Troop protection system blends UAVs and AR
Israeli and US partners have launched an operational pilot programme for force protection that employs small UAVs and soldier-borne AR technology.
‘The programme has produced a [Skylord soldier-controlled] drone system with a remote immersive interface that protects troops from various inbound aerial threats – particularly drones,’ the Israeli MoD noted on 8 September
Using an AR device and single-handed controller, a soldier uses the Skylord system to control a UAV and perform complex tasks remotely. The user interface enables the operator to immersively step into a remote reality and engage targets effectively yet safely.
Capabilities of the system have already been demonstrated by the IDF to defeat balloon-borne IEDs launched from the Gaza Strip.
The programme involves Israeli company Xtend and the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) in the DoD. The two partners also worked with the Directorate of Defense Research & Development in the Israeli MoD on an R&D project.
The Israeli MoD described the programme as a first step towards widespread deployment of smart systems to US military forces, enabling them to perform complex tasks in the modern battlefield.
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