Israeli foot soldiers are field testing a wrist-mounted device that receives video images from unmanned aircrafts. Target information that used to be beamed to a control centre is now transmitted direct to military personnel.
As reported on CNN, the video screen is about 3 inches wide and very lightweight; code-named V-Rambo, it’s attached to the wrist by a Velcro strap. The screens display color video that is beamed directly from military drones in real time at 30 frames per second. A larger version of the device has already been introduced in Israeli attack helicopters.
Itzhak Beni, a chief executive with the Elisra Group talked about how the new communications system would “shorten tremendously” the time needed to identify and strike a target. “Before, it was minutes - 10 to 12 minutes. Now it’s a matter of seconds.” Palestinian lawmaker and human rights advocate Hanan Ashrawi called the system “a case of overkill.” The Israeli army declined to comment about the new technology.
Beni also commented that his company is planning to use the technology in the tactical unmanned ground vehicles they are developing with the US Marines, currently code-named “Gladiator.”