American Military News by Patrick Tucker 12/22/2019
As tomorrow’s elite soldiers work to persuade local populations to support them, they may be able to sense how their messages are being received by detecting invisible biometric signals. Or when pinned down by enemy fire, they may make hand gestures to designate targets for close air support, or operate swarms of drones with just a few voice commands.
Those were just a few of the superhuman abilities that researchers at U.S. Special Operations Command recently showed off in a series of demonstrations that brought together sensors, data, and AI, SOFWERX chief technology officer Brian Andrews said Tuesday at Defense One’s Genius Machines event here. SOFWERX is a prototyping and innovation partnership run by SOCOM and a non-profit company called DEFENSEWERX.
In August, SOFWERX researchers combined a special glove with software and hardware from Boston-based Pison Technologies. Within a few hours, a test subject was able to make subtle movements in the air to manipulate a virtual tactical air control map. “When I flick my finger, it picks up the nerve impulse from the magnetic field,†said Andrews, referring to the small amounts of electricity used by the brain to trigger muscle movement.
SOFWERX is also building a sensor-embedded “autonomous bio-infused treatment shirt†that could provide detailed biophysical feedback about the condition of soldiers on the battlefield. “It can even tell if you get shot. It will send to the medic what your vital signs are, respiratory rate, pulse rate,†said Andrews. They’re also moving ahead with new forms of voice command for drones.
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https://americanmilitarynews.com/2019/12/special-operations-command-made-a-mind-reading-kit-for-elite-troops/
