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The US Army Is Rolling Out Superhuman Hearing to Soldiers (popularmechanics.com)

Posted by msmash on from the innovation-trickling-down dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Army has developed an all-in-one hearing system that not only boosts the hearing of troops in the field, it also acts to cut down the noise of battle. The system, known as Tactical Communication and Protective System (TCAPS), is currently rolling out to units in the field. TCAPS is $2,000 pair of earbuds designed to limit battlefield noise exposure, cutting off noise that reaches a set decibel threshold. The wearer can still hear gunshots and estimate their direction, but the noise is dampened to a non-damaging level thanks to microphones that detect the noise, and internals that use sound canceling technology to modify it for a wearer's ears. At the same time, the decibel cap allows TCAPS-equipped soldiers to hear the voices of others around him, including through radios and other communications equipment.

20 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. So... by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35, army edition?

    1. Re:So... by i.r.id10t · · Score: 2

      Or similar. There are several brands of form-fitted ear plugs that boost sounds below a certain dB threshold, and cut sounds above a certain dB threshold... $200-$400

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    2. Re:So... by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's retail, I assume, and per pair?

      So extrapolating based on hammers & toilet seats they'll set Uncle Sam back by 6 grand a set.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    3. Re:So... by i.r.id10t · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yup, quick google search for "electronic ear plug"

      A buddy who spent 3 years in Afghanistan as a contractor (K9 handler) used 'em and bought a few extra sets for the soldiers he was serving with, very useful for both guard duty and house clearing. His biggest issue was keeping both the plugs and his ear holes clean - as you can imagine any little bit of grit or dirt makes them uncomfortable to wear.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    4. Re:So... by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

      You could at least have read The Fine Summary above

      [looks at userID]

      Stop using grandpa's account, you little hooligan!

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    5. Re:So... by mrr · · Score: 5, Funny

      Get outta here, youngsters.

    6. Re:So... by jklovanc · · Score: 2

      The QC35 has the following issues.
      1. Are headphones that are incompatable with helmets.
      2. Not waterproof or rugedized in any way.
      3. Are Bluetooth and therefore easily jammed.
      4. There are no specs on how well they cancel very loud noises.

      The QC35 are just expensive noise cancelling headphones and nothing like the earbuds described.

    7. Re:So... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Funny

      Of course not. 1024 is the real threshold. 1000 is the shibboleth of those vicious COBOL neanderthals.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  2. As a parent... by myowntrueself · · Score: 4, Funny

    of a toddler, I would like to have a pair of these.

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    1. Re:As a parent... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      of a toddler, I would like to have a pair of these.

      As a parent...

        of two toddlers and a newborn, I would like to have a vasectomy on my pair.

  3. Nothing new by mr.gson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Noise canceling aside, military superhuman hearing devices have been around for a long time, and the old ones look cooler, too.

  4. an army of superhumans! by shadowrat · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hear they are also equipping the troops with other super human abilities. The technology uses advanced materials to protect the soldier's feet and lower leg from damaging temperatures and surfaces that would injure a normal human foot while still allowing the user to sense when they are standing on the ground. This advanced superhuman enhancement is definitely not just called boots.

  5. Re:What? by plover · · Score: 2

    What?

    I'm sorry. Without more context, we can't help you.

    If you'd helped him by giving him a set of noise cancelling earbuds before he lost his hearing in combat, he probably wouldn't be asking this question today.

    --
    John
  6. About time. by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    So many friends came back with massive hearing damage. the M16A4 is loud as hell and every single vet comes back with horrible tinnitus at best and major hearing damage to DEAF at worst.

    we need to tell NATO to fuck themselves and issue supressors to all troops along with these hearing protection devices.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:About time. by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      Earplugs have a NRR of around 30 decibels (or less, of course). Ear muffs have NRR of around 30 decibels (or less of course). In my experience, they're basically the same. If you wear them both, you don't get a 60 decibel NRR though, because at that point, bone conduction starts transferring a lot of (relative) energy to your ear drum.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  7. Re:hearing protection by The-Ixian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    enough with the "smart" crap... they are not smart, your phone isn't smart and neither is any other electronic device... seriously...

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  8. How about knock off the bogus foreign wars? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

    Let's skip the middle man and just give the money directly to defense contractors' cocaine dealers and mistresses?

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  9. Active headphones for shooters by mrr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have a $50 pair of "active headphones for shooters" that muffle gunshots, let me hear conversations, and even let me plug in my phone to listen to MP3s while I'm shooting. These sound like a slightly more advanced version of that (especially if they can indicate the direction of gunfire), but $2k?!?

  10. Re:hearing protection by wcrowe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I agree. Everyone says my dog is "smart", but he still can't do laundry. He keeps mixing the colors with the whites and washing the delecates on warm. Bad dog! Bad!

    --
    Proverbs 21:19
  11. The by JustOK · · Score: 2

    The enemy can now encrypt their communications BY TALKING VERY LOUDLY

    --
    rewriting history since 2109