Jetson Thor Operation at 25,000ft

Robotics & Edge Computing Jetson Systems Jetson Thor
1

I am planning to use the Jetson Thor in an aviation application with a maximum operating altitude of 25,000 ft.

According to the datasheet, the Jetson Thor module is specified for operation up to 16,000 ft and for non-operational up to 40,000 ft.

I assume that the operational altitude limit is primarily driven by reduced thermal performance at lower air density. Is that correct?

If the thermal design can ensure that the TTP temperature remains well within the specified operating limits at 25,000 ft, are there any other factors that should be considered in the system design? For example, are there concerns related to electronics, power delivery, insulation/clearance, or component reliability that become relevant above the specified operational altitude?

Thanks, AB

4

Yes that is correct.

Other considerations:

  • Insulation and Clearance: Lower air pressure reduces the air’s insulating properties (Paschen’s Law). This increases the risk of electrical arcing or short circuits between pins and components, which may require increased clearance or conformal coating. For typical Jetson Thor voltages (≤12V on most rails), the risk is low in practice — this becomes a more significant concern at higher voltages.
  • Component Reliability: Components that contain liquids, gels, or gases (such as certain electrolytic capacitors or sealed relays) can expand, leak, or burst under low external pressure. Modern PCB-mounted components (MLCCs, polymer caps) are largely unaffected — the main concern is legacy electrolytic capacitors, so check your BOM accordingly.
  • Cosmic Radiation: At higher altitudes like 25,000 ft, increased exposure to cosmic radiation can lead to a higher Soft Error Rate (SER), causing bit-flips in memory and electronics. Jetson Thor T5000 memory has Alt-link ECC to help mitigate this. Note that T4000 does not have Alt-link ECC.