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The US military has unveiled its integrated visual augmentation system, IVAS, which is a modified version of the Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset.
Last November, Microsoft received a $ 480 million contract to equip its soldiers with HoloLens technology. According to the army, this would increase lethality by increasing the detection, decision and combat capability before the enemy. It was also suggested that the military would probably use HoloLens 2 as a training tool.
A few months later, the military gave CNBC an exclusive preview of a first version of the IVAS. The AR helmet looks very much like its commercial version, with the exception of the FLIR thermal camera mounted above the wearer's forehead.
Augmented reality headsets place digital elements above the real world, compared to virtual reality headsets that immerse the wearers in an alternate universe. When Todd Haselton of CNBC installed the IVA, he saw on the ground a map showing his location, along with that of the other members of the squad also wearing headphones and a compbad for research. As he was moving, he saw various waypoints indicating the location of known teammates or enemy positions.
Haselton compared the experience of knowing where he, his teammates and their enemies were on a map to "a real game of Call of Duty. "In addition, the IVAS has also provided thermal images showing where people are by making them shine brightly even at night, through bushes and smoke. The helmet also indicates the reticle, or the purpose of the soldier's weapon, through the visor.
The current version of the IVAS is too big for the helmets, but the army is trying to reduce it, according to the report. An army chief said that he expects the system to take the size of sunglbades by six months. Undersecretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy, said that thousands and thousands of soldiers should use IVAT on the ground by 2022 and 2023.
"As soon as the technology is consolidated and ready for the fighter, we will be ready to deploy it," said Sergeant Commandant Michael Crosby, adding that a broader deployment could take place here. 2028.
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