Can Anduril’s EagleEye become the new face of warfare?

Anduril, founded by Palmer Luckey, the inventor of Oculus, has been recently showcasing a concept of its EagleEye system, which will be a heads-up display integrated on a helmet that promises to dramatically enhance the capabilities of the modern soldier.

[The EagleEye] reimagines the battlefield interface giving soldiers superhero-like abilities,” the company wrote in a press release.

Many of the system’s planned capabilities are being held close to the chest, but what has been made public makes the EagleEye seem like something straight out of a science fiction movie if accomplished.

The system will be centered around a helmet that integrates with a set of glasses and a series of cameras. It will be powered by an AI platform called “Lattice” which is designed to receive data from several sources – including drones, sensors, and other troops – and feed them to the user on the ground.

The EagleEye system will use a variety of sensors, including cameras, to provide 360 degrees of situational awareness to the user. This will allow them to track friendly assets, recognize potential threats, and so much more. To avoid overloading the soldier, the AI will be capable of analyzing the images and providing overlays, feeding only what’s necessary to the soldier.

The EagleEye system can also expand a soldier’s line of sight. This could allow a squad of soldiers to avoid and plan ambushes and have more time to make decisions – time is decisional currency, and more is better than less.

In September, the Army awarded Anduril a $159 million contract to prototype EagleEye for the branch’s Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) program, a successor to its Integrated Visual Augmentation System program.

Through the EagleEye

The EagleEye’s integrated sensors will allow soldiers to swap to a dedicated night vision mode with a digital overlay to easily spot threats while navigating the world in great detail, Anduril says.

The HUD integrates a mini-map for navigation and small view windows that display pertinent information.

A literal rearview mirror display allows them to see behind them. When integrated with weapon-mounted accessories, soldiers can mark a target for friendly forces to recognize through their HUD systems without saying a word.

The AI can detect and seemingly automatically mark objects and people, and determine friend from foe. Soldiers can track friendly soldiers as they move behind objects that would normally block vision.

Further, the system can detect radio and phone signals and can even provide soldiers with the location of gunfire. Being able to see the enemy beyond muzzle flashes has always been a fighting man’s dream. I imagine a lot of ambushes in Afghanistan would have gone a lot differently with this technology.

The system is designed to be modular and configurable for a multitude of uses. Soldiers will be able direct drones, loitering munitions, and other unmanned elements on the battlefield, Anduril says.

The EagleEye can also integrate into command and control (C2). Commanders can use it for mission planning with a 3D sand table, and can brief soldiers in augmented reality, coordinate movements, and rehearse missions.

Command elements will be able to see what soldiers can see through the headset. They can even biometrically monitor their soldiers to provide mission readiness insight.

The helmet is ballistic and designed to meet military standards for protection. It integrates ear protection as well as enhanced hearing capabilities and integration into radio systems.

Related: What happens when military technology outpaces infantry tactics?

Will it work?

The technology is still in its prototype stages, so there remains to be seen whether its intended capabilities will translate into practical reality.

Further, integrating modern technology with the military has always been difficult. Soldiers live a rough-and-tumble life, and a lot of tech simply can’t keep up. EagleEye will need to be able to take an absolute beating to be useful.

Additionally, the system’s planned weight has not been disclosed. The type of battery that will power it and its duration also remain unknown, as a result we cannot tell if the battery will be a hazard to the user and others in the event of an explosion.

However, we will be looking out for EagleEye develops and how the military integrates similar systems into the modern soldier’s kit. Eventually, we’ll get the power armor from Starship Troopers, but that might not be in my lifetime.

Feature Image: EagleEye concept. (Anduril)

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