US Army Creates Virtual Reality Dome To Assess Soldier Thinking During Combat

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US Army Creates Virtual Reality Dome To Assess Soldier Thinking During Combat

Posted by timothy on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @12:12AM from the next-step-is-freezing-a-guy-for-a-year dept.

HughPickens.com writes: Bryant Jordan reports at Defense Tech that the Cognitive Science and Applications Team at the US Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is creating a computer-generated reality "dome" to immerse warfighters in a virtual environment that not only tests their skills, but allows Army researchers to assess soldier cognitive abilities and study the impact of real-world operational situations on decision-making, spatial memory and wayfinding. The dome is a concave virtual-reality system that provides a full 180-degree horizontal field, using high-density, front-projection to create a high-resolution, visual world where the simulations will be modeled on real-world locations. "The integration of multiple input modalities, along with multisensory feedback, increases the realism, immersion and engagement on behalf of users subjected to prolonged, workload-intensive activities," says Dr. Caroline Mahoney. "These novel integrations provide unprecedented opportunities to monitor and optimize human behavior during real-world task execution, and to evaluate and predict the impact of innovative human-systems technologies on operational performance." In the virtual dome, users can interact and alter the environment through hand-held and weapon-based devices, which control movement, orientation and weapon aiming. Future additions to the dome will include whole-body motion tracking, low-frequency vibration and directional wind. Vibro-tactile collision feedback — which combines vibration and touch to help give participants a physical sense of constraints in a virtual environment — will also be included.

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Sounds like a science fiction show by jfdavis668 · 2016-03-23 00:17 · Score: 3, Interesting

Star Trek holodeck? Maybe Ender's Game?
1. Re:Sounds like a science fiction show by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 00:48 · Score: 0
  
  Star Trek holodeck? Maybe Ender's Game?
  A real-world interactive program approaching Holodeck levels of immersion would be more likely found at DARPA or perhaps the R&D end of one of the major game companies (Sony, Valve, & Microsoft mainly, though Nintendo is enough of an odd duck to arrive to it through asymmetrical tech-tree paths).
  This sounds more like an improvement on existing custom-ordered training simulators, mixed in with a bit of VR Tech, which matches the high end potential of approaching consumer tech, b/c Pentagon can afford to throw money at the problem.
  Also, consider the following: http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Next-Generation_Special_Forces | "The Next-Generation Special Forces, also known as Genome Soldiers, were a top secret United States Army black ops unit that specialized in counter-terrorism." | "Many also underwent VR training, guided by the Force XXI concept, but had little or no actual field experience. " | http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/United_States_Army#Force_XXI
  Kojima strikes again!
2. Re:Sounds like a science fiction show by dsmatthews9379 · 2016-03-23 11:20 · Score: 1
  
  It is just an up-to-date variation of the sort of training simulators that many first world defence forces have been using for several decades, or longer.
Holy Holodeck, Batman! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 00:22 · Score: 0

Will the soldiers wind up thinking there got to be a reboot switch when they actually go into combat?
1. Re:Holy Holodeck, Batman! by Coisiche · 2016-03-23 00:31 · Score: 1
  
  Well that would just put them on equal footing with pilots.
Kobayashi Maru by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 00:23 · Score: 0

Turn around and shoot the projector. Tell you instructors their love of VR is misplaced. Go home to your family. Win/win.
Translation by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 00:25 · Score: 0

We're going to immerse people in VR and have them use virtual weapons to kill simulated targets over and over again. The result will be to desensitize people to killing. And while I have no doubt that this could be used to prepare for specific operations, I suspect that it won't be the primary use. When do we say we've done enough killing? When is the cost of spreading democracy greater than the benefits? When do we dismantle the military-industrial complex Eisenhower warned us of?
1. Re:Translation by dlt074 · 2016-03-23 00:34 · Score: 1
  
  in the military, a major objective of weapons training is to desensitize the shooter to shooting people.
  democracy is not worth spreading. freedom is but not democracy, people always get the two confused. however, even freedom is not worth spreading if people don't want it.
2. Re:Translation by tchdab1 · 2016-03-23 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  Grand Theft Planet.
3. Re:Translation by peragrin · 2016-03-23 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  You can't give some one freedom. You can't make a giant freedom cake and put up a mission accomplished banner and be done. The people have to want freedom. Most people forget it took 20 years after the American Revolutionary War before we had a stable repeatable government.
  1783 revolutionary war ended.
  1801 Jefferson replaces Adams as president which set the precedent for others to follow.
  You need several leaders to be rotated through to set the presence that future generations follow.
  
  --
  i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
one step closer by old+and+new+again · 2016-03-23 00:31 · Score: 1

to the hunger games

--
Live Electronic Music
1. Re:one step closer by AHuxley · 2016-03-23 12:10 · Score: 1
  
  Back to the new thinking of the 1920-30's. Every squad or smaller team tried to ensure every person could do the tasks of every other member to a very good skill level. If out of communications or needing support, the full skill sets for most of the common equipment was at least part of the expected work load. The mission could go on without direct orders and without questioning orders. ie nothing would be unexpected and the team would always be ready to follow any order and reach the objective as any member could carry on with most tasks.
  The only down side to such advanced methods is that every member of the team is way too smart and becomes of great interest to other nations intelligence services.
  Any rank now has interesting information to a high level vs the traditional limited need to know work load for that limited mission.
  The other question is why the rush for each member to such a high level vs having other "real" expert units to support them?
  A lack of lots of troops showing every member has to be expected to do a lot more? A system top heavy with outside consultants and contractors in distant support roles with too few real troops now expected to do many tasks rather than just be troops.
  The other issues is the ongoing mindset of low ranks with a lot of new skills. They expect easy promotion with the advanced work they have put in or the ability to sell their unique skills back as wealthy private sector contractors soon. If they feel they are been overlooked at an individual level their lack of promotion and wealth is a wide opening to other nations intelligence services.
  Thats why other nations are much more careful about any skill sets or advanced methods until total trust is ensured or a long term role is ready. Creating elite like units without the mass of a large standing army sounds neat but its hard to keep a long term win with just up skilled units.
  
  --
  Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
Just like military intelligence is an oxymoron by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 00:33 · Score: 0

"Soldier thinking" is not encouraged, nor advisasble, nor desirable.
1. Re:Just like military intelligence is an oxymoron by jfdavis668 · 2016-03-23 00:45 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  You have obviously never been in the military. Getting soldiers to think on their feet and solve problems is the majority of training. Knowing how to technically use and maintain weapons and equipment is a small part. If you check, you will discover that privates are a small minority of soldiers. Modern warfare requires people who can think.
2. Re:Just like military intelligence is an oxymoron by ranton · 2016-03-23 02:09 · Score: 1
  
  You have obviously never been in the military. Getting soldiers to think on their feet and solve problems is the majority of training. Knowing how to technically use and maintain weapons and equipment is a small part. If you check, you will discover that privates are a small minority of soldiers. Modern warfare requires people who can think.
  This is why indoctrination is so important in the military, because you need soldiers that both follow (lawful) orders blindly but also show initiative and problem solving in the moment. It is quite the feat to train soldiers to do both, as free thinking and blind obedience tend to not work together well IMHO.
  When working with people with military backgrounds it is often mystifying that they can be so efficient with strong independent problem solving skills, but also blindly follow very poor business processes just because they were told to. Even when they hold a position where they have the autonomy to change bad processes. This is obviously not universal for all ex-enlisted personnel, but it is strikingly common.
  
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  -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
3. Re:Just like military intelligence is an oxymoron by jitterman · 2016-03-23 02:37 · Score: 1
  
  Thank you! As the grandson, son, nephew, and cousin of many military members, past and present, officers and enlisted, it's nice to read comments like yours and know that not everyone's opinions are formed by movies.
  
  --
  For conscience is the wound, and there's naught to staunch it
4. Re:Just like military intelligence is an oxymoron by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-25 13:20 · Score: 0
  
  Why don't make robot flies that clogs the gun of the enemy then...
Thinking or Indoctrination.... by Lumpy · 2016-03-23 00:35 · Score: 1

Several friends of mine that are war vets all have said they don't trust the current recruits because they follow orders without question. One friend that has been a life time warrior and has went back for 3 tours of duty mustered out because of how the new guys act.
So will their simulator be used to get rid of the guys that don't blindly follow orders? will they put in scenarios where the best and correct course of action is to frag the CO?

--
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
1. Re:Thinking or Indoctrination.... by rmdingler · 2016-03-23 00:56 · Score: 1
  
  The US military, by and large, isn't interested in a soldier who questions authority. A large part of basic training involves assuring quick compliance to orders.
  If the 20-something year old won't charge a machine gun nest on the hill quickly and without question, he probably won't charge it at all.
  
  --
  Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
  Ernest Hemingway
2. Re:Thinking or Indoctrination.... by drinkypoo · 2016-03-23 00:57 · Score: 1
  
  Several friends of mine that are war vets all have said they don't trust the current recruits because they follow orders without question.
  It would be nice if those guys would be active on social networking, because a lot of people seem to think that soldiers are supposed to Do What They Are Told No Matter What, and they need another think to come to them.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
3. Re:Thinking or Indoctrination.... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 02:35 · Score: 0
  
  And good on him if he doesn't! Charging machine gun nests with infantry has been a criminally stupid idea since World War I, and that was before we had highly accurate long-range missiles, better sniper rifles, drones, tanks, and everything else we've got that doesn't needlessly waste manpower on a couple of guys with machine guns.
Duke's DiVE system does it better by Quantus347 · 2016-03-23 00:48 · Score: 1

This is interesting. Duke University has an immersive VR room that works on similar principles but does it a bit better. Rather than a top-only dome with an external display, it is a 3 meter cube, with the display projected on all six sides including the floor. It even tracks your point of view (via a set of lightweight powered VR glasses) to calculate the proper perspective so that object that are supposed to appear inside the room do so properly. It's really an amazing experience, and just a little bit creepy. http://virtualreality.duke.edu...

--
Common Sense isn't as Common as people think...
1. Re:Duke's DiVE system does it better by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 02:40 · Score: 0
  
  Well I hope they have rear projection. You can see the shadow of the person and his gun on the ground in this one with the front (side) projection.
  I do hope that his shadow in the sky is just a fill in flash and not a permanent feature.
They already have VR domes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 01:19 · Score: 0

The army uses a VR dome to train soldiers how to perform air defense.
meh by sociocapitalist · 2016-03-23 01:29 · Score: 1

It's never going to be "real-world" until there's a real element of real shit hitting the real fan.
If there is no real danger of being killed then this is nothing more than a (probably very cool) video game.

--
blindly antisocialist = antisocial
1. Re:meh by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 02:14 · Score: 0
  
  My thoughts exactly. What are they going to do? drop the dome in Afghanistan during a real incursion and record the data.
  No, you can replicate some things through trying to trigger osmosis. Having a good setup and utilizing things such as sound and scent to go the extra mile extra mile. But what it boils down to is that unless your life isn't in immediate danger it will not or cannot replicate the physiological changes that take place during a life threatening event. Which I have to say is where ALL the things worth studying resides. The rest of it. Its good to get you prepared for the real thing. The real thing never plays out the way want it.
2. Re:meh by angel'o'sphere · 2016-03-23 03:12 · Score: 1
  
  Did not know that the training in the US military is so hard that you can get killed during exercising.
  
  --
  Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
3. Re:meh by sociocapitalist · 2016-03-23 04:26 · Score: 1
  
  Did not know that the training in the US military is so hard that you can get killed during exercising.
  Yes I am aware (been there, done that) but training in a sim dome isn't going to be that way if for no other reason than live fire would destroy the dome itself.
  
  --
  blindly antisocialist = antisocial
4. Re:meh by twotacocombo · 2016-03-23 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  It's never going to be "real-world" until there's a real element of real shit hitting the real fan.
  If there is no real danger of being killed then this is nothing more than a (probably very cool) video game.
  Untrue. Our local Sheriff's department has a huge screen/wall that they use for shoot/don't shoot training scenarios. I was able to participate in one of the drills as a guest a few years back. Even though I knew it was just a video, and the gun in my hand was empty, when the drill began everything got weird. When your whole field of vision is filled with a realistic-enough video, part of your brain treats it as if it was real. Heart rate and blood pressure went up, a bit of tunnel vision set in. I wound up shooting the guy as he pulled a gun, but only got one shot off and froze. If that had been real life, I probably would have died. I certainly saw the value in the simulator after that. It's nowhere close to a real combat situation, but it does let you asses how you'll react to one without the actual threat of injury, and adjust your training accordingly.
Wasted tax dollars by s.petry · 2016-03-23 02:24 · Score: 1

As a veteran I can tell you that this is a huge waste of money. Every situation is different, every reaction is different, and every outcome is different. This is yet another attempt to develop the ability to have thought police.
PTSD research should explain and back my assertion.

--
-The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
AI learning by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 05:14 · Score: 0

"These novel integrations provide unprecedented opportunities to monitor and optimize human behavior during real-world task execution, and to evaluate and predict the impact of innovative human-systems technologies on operational performance."
In other words, optimize learning algorithms for machine learning. This has AI written all over it with all sorts of ramifications. When the robots become more useful in the field, this is (some of) the data they will be using. I'm not saying they won't optimize the humans to be killing machines first (sadly), but I really don't think that's the end-game.
Someone needs a creative combination of words ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-03-23 05:48 · Score: 0

... To give us the acronym T.H.N.D.R.D.O.M for this project.