Raytheon announces new UAV cockpit setup

It's probably a safe bet that no Engadget editor is ever going to get five monitors as much as we might want 'em. Sadly, it appears that the only way we'd ever get to regularly work in front of that many LCDs is is to become a UAV operator, using one of the new "cockpits" just announced by military contractor Raytheon. According to Raytheon's press release, the new "Universal Control System" consists of five LCDs, a couple joysticks, a keyboard, and a nice leather chair. But beyond that, we're not really sure exactly what makes it so "revolutionary" -- perhaps they know something that requires a higher security clearance that they're not telling us. That being said, the day that we actually do get five displays up in here, we'll market it as a "revolutionary" blogging tool, too.

[Farris @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:30AM]

There's a guy that works down the hall from me with a quad-monitor setup, although its a 2x2 arrangement, not a 4x1. Its still a monster, though. There are bars and poles and hanging wires from the ceiling. (I think they are 22 inch monitors, so they're quite heavy, even for LCDs)

[Eric B @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:35AM]

The "revolutionary" part is that when he pulls the trigger people go boom.

[TheChaz @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:45AM]

I've always wondered what kind of wireless technology they use to stream that amount of information from an actual flying aircraft to someone (presumably) miles away. Satellite? Microwave? That looks like 3 screens of video and 2 of telemetry info. And you'd think it'd need to be real-time, or damn close in order to sucessfully, you know, fly the plane.

[Los @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:28AM]

Well Corporate America already runs the government. It's nice to know that these white collar pencil pushers will actually be able to fight their wars from their nice cushy offices as well eh?

[Juaquin @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:52AM]

Haha sweet that's a Logitech G15 keyboard. I doubt that will be in the production unit though.

[Nick @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:25AM]

Jauquin - why not?

[Sphynx @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:00AM]

It's not only a G15 keyboard, it's also a Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS. Damn, I wish I had that kind of setup for my flightsim - esspecially the screens. :)

[Naegling @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:07AM]

the revolutionary part is that Rathyeon will charge $1,500,000 for what you and I could put together from newegg.com for about $15,000 and that's even over budget.

[Clifton Helpingstine @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:38AM]

Then why don't you do it? You know the lowest bidder wins.

[Chris @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:36AM]

@TheChaz : The UAV isn't streaming three HD screens worth of data (at least not in the photo) - it looks like it just supplies current position and orientation data which is used to set the viewpoint for looking at an existing digital map. There probably is some video, but most likely only standard def (see the smaller overlay windows). It also seems to be one UAV per screen.

[Chuck Cooper @ Nov 2nd 2006 4:24AM]

Yeah, (# 6)
I had A-10 Attack! on four screens, left-center-right and center control panel. Turn off the lights and you would get dizzy flying down into the canyon chasing Mirages.

I still have three screens at work.

[Ken B. @ Nov 2nd 2006 6:28AM]

and I thought my 24" LCD was badass :-\

[Matt Hadder @ Nov 2nd 2006 6:47AM]

Take that foreigners!
POW! BOOM!
Oh wait, maybe they'll use these to watch over traffic, fight crime or something productive?

[Grizz @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:53AM]

Im digging that desk, but i think i would get stuck exiting it.

[Rubakon @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:09AM]

The black and white imagery is most likely high resolution radar.

The Predator, Global Hawk, or whatever it is, all rely on radar sweeps from instruments below the plane as their primary 'sight' (you can see the original data on the lower middle screen).

Most likely, part of what's revolutionary about this set up is that this radar data is being mapped out as if it was being viewed from a cockpit. Thus the operator can use it to more naturally control the plane. Otherwise he/she would only have the flat map and the small color video (center, center screen).

[Simon @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:34AM]

"You know the lowest bidder wins." LOL

What century do you live in? This is the time of "cost-plus" contracts. The best connected company get the contract an can suck all the money they want out of the government.

Anyway, nothing in the photo is "revolutionary" as already stated. Just quite a sweet setup.
But there is probably a lot more tech behind this to make it all happen.

[somedude @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:11AM]

Eh... been doing this for years - since 2000.
Although its old... this is nothing new nor cost $15K. I think u can do it all for $3G.

My Bro's setup
From PC Setup


My PC Setup:
From PC Setup

[somedude @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:15AM]

Opps, here's the link
http://picasaweb.google.com/darrenslee1/PCSetup

[jerrt @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:16AM]

i'm sure you have to have a serious security level to play with that thing. too bad they have even better simulators that use multiple projectors. this would be easier to set up in a normal room though

[dadgumit @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:15PM]

You could always be a trader like those guys in the background on CNBC if you wanted five screens.


just a thought.

[Simon @ Nov 2nd 2006 5:09PM]

Guys, it's not about the number of screens. It's about the tech to control an UAV with it. Not sure wether that is actually "revolutionary", but we all know that those screens are not. No need to repeat bragging about how you had it way before ...

None of you ever controled an UAV with it. I'm sure of that ;)

[joe @ Nov 2nd 2006 5:31PM]

lol is that the g15 keyboard... gaming and military are converging

[Deluxe @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:29AM]

...Was there every any difference?

[doug @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:47AM]

What distinguishes this from a PC setup is the software that gets to effectively integrate with the UAV systems... it would have to account for communication latency (substantial in over-the-horizon, and negligible in line-of site, but enough to worry about pilot-induced-oscillation... PIO). Sub-system kinematics are complex as well... that turret-mounted forward-looking camera integrated into the digital map for targeting with a separate sensor package has some dynamics associated with it... accurately synchronizing that with where the pilot is looking and integrating that with weapons systems is not something they would trust to you and I setting up a system from newegg. Wouldn't want a predator to fire that missile at friendlies because you didn't account for the turret actuator response and satcom latency. sheesh!

[a different doug @ Dec 13th 2006 11:44AM]

It's also worth mentioning the flexibility of the system. Not only can this fly one kind of plane, but it is easily adaptable to fly many different planes and even helicopters using the same core system. That's what is revolutionary.

[TheYeti @ Jul 8th 2007 2:22AM]

I saw a simular setup at macworld about 10 years ago. The guys who wrote A10 attack were running a 6 monitor setup.

forward left right consol
up rear.