The tactical Edge AI platform delivers MIL-qualified compute for uncrewed systems, autonomous ground vehicles, ISR edge processing, and airborne payloads

For Immediate Release

Guelph, ON, Canada, May 12, 2026 — Connect Tech (CTI), a leader in rugged Edge AI computing, today announced the Sentry-X2 Mini Rugged Edge AI System, a MIL-SPEC certified, small form factor compute platform purpose-built for mission-critical aerospace and defense autonomous deployments. For defense prime contractors and system integrators, the Sentry-X2 Mini reduces bring-up time, eliminates costly custom ruggedization, and accelerates time-to-functional-deployment on programs where schedule and reliability are mission-critical. 

Designed for autonomous UAS payloads, ISR edge processing, autonomous ground vehicles, and airborne systems, the Sentry-X2 Mini addresses a critical gap in defense program development: the need for COTS AI compute that arrives fully qualified, integration-ready, and capable of withstanding the harsh realities of operational military environments. 

The Sentry-X2 Mini is tested and qualified to MIL-STD-810H for shock, vibration, temperature, and humidity, DO-160H for airborne equipment, and MIL-STD-461G for electromagnetic interference and compatibility. Powered by the NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ NX 16GB and tested to the most demanding military environmental and EMC standards, the Sentry-X2 Mini brings production-grade AI processing to the tactical Edge with the rugged qualification required for demanding operating environments. IP67+ rated D38999 connectors provide robust data integrity in the most demanding field conditions. Combined with TPM 2.0 hardware security, the Sentry-X2 Mini delivers a system uncrewed and aerospace engineers can trust from deployment day one. 

“The Sentry-X2 Mini was built for demanding aerospace, unmanned, and mission-critical applications where size, reliability, and qualification matter,” explains Rob Callaghan, P.Eng., Chief Product Officer, Connect Tech. “With NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX at its core and MIL-STD qualification built in, it gives integrators a compact rugged AI platform that helps accelerate system development and bring proven edge AI capability into space-constrained environments.” 

Delivering 157 TOPS of AI performance, the Sentry-X2 Mini is equipped with a 1024-core NVIDIA Ampere™ architecture GPU with 32 Tensor Cores and an 8-core Arm® Cortex®-A78AE CPU, enabling real-time AI inference, sensor fusion, and autonomous decision-making at the point of need. With 16GB 128-bit LPDDR5 memory at 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, the system sustains demanding AI workloads even in bandwidth-constrained, disconnected environments where cloud reliance is not an option. 

The system’s flexible I/O architecture supports a broad range of mission payloads and vehicle platforms, with Dual Ethernet connectivity (2.5GbE and 1GbE), 2x USB 3.2 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 output, 2x UART (RS232/422/485 configurable), 1x CAN 2.0b, 5x GPIO, 1x I2C, and 1x SPI. Up to 4TB PCIe storage and optional Wi-Fi/BT expansion provide the data capacity and connectivity flexibility required across ISR and autonomous platform types. 

The Sentry-X2 Mini ships pre-configured with a validated JetPack™ Board Support Package (BSP), purpose-built for this platform by Connect Tech’s team of Jetson experts. This allows defense programs to focus on application development rather than hardware bring-up, further accelerating time-to-deployment. Backed by Connect Tech’s standing as an NVIDIA Elite Partner and more than a decade of hands-on Jetson platform experience, the Sentry-X2 Mini is supported by long-term documentation, reliability validation, and industry-leading customer support. 

 

Key Features: 

  • 157 TOPS AI performance powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB 
  • MIL-STD-810H, DO-160H, MIL-STD-461G certified IP67+ D38999 connector for data integrity in harsh field environments
  • TPM 2.0 hardware security
  • Dual Ethernet: 1x 2.5GbE, 1x 1GbE 
  • Up to 4TB PCIe storage  
  • Flexible I/O: 2x UART, 1x CAN 2.0b, 5x GPIO, 1x I2C, 1x SPI 
  • 2x USB 3.2 ,1x DisplayPort 1.4 
  • Optional Wi-Fi expansion 
  • Operating temperature: -20°C to +70°C (-4°F to +158°F) 
  • Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) 

 

Benefits: 

  • Eliminates the cost and the schedule burden of custom ruggedization by delivering full MIL-SPEC qualification out-of-the-box. 
  • Accelerates time-to-functional-deployment for defense prime contractors and system integrators. 
  • Enables real-time AI inference, sensor fusion, and autonomous decision support at the tactical Edge without cloud dependency. 
  • Broad I/O and connectivity options ensure compatibility across uncrewed platforms, ISR systems, and airborne payloads. 
  • Pre-validated BSP and Connect Tech’s decade of Jetson expertise reduce hardware bring-up time and program risk. 

 

Example Applications: 

  • Autonomous UAS Payloads: Delivers onboard AI inference for real-time perception, target recognition, and autonomous navigation on uncrewed aerial systems. 
  • ISR Edge Processing: Processes multi-sensor intelligence data at the point of collection, enabling faster, more accurate situational awareness without reliance on backend infrastructure. 
  • Autonomous Ground Vehicles: Supports real-time decision-making, obstacle detection, and path planning for unmanned ground platforms operating in contested or GPS-denied environments. 
  • Airborne Payload Integration: Provides MIL-certified AI compute for airborne sensor fusion, mission management, and real-time data on manned and unmanned platforms. 
  • Soldier-Carried and Dismounted Systems: The compact form factor and low SWaP profile enable AI-assisted targeting, navigation, and communications support for dismounted applications. 

 

Contact our Sales team at [email protected] for lead times and pricing. 

Visit Connect Tech at XPONENTIAL 2026, May 11–14, 2026, at Booth 30027 to learn more about the Sentry-X2 Mini and Connect Tech’s full portfolio of rugged Edge AI platforms for aerospace and defense. Find us at connecttech.com. 

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About Connect Tech
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Guelph, Canada, Connect Tech Inc. (CTI) is a global leader in rugged edge AI computing platforms engineered for robotics, autonomous systems, and mission-critical applications. For over 40 years, CTI has designed and manufactured in-house, delivering reliable edge AI architectures that unify compute, vision, networking, and thermal technologies to accelerate customers’ time to market in demanding real-world environments. Through its CTai LABS AI Engineering team, CTI transforms its EdgeAI Stack into deployable, production-ready physical AI solutions at scale.  For more information, visit connecttech.com.