This article was taken from the December 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
This augmented reality helmet doesn't just track where your head is at -- it knows where it's going next. Developed for fighter pilots by BAE systems, the Striker II's position is monitored by cockpit-mounted cameras. This allows it to not only track and predict the pilot's position, but also to keep the visor's integrated night vision display perfectly aligned. "The new system provides near-zero delay between the information being displayed and where the pilot's looking," explains Chris Colston, BAE's director of business development for the helmet.
Latency induces nausea in virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift -- but when you're piloting a Eurofighter Typhoon at 2,400kph, it's a more serious issue. "It can be disorientating for the pilot to the point where they can't continue to fly," says Colston.
Unlike older helmets, the Striker II doesn't require weighty additional goggles to show input such as night vision -- feeds from night-vision cameras go to its augmented visor display. This also reduces weight by 900g, which decreases g forces on the pilot's head and neck. This means the pilot can fly a Typhoon to the nine-g limit of which the plane is capable, rather than flying at under five g when wearing goggles.
Military buyers still have 18 months to wait before they get the first batch of helmets -- but the technology is also destined for the consumer market. "We produced the world's first heads-up display 50 years ago. Today they're in high-end cars." Colston says. "For 30 years we've been doing helmet-mounted displays -- now that's finding its way into consumer glasses. This should be much quicker."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
