Wearable Computer for Enhanced Situation Awareness

The use of multiple imaging sensors provides information to enhance situational awareness. Hardware for accessing, processing, and displaying the data streams to the user remains bulky, heavy, power-hungry, and expensive. The AFRL has developed a set of algorithms that enable the simultaneous processing of multiple video streams. AFRL has a strong interest in the development of a wearable, low-power computer system to implement these varied vision processing algorithms. International Electronic Machines Corporation, a leader in the development of advanced imaging devices, will develop a Wearable Image Capture and Processing System. WICAPS will achieve the goals by introducing innovative hardware designs that concentrate on maximizing image processing throughput while minimizing power demand and physical size. The core component of WICAPS will consist of a custom designed vision processor system that will run the AFRL image enhancement, target detection and identification, and data fusion algorithms. The final design for WICAPS will include consideration of user input, display options, and human design issues regarding form factor. IEM’s skilled team offers more than 200 person-years of combined experience in development of advanced imaging systems, including customized electronic control systems, multispectral imaging and data fusion, and specialized smart video processing tools.