmanned Systems

Rugged displays are used for a wide range of unmanned systems applications, providing a way to control and to visualize data and sensor feeds from UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles), USVs (uncrewed surface vessels) and UUVs (unmanned underwater vehicles.

Monitors for rugged UAV and unmanned systems applications are typically based on OLED or LCD flatscreen technology, and may be handheld, standalone, rack-mounted or panel-mounted.

Rugged Display for Industrial Computing by Crystal Group

Rugged displays for command and control

Ruggedized monitors may be incorporated into portable or fixed ground control stations (GCS) for drones and unmanned vehicles. These screens will typically need to be sunlight-readable and weatherproof. Rugged touchscreen monitors may need to be capable of being operated by glove-wearing users.

GCS Monitors

Rugged GCS displays allow operators to display real-time maps that allow tracking of vehicles, as well as editing of mission plans and waypoints. These screens may also be used to display feeds from cameras and sensors on board the aircraft. A GCS may utilize multiple screens, allowing both the pilot and the payload operator to each have their own display.

Some displays used for military UAV missions, such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and weapons targeting, may include built-in image enhancement algorithms that provide enhanced clarity under conditions such as low light, fog, smoke and haze.

Rugged monitors for data visualization and editing

Rugged monitors and displays may also be required for forward operating bases and other temporary or fixed control centers. They may be used post-mission to visualize and edit imagery and data gathered by UAVs and robotic vehicles, for applications such as photogrammetry, geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), and 3D LiDAR mapping and modeling.

Rugged and mil-spec display and monitor requirements

Ruggedized displays and monitors are designed with enhanced durability beyond that of standard commercial offerings. They may have to withstand extremes of temperature, moisture and sand, and high levels of EMI (electromagnetic interference). The glass may need to be scratchproof or shatterproof.
Military standards that rugged monitors and displays may have to meet include:

• MIL-DTL-901E (shock)
• MIL-STD-810F (environmental)
• MIL-STD-461E (electromagnetic emissions)
• MIL-STD-167B (vibration)
• MIL-STD-740B (airborne/structureborne noise)