Norwegian Military Using Oculus Rift To Drive Tanks

[HardOCP News]

The Norwegian military is using the Oculus Rift to drive its tanks.

The Norwegian army is testing Oculus Rift to let the driver "see trough" their armoured vehicles, using cameras on each side. The effect can best be described as sitting in a transparent vehicle.

 

[Ducman69]

That's actually really smart. The viewport is always going to be a weak spot. Hopefully they have redundancy built in though.

 

[ml_paladin888]

That's actually really smart. The viewport is always going to be a weak spot. Hopefully they have redundancy built in though.

that and possibly certain light filters and such to prevent the driver from being blinded

 

[Lootbug]

May as well add in some night vision while they're at it.

 

[Ducman69]

And at some point too you might ask, why not have a mothership tank with pilots nearby, and remote control some tank drones! Imagine how much more durable you could make a tank if you didn't need a giant air cavity for a crew and crew life support functions under sealed conditions.

In fact, one pilot could operate multiple drones, setting some up to move and fire in unison, or leave two on sentry while you explore with just a single, then tell the sentry drones to fall back in formation.

Could be a real force multiplier.

 

[jmmahon1224]

And at some point too you might ask, why not have a mothership tank with pilots nearby, and remote control some tank drones! Imagine how much more durable you could make a tank if you didn't need a giant air cavity for a crew and crew life support functions under sealed conditions.

In fact, one pilot could operate multiple drones, setting some up to move and fire in unison, or leave two on sentry while you explore with just a single, then tell the sentry drones to fall back in formation.

Could be a real force multiplier.

With current technology, is the loader more efficient than a mechanical system? May be a major prohibition to moving to tank "drones".

 

[Deleted member 126051]

Yeah, but with Facebook live-blogging the tank's position...

"Hey. Why'd I just get a bunch of ads for funeral services and life insurance? FFFFUUUUUU"

*ARTILLERY STRIKE!*

 

[BladeVenom]

With current technology, is the loader more efficient than a mechanical system? May be a major prohibition to moving to tank "drones".

The T72 tank has an autoloader that does 8 rounds per minute. I think a good crewman is almost twice that fast.

 

[viscountalpha]

A crewman gets tired, the autoloader can malfunction or break.

Not sure which I'd rather have. Why not both?

 

[Remon]

Is Oculus paying them to advertise them or are they trying to be with the hip crowd? Cheap VR goggles are nothing new, yet it's only after all this hype started we are seeing stuff like this.

 

[westrock2000]

Some American fighters use a similar concept.

 

[westrock2000]

And at some point too you might ask, why not have a mothership tank with pilots nearby, and remote control some tank drones! Imagine how much more durable you could make a tank if you didn't need a giant air cavity for a crew and crew life support functions under sealed conditions.

In fact, one pilot could operate multiple drones, setting some up to move and fire in unison, or leave two on sentry while you explore with just a single, then tell the sentry drones to fall back in formation.

Because there is the possibility that that "one" pilot may not be who you want it to be.

 

[Kueller]

Some American fighters use a similar concept.

Sure, but a single JSF helmet costs over half a million bucks, last I saw the Rift was going for $350.

 

[jaygatsby9]

When was the last time the Norwegian army was even deployed?
PR stunt.

 

[Kymer]

They're using it so tanks can see animals eat or drink? They plan to use tanks to monitor animal farts next?

 

[Phoenix333]

Wall hacking irl?

 

[drakken]

The loaders job is so that the tank can fire even if something goes wrong. The rift actually makes sense in this case. It is less likely to take damage that several lcd screens would in the even the tank takes damages that does not kill it. It would allow the tank to have a closed system. Ie filters to prevent chem weapons from disabling it that a open port would not. Also Norway is cold this lets the tank be sealing up to save fuel on heating the tank. Last space is at a very premium inside any tank, the rift would save space. The only down side would be if it got hacked through the com system.

 

[69matrix69]

Night vision is needed 4 sure