For more than 35 years, DSL Industrial Computing has kept production lines, laboratories and utilities running with reliable industrial PCs, panel PCs and embedded systems. Today, we’re bringing that same engineering pedigree to the mobile workforce with a brand – new product range: rugged laptops.
At the heart of the line – up is the Nova AI Rugged Laptop – a field – ready powerhouse that marries extreme durability with the latest edge – AI computing.
The Evolution of Industrial Mobile Computing
Why Rugged Laptops Matter
- Cost of downtime – Every minute of unplanned outage impacts revenue and safety; rugged devices keep working in the rain, dust or cold where consumer laptops fail.
- Total cost of ownership – A system that lasts years in the field reduces frequent replacements and IT overhead.
- Data-driven workflows – Edge AI enables real-time quality inspection, predictive maintenance, GIS mapping and more – without shipping data over unreliable links.
Nova AI Rugged Laptop – Quick Specs
Choose between a 14-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 × 1080) display, both bright enough for outdoor diagnostics yet gentle on battery life.
Powering those pixels is an Intel® Core™ i7-155H (Meteor Lake-H) processor, paired with integrated Intel Arc™ graphics and an on-chip Neural Processing Unit. The trio delivers desktop-grade compute, GPU acceleration and low-latency AI inference in one efficient package.
With 32 GB of DDR5 memory (expandable) and a lightning-fast M.2 PCIe SSD, the Nova AI boots in seconds and chews through large datasets without breaking a sweat.
Durability comes from an IP65-sealed chassis that’s MIL-STD-810H certified for 1.2m drops, vibration and temperatures from −20 °C to 60 °C, so unexpected weather or rough handling won’t slow you down.
Staying connected is easy: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth are standard, while optional 2G/3G/4G/5G, GPS and NFC modules keep you online and on-site anywhere on the planet. Physical I/O covers every scenario with Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, mini-HDMI 2.0a, dual RJ45 GbE, legacy RS-232, SIM and TF slots and a 12-pin pogo dock for in-vehicle mounting.
Security features include an SPI fingerprint reader, TPM 2.0 chip for hardware-based encryption and a Kensington® lock slot for quick physical tethering. Every unit is backed by a five-year DSL warranty for complete peace of mind.
Explore the full technical sheet on the product page.
Built to Survive Where Others Fail
Whether your team is commissioning equipment on an offshore platform or logging data in a sub-zero warehouse, the Nova AI is engineered to keep going:
- IP65 sealing shrugs off rain, dust and wash-downs.
- MIL-STD-810H testing validates resistance to shock, vibration and 1.2-metre drops.
- A wide -20 °C – 60 °C temperature envelope means reliable boot-ups on frozen dawn starts and blazing summer shifts.
- The fan-less thermal design prevents dust ingress and silent operation in acoustic-sensitive labs.
Real-Time Insights Without Cloud Latency
The headline feature is in the name: AI. Intel’s Meteor Lake architecture brings a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that accelerates computer-vision, machine-learning and large-language-model workloads while sipping power. That means:
- Instant defect detection in a factory inspection line – even offline.
- Predictive maintenance algorithms that flag abnormal vibrations before machinery fails.
- Natural-language interfaces for field technicians to query manuals hands-free.
- Enhanced security through on-device face recognition and anomaly detection.
Because inference happens locally, sensitive data never leaves your secure perimeter.
The Nova AI’s dual gigabit Ethernet ports simplify connection to segregated OT networks, while Thunderbolt 4 delivers 40 Gbps for high speed data acquisition. A pogo-pin docking interface allows quick in-vehicle charging; optional 5G keeps you online even beyond Wi-Fi range. With an M.2 2280 bay and additional E-Key slot, you can add extra NVMe storage, CAN-bus cards or bespoke RF modules.
Choosing the Right Form Factor: 14″ vs 15.6″
- 14-inch – lighter (from 2.2 kg), easier one-handed carry, perfect for tight service hatches.
- 15.6-inch – larger keyboard and screen real estate for multi-window SCADA views or CAD edits in the field.
Both panels feature 1000-nit high-brightness options for full sunlight readability.
A Complete Rugged Laptop Portfolio from DSL
The Nova AI marks the start of an expanding rugged laptop family that complements our proven panel PCs, industrial tablets and single board computers. Whatever your application – defence, energy, transportation or food & beverage – DSL can provide an end-to-end industrial computing platform with unified support.
Next Steps
Ready to eliminate field-device failures and put AI performance in your team’s hands?
- Configure your Nova AI Rugged Laptop here.
- Or speak to an engineer on 01462 374102 for a tailored recommendation.
Author: DSL Industrial Computing – Specialist suppliers of embedded & industrial hardware since 1985.
