Army Wants Gaming Tech to Monitor Helicopter Operator Gestures

Site: Army.mil

The Defense Department wants to use gaming technologies in order to monitor helicopter operators’ movements and gestures, NextGov reports. 

In a solicitation document, the Army indicated it hopes to build a low-cost intelligent system for pilots to direct helicopters with.

NextGov reported that the official solicitation will be publicly available May 24.

The Army Small Business Innovation Research program will administer the contract and accept proposals through June 27.

Pilots would able able to direct the aircraft with head movements, allowing crew members to track objects the pilot is looking at. 

Boeing has developed similar technology that would allow pilots to trigger weapons with a helmet tracker by pointing their head at a target, the report said.

Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, which senses gamers’ motions, was highlighted in the Army’s request as an example of how it wants the technology to work. 

The Army is seeking partners to develop gesture recognition capabilities and determine the cost of adding head tracking equipment to conventional helicopters.

Operators could also use the system to monitor pilot fatigue, the report said.

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