US Air Force Considers Google Glass For Battlefield Deployment

Count the United States Air Force as fans of Google Glass. The USAF has been testing the high-tech specs for use in a variety of scenarios, including helping fighter jets and bombers locate their targets, search and rescue missions, and ground-to-air communications out on the battlefield.

The BATMAN group within the USAF’s 711th Human Performance Wing, based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio is tasked with research and development with two pairs of Google Glass, according to VentureBeat. As part of its work, the group is also developing Android software that would deliver solutions for its specific use cases.

USAF Google Glass
Credit: VentureBeat

Some of the best features of this particular wearable tech, according to team member 2nd Lt. Anthony Eastin, “are its low power, its low footprint, it sits totally above the eyes, and doesn’t block images or hinder vision.” That’s notable because so many people are worried about Glass being a distraction for drivers, but the Air Force would put the specs on pilots flying fighter jets.

USAF Google Glass
Left to right: Dr. Gregory Burnett, the dummy, 2nd Lt. Anthony Eastin, and Andres Calvo. (Credit: Richard Reilly/VentureBeat)

The 711th doesn’t have an official relationship with Google, although if and when the Air Force does deploy Google Glass, that could change.