Other Electronics
GPS- A standard
GPS is added to fit on the utility belt or in a pocket of the suit. The GPS has a rail attachment, so that it may be added to the gun and removed with relative ease. The GPS can send out both a broadcasting signal, or a small screen can be presented to present the position of the unit. Essentially, the GPS provides a map and a locations device, allowing the user to see the layout of the area through the screen. In addition to this, the gps may be hooked up with the land warrior system or to a scope.
Radio- The armor comes equipped with a standard
AN-PRC-148, a Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR), which is the most widely fielded handheld multiband, tactical software-defined radio, in use with NATO forces around the world. The radio is hooked up to the headphones and standard speaker of the armor, and can connect with the land warrior software present.
Scope- The scope is a red dot, reticle, x 4 standard magnification scope that can alter it's view point and send information to a camera rely wirelessly or with a wire. It works by presenting a high grade night vision/thermal vision option camera, that simply records the information and presents information much like a scope would. The difference between this scope and regular military grade camera scopes, is the fact that the camera constantly corrects itself on a singular grade of vision. In essence, the camera is always facing the same way regardless of how you turn or twist the gun. The scope slides on the rail system just like any other scope would. In addition to this, the scope transmits information to a viewing system and can be programmed to present GPS coordinates as well as the number of rounds left by a round counter, if the round counter and GPS are connected to the scope. The Scope also, as previously mentioned, has the ability to see things through night vision and thermal vision. The scope also has a small, laser guided auto-range finder, which allows itself to view any range and report that through the scope. The range finder can be turned on or off, and with a button can be displayed in yards or meters. The rangefinder can work up to a distance of 5 miles.
Round Counter- The round counter is a device that is essentially designed to count the amount of rounds fired by the user, and document and log specific information about the rounds fired, including time, firing patterns, and amount. The device is based off of the
Black Box, and can either be placed inside of the pistol grip of the weapon, or placed on some form of carrying device. The round counter is connected to the Land Warrior system, and allows for the user to see the amounts of round fired and remaining in their magazine, and if programmed correctly, their entire pack.
While this can be displayed on the helmet, it is also possible to display on the weapon, with an LCD device.
Land Warrior- The
Land Warrior system allows makes many different applications for the user. The soldier now has access to all or most of the basic command and radio communications (assuming someone on their channel is hooked up to a primary radio system, which is of course transferred to a minor radio system). The user can either access various verbal radio channels or text based radio channels, in order to minimize their input of verbal sounds and prevent "Helmet Fire". This is hooked up to the
EPLRS system, and allows near real time information on secure, jam free channels for quick available tactical data. It also has a GPS based
IDFF "Identification friend or foe" system, that allows user to see relative distances between individuals with the GPS system on a motion tracker like grid, and as well as see their teammates relative positions on a map in a zoomable and outzoomable positions, with an appearance similar to google maps. This information can be relayed to various other units, such as mobile vehicles and aircraft, as well as command centers, to give a ,more accurate layout to commanders and support units, to prevent fire from assisted attacks other than infantry as well.
The system's main computer is the Arm
XScale. All the information is hooked up the Liquid crystal display in the facemask, allowing for an uplink of the round counter, scope, text based radio chatter, notice on active radio channels, view of the volume of the radio, time (date, time of day, etc.), and GPS based map with the position of friendly units (with the GPS motion tracking devices active on their person or vehicle) and geographic area of the terrain. This can all be controlled by the neural computer interface, providing hands off control of all the system's computer capabilities. The device also possess the ability for customization, allowing the user view of all of the applications at varying degrees of transparency, and at any position on the HUD. The device also can be completely turned off, providing complete and clear view through the facemask.
Neural Interface- The system is essentially a non-invasive neural uplink to the land warrior system and is based off of the
EPOC nueroheadset. The device uses 14 saline sensors for optimal positioning for accurate spatial resolution, while the integrated gyroscope generates optimal positional information for cursor and camera controls. The high performance wireless up-link gives users a total range of motion, although it can be hooked up through the use of wires. The device is USB compatible and requires no custom drivers.
The device allows for simple cursor moving as well as basic key commands. In addition, the device comes with automated programmable key commands, allowing easily customizable "quick commands" that the user can exploit for a much faster use of the available technology. The device can operate at the speed of the user's thoughts, allowing them to control their electronic uplink much faster in a hand off's environment. This device is also hooked up to the scope allowing for a much quicker zoom feature and is hooked up to the radio commands to allow quick, hands off text communication.
Camera- The device uses a standard camera to allow the user to both take pictures and videos. The device can store up to 10 gigabytes of information, which is roughly equivalent to 4000 pictures or 4 hours of video. This information can be sent back to the command center or relayed to other units, allowing them to view what their units see.
In addition, the device is connected to a thermal imaging device, which allows the user to both see in the dark and be given different thermal perspectives. The camera view can be used to display on only parts of the screen, allowing the user to see both the real world and the view of the camera, and any individual up linked to the system.
The camera is essentially two lenses placed on either sides of the helmet adjacent to the eyes. The double lenses view is altered to provide a more natural view to the user, even though the cameras are not perfectly with the eyes (although it is possible to expand the users peripheral view, if required). The device allows for a 1-8x times magnification, allowing the user to zoom in with their helmet at whatever direction their looking at that. The device incorporates a
laser range finder so that the user can accurately view their targets at a range and know their exact distance to the nearest 1/25.4 of a foot (although this can be converted to metric measurements if desired). While it is possible to measure speed of moving objects, it requires both infrared laser to be positioned at the target, and for the target to be within a mile of the laser. The device also might receive interference from speed, lessening the capabilities of the device over prolonged use; however, the device is relatively accurate for a measure of instantaneous velocity. All of this is controllable from the neural interface, to allow a quicker, more controllable view of their targets and information about them.
The system is also capable of storing information permanently, although this cuts into the temporary storage of the device. While the video camera can always be active, to relay information to command centers or allow the quick, tactical visual recording of combat, this information is only temporarily stored in a 4 hour recording session, which is cut into by the "permanent" recording or pictures of their intended targets.
Increased Senses- The vision is increased by the integrated cameras and the imaging scope. However, the hearing is increased by a microphone which is designed to increase the volume of the surroundings by up to nearly 10 times their original sound. While this increase of sound could normally damage the ears of an individual, the bone conduction headphones allow the user to experience the loud noises without damaging their ears.
In additions, any noises above a certain decibel range are canceled out, somewhat dampening the ability of the user to hear their relative distance, but not causing damage to their ears; although, the user can hear their relative sound through their bone conduction headphones and by muffling the noise to still carry the relative sound and distance estimation.
Bone Conduction Headphones-
Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull.
Bone conduction is the reason why a person's voice sounds different to him/her when it is recorded and played back. Because the skull conducts lower frequencies better than air, people perceive their own voices to be lower and deeper than others do. This also explains why a recording of one's own voice sounds higher than one is accustomed to.
Some hearing aids employ bone conduction, achieving an effect equivalent to hearing directly by means of the ears. A headset is ergonomically positioned on the temple and cheek and the electromechanical transducer, which converts electric signals into mechanical vibrations, sends sound to the internal ear through the cranial bones. Likewise, a microphone can be used to record spoken sounds via bone conduction. The first description, in 1923, of a bone conduction hearing aid was Hugo Gernsback's "Osophone", which he later elaborated on with his "Phonosone".
Bone conduction products have following advantages over traditional headphones:
Ears-free, thus providing extended use comfort and safety
High sound clarity in very noisy environments, can be used with hearing protection
Can have the perception of stereo sound
Throat Microphone-
Throat Microphone- A throat microphone, also laryngophone, is a type of microphone that picks up sound directly through sensors in contact with the neck. Because of this design, it is able to pick up speech in loud environments, such as on a motorcycle or in a night club, where other types of microphones would not function well because the speech would be drowned out by background noise. This type of microphone is also able to pick up whispers and works well in an environment where one has to keep quiet while communicating with others at a distance, such as during a covert military operation. Throat microphones were also extensively used in World War II-era aircraft, and by German tank crews.
Newer single-element designs are available that make the throat microphone much more comfortable to wear than earlier units. Additionally, this next generation of throat microphones provides varying outputs and frequency responses to accommodate a wide variety of communication devices such as digital and analog portable radios, Tetra & P25 systems, & cellular phones. Throat microphones are very useful in loud environments or when respiratory protection is required. Many full-face SCBA, SAR, SABA PAPR or re-breather masks do not have a provision for a microphone inside the mask. The throat microphone can be used safely as it is positioned outside the mask's face seal and as such does not compromise the respiratory protection provided by the mask nor does it violate mask approvals and certification.
Throat microphones are popular with paintball players as they allow competitors to insert communication equipment easily under protective masks and gear. Additionally the ability to whisper communications enables players to not give away their position during games.
does not feature whisper communications and requires users to speak at full volume. A throat microphone is available for iPhone.
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