Augmented reality (AR) systems could revolutionise complex emergency response and military battlefield operations in the near future.
Images credit BAE Systems
British engineers from BAE Systems are working in collaboration with academics at the University of Birmingham, to develop applications and a small as a contact lens device, that will drastically improving the situational awareness, decision-making and asset management of operators.
This ground-breaking system, intelligently ‘mixes’ together the real and virtual world, allowing operators to take real-time control of their environments like never before.
This revolutionary concept called ‘mixed reality’ allows the operator to see themselves and their surroundings along with virtual images, video feeds, objects and avatars, seamlessly bringing together the critical battlefield elements in a single place.
The technology is brought to life by an ‘Oculus Rift’ style headset allowing military commanders to direct military operations, such as troops and Unmanned Air Vehicles, across a virtual representation of the landscape for real situations or simply as part of a training solution. The technology is being developed at such a pace that the current demonstrator headsets could be replaced with something as small and light as a pair of spectacles within a decade and a contact lens within 20.
Nick Colosimo, Futurist at BAE Systems, said:
“We’re already seeing virtual and augmented reality becoming more commonplace in consumer products, and the possibilities it offers the armed forces are hugely exciting. Our unique approach will identify the optimal balance between the real world and the virtual – enhancing the user’s situational awareness to provide battle-winning and life-saving tools and insights wherever they may be.
Through collaborating with the University of Birmingham, we are able to bring together some of the best minds available in this subject area to develop these concepts and evolve the technology itself.”
source BAE Systems
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