OVERVIEW

Nightrider is a compact mobile computing system designed for
field use.

Primary considerations are:

  > PORTABILITY
  > CONNECTIVITY
  > PHYSICAL I/O
  > RADIO / ANTENNA SUPPORT
  > LOW POWER REQUIREMENTS
  > LOCAL NETWORK ACCESS
  > DURABILITY
  > CONCEALABILITY

It should be small enough to disappear into a bag.

It should be useful enough to justify bringing it.

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DESIGN PRIORITIES

  [01] SMALL FORM FACTOR.

  [02] REAL PORTS ARE BETTER THAN DONGLES.

  [03] EXTERNAL ANTENNA OPTIONS ARE GOOD.

  [04] BATTERY LIFE MATTERS.

  [05] OFFLINE OPERATION SHOULD REMAIN USEFUL.

  [06] FIELD REPAIR SHOULD BE POSSIBLE.

  [07] THE MACHINE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A CLOUD ACCOUNT TO BOOT.

  [08] BOOTING SHOULD LOOK RIDICULOUSLY COOL.

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root@snakepit:~/projects# cat nightrider/architecture.txt

             +----------------------+
             |      NIGHTRIDER      |
             |     MOBILE NODE      |
             +----------+-----------+
                        |
        +---------------+---------------+
        |               |               |
        v               v               v

   [ COMPUTE ]      [ NETWORK ]      [ RADIO ]

      LOCAL OS        ETHERNET         SDR
      STORAGE         WIFI             ANTENNA
      TOOLS           LOCAL LAN        TELEMETRY
      TERMINAL        UPLINK

                        |
                        v

                  [ FIELD USER ]

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INTENDED CAPABILITIES

  [DEV]  LOCAL TERMINAL
  [DEV]  NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS
  [DEV]  HARDWIRED ETHERNET
  [DEV]  WIRELESS NETWORKING
  [DEV]  EXTERNAL ANTENNA SUPPORT
  [DEV]  SDR SUPPORT
  [DEV]  LOCAL DOCUMENTATION
  [DEV]  SECURE STORAGE
  [DEV]  SNAKEPIT LAN ACCESS
  [DEV]  FIELD POWER SUPPORT

---------------------------------------------------------------

root@snakepit:~/projects# ./nightrider --boot

INITIALIZING MOBILE NODE...

CPU ................. OK
MEMORY .............. OK
STORAGE ............. OK
NETWORK ............. STANDBY
RADIO ............... STANDBY
UPLINK .............. OPTIONAL

LOADING INTERFACE...

            NIGHTRIDER@SNAKEPIT

       <=========================>

SYSTEM READY.

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BOOT INTERFACE

The normal wall of startup text may eventually be replaced
with a dedicated boot display.

Planned elements:

  > NIGHTRIDER@SNAKEPIT
  > SCROLLING RED STATUS BAR
  > MINIMAL SYSTEM STATUS
  > PERIOD-CORRECT AUDIO
  > TERMINAL HANDOFF

Is any of this necessary?

No.

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root@snakepit:~/projects# ./nightrider --disable-theatrics

ERROR:

OPTION NOT COMPILED.

root@snakepit:~/projects# ./nightrider --reason

BECAUSE WE CAN.

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FIELD DOCTRINE

Carry what is useful.

Know what it does.

Know how to fix it.

Know how to operate without the network.

Don't add equipment merely because there is room in the bag.

Eventually there will no longer be room in the bag.

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[ RETURN TO PROJECTS ]
[ RETURN TO ROOT ]

root@snakepit:~/projects#