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The United States Army has taken delivery of the first 20 prototypes of a mixed reality heads-up display, all-weather fighting goggles from Microsoft.
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The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) 1.2 variant prototypes integrate situational awareness tools and high-resolution simulations to provide soldiers with improved mobility and lethality, according to a statement published by the Army on 7 August.
The goggles provides enhanced low-light and thermal sensors improve target identification; integrates with ground and air platform sensors, 3D mapping and navigation capabilities, UAV integration; and allows soldiers to see outside vehicles before dismounting.
The Project Manager Soldier Warrior office is responsible for overseeing development of the IVAS for fighting, rehearsal, and training.
PM SWAR Colonel Anthony Gibbs said troops are able to provide additional feedback to further shape the program.
“This is a really big deal for the program. A little over a year ago we did an operational test with version 1.0 of the system. We learned a lot … we got a lot of good soldier feedback,” he said.
“So last summer we came back and restructured the program. We took those lessons learned and all that soldier feedback and in less than a year have what we now call version 1.2 of the system.
“Anybody who has had IVAS on, even the early versions, knows that this is a transformative capability and really has the potential to change the way that we fight.
“This new version, 1.2, we think it’s really going to hit the mark in terms of what we need to put out there for our soldiers to give them the situational awareness and the leap-ahead capability they need to stay ahead of our peers.”
Upgrades incorporated from previous versions include reliability upgrades, an improved low-light sensor and a new form factor, lower profile distributed counterweight heads-up display with improved user interface and comfort. The newest version can be attached hinge-style to a combat helmet similar to traditional night vision goggles.
The goggles also runs an embedded training tool called the Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer, which provides objective-based scenarios and battle drills through holographic and mixed-reality imager.
IVAS product manager Lieutenant Colonel Denny Dresch said the 20 prototypes will be featured at a user assessment in August to measure system performance.
“[IVAS] complements what’s currently in the Army’s inventory while expanding close combat force capabilities by leveraging the digital architecture for shared awareness and computing at the edge,” he said.
“IVAS provides a first-person augmented reality perspective that enables the integrating of operational data such as routes and control measures into the person’s field of view.”
