Introduction to Tactical Augmented Reality
A novel technology called "Tactical Augmented Reality," or TAR, is now helping Soldiers precisely locate their positions, in addition to the locations of friends and foes. This technology enables a tiny, heads-up display attached to the helmet, which provides a wide selection of advantages to the Soldier. Richard Nabors, an associate for strategic planning at U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, spoke about TAR on the Pentagon’s Lab Day.
How TAR Works
TAR replaces the necessity for night-vision goggles (NVG) and GPS devices, because it provides a heads-up display that enables Soldiers to see in the dead of night and provides them precise location information. Currently, most Soldiers use a hand-held GPS system that approximates their position, but provided that their device is geo-registered to their location. TAR does the geo-registration routinely, making it a more efficient and effective tool.
Benefits of TAR
Staff Sgt. Ronald Geer, a counterterrorism non-commissioned officer at CERDEC’s Night Vision and Electronics Sensors Directorate, explained that with TAR, Soldiers haven’t got to look down at their GPS device. The image is within the eyepiece, which is mounted to the Soldier’s helmet in the identical way NVG is mounted. This allows Soldiers to see the terrain in front of them, overlaid with a map, making it easier to navigate and locate targets. TAR can be designed for use each day and night, and the eyepiece is connected wirelessly to a tablet the Soldiers wear on their waist.
Advanced Features of TAR
The eyepiece can be wirelessly connected to a thermal site mounted on the Soldier’s rifle or carbine. If a Soldier is pointing their weapon, the image of the goal, plus other details like the space to focus on, will be seen through the eyepiece. The eyepiece even has a split screen, so for instance, if the rifle is pointed rearward and the Soldier is looking forward, the image shows each views. This allows Soldiers to remain protected while still having the ability to engage targets.
Sharing Information with TAR
The wireless system of TAR allows a Soldier to share their images with other members of the squad. The tablet allows Soldiers to input information they need or to share their very own information with others of their squad. This enhances situational awareness and allows for more practical communication and coordination.
The Technology Behind TAR
David Fellowes, an electronics engineer at CERDEC, explained that the important thing technological breakthrough was miniaturizing the image to suit into the tiny one-inch-by-one-inch eyepiece. Current business technology compresses images into sizes sufficiently small to suit into tablet and cell phone-sized windows, but getting a high-definition image into the very tiny eyepiece was a challenge that might not be met with business, off-the-shelf hardware.
Development and Testing of TAR
Since about 2008, CERDEC, the Army Research Laboratory, and industry have been working to make this miniaturization occur. By about 2010, the image was compressed enough to be shown in black and white, in addition to a greenish monochrome version. Those systems have already been fielded to certain units. Currently, CERDEC is working on producing more advanced versions which can be in full color and have a brightness display that may even be seen in daylight.
Conclusion
TAR is a game-changing technology that gives Soldiers with a much higher level of situational awareness than they currently have. It is anticipated to save lots of lives and contribute to mission success. With its advanced features and capabilities, TAR is a necessary tool for contemporary warfare. As the technology continues to evolve and improve, it’s going to likely change into an indispensable a part of a Soldier’s equipment, enhancing their ability to navigate, communicate, and interact targets in a wide selection of environments.
