Cloud computing concept. (Getty)

WASHINGTON — Google announced today a new version of its Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance that, it says, brings the company’s cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities to “tactical edge environments.”

The tech giant is pitching the updated tech for a number of civilian uses, including long-distance transportation and disaster recovery, but also said it can operate in a Defense Department Impact Level 5 environment — the most secure environment for controlled unclassified information — and already has a customer in the Air Force.

The ruggedized, portable device, which Google says is remotely accessible, allows for real-time data processes for several uses of AI, like analyzing medical imaging, object detection and predicting what kind of maintenance critical infrastructure may need, according to a Google press release. The device will also allow for translation and optical character recognition which users can use to scan and translate documents in other languages. 

Inside the Pentagon, the air-gapped appliance will be used by the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) “to bring the maintenance digital ecosystem to Airmen in austere and forward deployed locations, supporting the Air Force’s agile objectives while prioritizing security and reliability,” Michael Roquemore, Director of the RSO’s Rapid, Agile, Integrated Capabilities Team, said in the press release.

Google says the device, which weights about 100 pounds, is built to withstand extreme weather, shock and vibration. It has a “rugged and portable design” which meets MIL-STD-810H requirements — a military standard that tests equipment’s resistance to environmental conditions — per the press release. 

“In harsh, disconnected, or mobile environments like disaster zones, remote research stations, or long-haul trucking operations, organizations face significant challenges in providing computing capabilities. Previously, organizations with mission-critical workloads lacked access to important cloud and AI capabilities when in demanding edge environments, including those that present unique challenges and requirements,” the press release said. Furthermore, the appliance can work without connectivity to Google Cloud or public internet.

According to Google, the device also comes with a number of security features like encryption, firewalls, data isolation and “secure boot to protect sensitive information.” 

Google is also pitching the device as potentially helpful for the navigation of autonomous vehicles, a capability that could well attract attention from the military as it explores unmanned ground capabilities.

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More broadly, the Pentagon has shown increasing interest in the ability to do complex data operations at the tactical edge, as more and more data-intensive sensors collect information for analysis, creating significant burdens on networks meant to transmit that data for analysis and action — a key mandate for the Pentagon’s sprawling Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control initiative. It’s also an area where analysts say the West may have an advantage over America’s largest strategic competitor, China.