Communications of the ACM
Augmented Reality Dog Goggles Could Help Protect Soldiers
The AR system uses goggles military dogs have worn for protection in inclement conditions and aerial deployments.
Credit: Command Sight
A technology developed by Command Sight Inc. through a project funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program and managed by the Army Research Office provides military working dogs with augmented reality goggles that allow a dog's handler to give it specific directional commands while keeping the soldier remote and out of sight.
Command Sight's augmented reality glasses "could fundamentally change how military canines are deployed in the future," says founder and CEO A.J. Peper.
The initial prototype is wired, which keeps the dog on a leash. The researchers plan to spend the next two years developing a production level wireless product.
Currently, military working dogs are commonly directed by hand signals, which require the handler to be within sight of the dog, or by laser pointers, which also required the handler to remain close to the dog and generates a light source, which could be a safety issue. Augmented reality goggles could offer a new alternative.
The augmented reality system uses goggles military working dogs have already been wearing for protection in inclement conditions and aerial deployments. A camera placed in the goggles allows the handler to see exactly what the dog sees and eliminates the bounce that comes from placing the camera on the dog's back.
From U.S. Army Research Laboratory
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