Which box PCs specify an altitude rating? These will fly on high-altitude aircraft.

Question

Rapidflare · Accepted Answer

I found three box PCs with a listed altitude rating. They're all rugged systems for defense, aerospace or industrial use.

**Edge AI box PCs with an altitude rating**

| Product | Manufacturer | Altitude rating | Jetson module | Operating temp | Certifications | Lifecycle status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A176 - Cyclone | Aitech | 18,288 m | TX2 / TX2i | -40 to 71 °C | MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461 | EOL |
| Parvus DuraCOR 312 Mission Computer | Curtiss-Wright | 13,700 m | TX2i | -40 to 71 °C | MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461F, MIL-STD-1275D, MIL-STD-704F, DO-160G | Active |
| JetSys-2010 | Elma | 1,400 m | Orin NX | -20 to 70 °C | MIL-STD-810 | Active |

For high-altitude aircraft:

- **Parvus DuraCOR 312** looks like the best fit. It's rated to 13,700 m, it's in active production, and it's the only one of the three with DO-160G certification, a standard for airborne equipment. It's described as a rugged MIL-STD mission computer for defense and aerospace ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance).
- **A176 - Cyclone** has the highest rating, 18,288 m, and is described as built for defense, autonomous and UAV use. However, it's listed as end-of-life (EOL), so it may be hard to get.
- **JetSys-2010** is rated to only 1,400 m. That's likely too low for high-altitude flight, unless it would sit in a pressurized area. That depends on your installation, and I can't confirm it.

**What I couldn't confirm:**
- Whether each altitude figure is for operating or non-operating (storage) conditions. Each product has a single value with no condition attached, so please check the datasheets: [A176 - Cyclone](https://aitechsystems.com/download/5845/), [DuraCOR 312](https://defense-solutions.curtisswright.com/resources/duracor-312-miniature-computer-data-sheet), [JetSys-2010](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/catsy.655/datasheet-JetSys-2010-rugged-industrial-AI-box.pdf).
- The ratings of the many other box PCs that don't list altitude. Some of them may have a rating in their own datasheets.

Box PCs that specify an altitude rating

Sources

Product	Manufacturer	Altitude rating	Jetson module	Operating temp	Certifications	Lifecycle status
A176 - Cyclone	Aitech	18,288 m	TX2 / TX2i	-40 to 71 °C	MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461	EOL
Parvus DuraCOR 312 Mission Computer	Curtiss-Wright	13,700 m	TX2i	-40 to 71 °C	MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461F, MIL-STD-1275D, MIL-STD-704F, DO-160G	Active
JetSys-2010	Elma	1,400 m	Orin NX	-20 to 70 °C	MIL-STD-810	Active