After killing HoloLens, Microsoft shows it hasn’t given up on AR with military grade headset
Microsoft anounced the end of the HoloLens 2 but that doesn’t mean its interest in blended reality has ended. After a three-year hiatus, the US Army’s programme for a next-generation augmented reality headset for soldiers has been revived. Microsoft, the original developer of the programme, is now partnering with Anduril Industries, a rising star in the defense technology sector led by Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus VR.
This 10-year contract, worth $21.8 billion, is aimed at making the IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) headset for US special forces. The IVAS system will be connected to Jedi, Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure designed for the US military, and contain military-grade artificial intelligence for situation analysis and decision making.
Soldiers equipped with IVAS will be able to communicate and share information via satellite networks with other units (on the ground, at sea or in the air), access maps showing the positions of friendly and enemy forces, and even attack targets with weapons guided by the headset’s targeting system, similar to fighter aircraft targeting systems. This revival follows an earlier attempt by Microsoft in 2021, which was eventually shelved after testing revealed several shortcomings: insufficient durability, sensitivity to rain, limited battery life and an additional weight load for soldiers due to the external power converters required. Users also reported nausea and balance problems while using the headset.
Anduril Industries has a unique approach to the defense industry, similar to Tesla’s disruption in the automotive sector. In just a few years, the company has found success with the military by providing efficient and cost-effective solutions that challenge traditional manufacturing models. Anduril already has a diverse portfolio of products and has become a key supplier to the US military.
Their stated goal is to “transform the defense capabilities of the United States and its allies” through intelligent, affordable and adaptable weaponry. Anduril’s notable projects include Ghost-X, an autonomous reconnaissance drone developed in collaboration with the US Army Aviation Command and DARPA, with the first units expected by the end of the year. They also created Barracuda, a series of AI missiles designed for autonomous use. Using a streamlined manufacturing process that halves the number of parts and doubles the production rate, Anduril claims these missiles are 30% cheaper than their competitors.
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