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Why it's important: Last November, Microsoft announced that they would provide 100,000 augmented reality HoloLens helmets to the military, raising thorny questions about the role of technology on the battlefield. CNBC's Todd Haselton was able to use the HoloLens in simulated fights and talk to the soldiers who tested the first beta prototypes, which provided them with surprising information.
Currently, HoloLens used by the military are nothing like the HoloLens 2 that Microsoft announced in Barcelona last February. This device was intended to help professionals such as architects or engineers to see their projects more efficiently. The "Integrated Visual Augmentation System", or IVAS, is a highly modified HoloLens 2, specially designed for the military and incorporating a wide range of sensors and features that the HoloLens 2 does not have, with the specific purpose of " increasing lethality ".
During combat, the main function of the IVAS is to manage coordination and communication between soldiers, in much the same way as a video game. In the absence of a better word, CNBC was able to discover a real-time "mini-map" projected on the ground indicating the location and direction of its teammates. It could also be used to highlight the real-time location of enemies or targets or to trace escape routes.
"It was almost like a real game of Call of Duty."
To provide data when a soldier is unable to check the map, a compass ring displays at the top of the soldier's vision. It provides information such as the orientation of the soldier, as well as the direction and distance that separates him from his teammates. Although the IVAS can be very powerful in these situations, it is really effective to avoid the disadvantages of giving the benefit to one side.
Suppose, for example, one raid per night: The IVAS, equipped with a thermal imaging sensor developed by Flir, is far more powerful than conventional night vision goggles. While regular glasses glow in the dark, IVAS is harder to spot. Regular night vision goggles can give false readings for vehicle engines or animals. IVAS recognizes the shape of a person and highlights it in bright white to make it stand out more. The list of benefits is long.
"With today's night vision, smoke can blur what you see. With thermal, you can see through the smoke and engage and destroy a threat. It's a game changer on the battlefield, "said Ryan McCarthy, Undersecretary of the Army. He thinks it's a powerful deterrent against night attacks because IVAS is an extremely powerful tool.
However, the Ivas is not ready to be used on the battlefield, it is too buggy, sometimes crashes and can not fit under a helmet. So, for now, the army is focusing on its use for training. Some functions, such as those described above, can be activated during a simulated combat, but it is more useful once the smoke is released. After a battle, soldiers can view anything from their heart rate to measurements such as accuracy, speed and timing, and experts can evaluate battlefield decisions while viewing first-person images.
"This system is the top level training and the future of the Marines," said a soldier, very happy to use this device.
Of course, this is where the moral debate comes in: the IVA can potentially make soldiers much more dangerous on the battlefield, but is it going too far? In February, more than 100 Microsoft employees signed a letter requesting the cancellation of the IVAS contract, and they received significant support from the public. Microsoft said they were willing to transfer their employees to other projects, but that they would respect the contract.
McCarthy responded, "I understand their concerns, but it's the same men and women who are protecting their freedoms in order to develop this technology … We have the responsibility to communicate with these companies, but we need the best of American business. We want their help and we need their help. He argues that the IVAS system aims to save the lives of American soldiers and protect the public, not kill.
Anyway, even after the end of Microsoft's two-year contract, the IVA might not be ready for combat. While an optimistic commander thinks that the number of big sunglasses will be reduced in six months, others predict that it could take years. The instability of the device, which sometimes requires a restart during a simulated battle, is probably even more urgent.
All images via CNBC.
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