Integrated Visual Augmentation System

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IVAS Capability Set 4 during testing at Ft. Greeley, Alaska

The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is a United States Army program to provide infantry with a mixed reality headset,[1] which provides a wide variety of capabilities to soldiers including, but not limited to, digital wide-angle multi-spectral image fusion of solid-state low-light, thermal, and daylight sensing, object outlining emphasis, 3D map and waypoint overlays, a picture-in-picture display of weapons sights, and a Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer that allows them to train against virtual enemies overlaid upon their real-world field of vision. [2] [3]

History[]

The concept for IVAS has its origins in the (NAVS) from the early 2000s. Formerly deployed to Stryker (a family of 8-wheeled, armored, infantry carrier vehicle) brigades, NAVS were monoscopic, monochromatic, and lacked much of the sensor, processing, and data-linking capabilities of IVAS.[4][5]

2020[]

As of October 2020 the IVAS system was on its third iteration. Previous tests used commercial Microsoft HoloLens 2 headsets which were not resistant to inclement weather. A ruggedized version of the system was tested in late October 2020 at Fort Pickett by some Marines and members of the 82nd Airborne. The test was to get soldier feedback and refine the system for eventual battlefield use.[1]

In December 2020, United States Congress decided to cut $230 million of the $1.1 billion request for Army's IVAS goggles.[6]

2021[]

After nearly 2 years in development, the final IVAS Capability Set 4 system was scheduled to be fielded in 2021. Over 40,000 sets were planned to be issued.[1]

On March 26, 2021, Microsoft was awarded a "fixed price production agreement" by the United States Army to manufacture and supply IVAS headsets.[7] Microsoft will produce headsets for at least 120,000 members of the .[8] The contract is worth up to US$21.88 billion dollars.[9]

Also in March 2021, the U.S. Army announced IVAS was testing with mounted soldiers, such as on Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Stryker teams.[10] By June 2021, the US Army announced it was expanding IVAS tests to include aircrews for helicopters and drones.[11] In comparison to the $400,000 purely-slaved and aircraft-dependent F-35 helmet that must be custom-built for each pilot,[12] IVAS attaches to any helmet, is estimated to cost $29,205 per unit, and can optionally work independent of the aircraft when the crew dismounts.[13]

In September 2021 an "Adversarial Electronic Warfare and Cybersecurity Test" of IVAS was conducted.[14]

In mid-October 2021 IVAS "Operational Test and fielding" was moved to 2022. David Patterson, PEO Soldier Director of Public Affairs, said: "The Army intends to continue developing and fielding this revolutionary, first-of-its-kind technology in FY22,"[14]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Keller, Jared (November 3, 2020). "The Army's next-generation headset is almost ready for prime time". Task & Purpose. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "IVAS Production Contract Award". army.mil. PEO SOLDIER PM IVAS. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "December 1st 2021 TAK Offsite IVAS Program Update". Tak.gov. TAK. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nomad - Microvision's Nomad - The How and the Why" (PDF). National Taiwan University - Department of Physics. SID NW Chapter Meeting Microvision Presentation. June 11, 2003. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "U.S. Army to Deploy Microvision's Nomad Augmented Vision System". Defense-Aerospace.com. Microvision Inc. June 11, 2003. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  6. ^ South, Todd (December 9, 2020). "Congress cuts some funding for Army's cutting edge, do-it-all goggle". Army Times. Sightline Media. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Patterson, David (March 31, 2021). "IVAS Production Contract Award". www.peosoldier.army.mil. Program Executive Office Soldier. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  8. ^ O'Brien, Matt (March 31, 2021). "Microsoft wins $22 billion deal making headsets for US Army". The Seattle Times. The Associated Press. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Freedberg, Sydney J., (Jr.) (March 31, 2021). "IVAS: Microsoft Award By Army Worth Up To $21.9B". Breaking Defense. Breaking Media, Inc. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Army's New Goggles Let Soldiers See Right Through Walls". PopularMechanics.com. Hearst Digital Media. March 8, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "US Army Integrates IVAS Headsets For Aircraft Crews". XRToday.com. Today Digital Ltd. June 30, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "F-35 helmet costs $400,000 — 4 times that of predecessor". AirForceTimes.com. Air Force Times. October 26, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  13. ^ "Pentagon budget 2022: US Army plans to spend USD29,205 per IVAS unit". Janes.com. Janes Defense Weekly. June 1, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Foley, Mary Jo (October 15, 2021). "U.S. Army postpones its $22 billion Microsoft augmented-reality headset deliverables to late 2022". ZDNet. Red Ventures. Retrieved October 31, 2021.

External links[]

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