If you thought augmented reality can only help humans, think again. The U.S Army research laboratory has just developed a specialty prototype augmented reality goggles for military working dogs.

Army Goggles for 2022

You may have seen police and army dogs scouting an area with a human for oversight. This method always had the limitation of line of sight between the dog and its human.

The research on the augmented reality is funded by the Army research laboratory and was developed by Command Sight, Inc, a private company based in Seattle. The funding for the project is as part of the Small Business Innovation Research Program under the ARO( Army Research Office).

How it works

Although the prototype is a wired version of the goggles, the finished product will be fully wireless. So as of now, the dog under AR experiment is leashed and checked for responses through the goggles. As you may have imagined, augmented reality works different for dogs than on humans.

The goggle comes equipped with a visual indicators to guide the dog to specific spots in its field and react to visual cues shown through the goggles. Unlike interacting with data shown on the HUD, the goggles will give specific commands to dogs which can be given remotely by the dog’s handler at a safe distance away from the dog.

Hold my glasses, Mater

Mater, the Rottweiler who was equipped with the prototype goggle reacts really well to signals and commands through the AR headset, says Dr. Stephen Lee, an ARO senior scientist who’s currently working on the project.

He added that with this technology, scientists will now be able to probe deeper into canine perception and behavior to external stimulus in a new light. It would also help to increase the range to which handlers of military worker dogs could control their canine companions.

Current limitations

Currently, dog handlers use hand signals, voice commands, or laser pointers, to guide dogs to scout the area for bombs or other lethal objectives.

Furthermore, audio cues through walkie talkies are also in use but is found to be susceptible to errors, as dogs can get confused by these commands easily. An example of this would be commanding a dog to run up a stair but instead, the dog misreads it and runs around the stairs.

The research is especially beneficial for military working dogs as they are already equipped with safety goggles to work on lethal zones. Also, placing a camera in their goggles instead of on their backs, handlers can get an even better idea of how the dog’s responding to its surroundings.

When will dogs get them?

The finished product is expected to complete within a couple of years, the team says. So we’ll have to wait until then to see army dogs that wag and have swag as well.