According to an article recently posted via TUjobs.com, the Norwegian Armed Forces is using the augmented reality headset, Oculus Rift, as part of a new system for its armoured tanks.
TUjobs states that with cameras positioned on both sides of the tank, tank operators have a 360 degree view from the driver‘s seat using the Oculus Rift headset, even with the hatches battened down.
The operator of the Oculus Rift headset can look 360 degrees around the tank just by moving their head. By lowering his/her gaze he/she can look straight down to the belts of the tank, allowing the driver to “parallel park” with precision of up to a centimetre, without the assistance of the vehicle commander.
The Oculus Rift system, titled Battlefield Management System, allows the driver to navigate more independently according to the Commander‘s instructions, instead of having to get more detailed driving instructions and operate with large blind spots.
Thus, the driver can increasingly drive autonomously, whilst the vehicle commander can focus more on the conflict situation.
TU (Teknisk Ukeblad) was allowed early access to try out a prototype of the headset and the specially developed camera system.
Major Ola Petter Odden at Combat Lab explains to TUjobs, “This is a very promising concept. We see that the glasses don‘t yet have the necessary screen resolution to see well at a distance, and they may cause some dizziness for the driver. But this, we believe, will be improved quickly.“
The project is a collobaration between MakingView, based in Hamar, Norway, and the Norwegian Army‘s Combat Lab.
