Enabling AI at the tactical edge: Rugged computing and thermal management across domainsStoryStock image As mobile rugged computing systems for military use become ever more powerful and richly featured, capable of running complex and critically important applications, it is now clear that thermal management must become part of the criteria for evaluation right along with environmental certifications and drop resistance. The ability to balance performance, mobility, environmental durability, and thermal management will remain essential to ensuring mission success across land, sea, and air domains. New, more sophisticated technologies and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven applications are being deployed in rugged computing at the tactical edge of the battlefield. Such modern, high-performance edge computing systems help make the warrior on the battle’s edge more effective, more efficient, and safer. In effective passive thermal management, heat pipes, vapor chambers, thermal interface materials, sealed enclosures, and ruggedized connectors can all impact heat transfer while also maintaining environmental protection.