Northrop Grumman lands contract to develop threat-sensing binoculars

DARPA has been talking up the idea of threat-sensing binoculars for some time now, but it looks like it's now putting up a good chunk of cash to make 'em a reality, with Northrop Grumman today announcing that it's snagged a $6.7 million contract to further develop its Human-aided Optical Recognition/Notification of Elusive Threats (or HORNET) system. That'll use electro-encephalogram electrodes placed on a soldier's scalp to monitor their neural responses to the presence or absence of potential threats, which helps to train the system's algorithms and ultimately alert them to threats before their mind is actually able to process the information (in theory, at least). Of course, there's no indication as to when such a system might actually be put to use, and DARPA itself is still leaving itself a bit of wiggle room, with it only committing to the first 12-month phase of the project at the moment.

[Via Danger Room]

[dervheid @ Jun 10th 2008 4:14AM]

Ah.
Another little piece in the puzzle.

'Borg soldiers will be with us soon then, I guess.

"Resistance is futile"

[kamu @ Jun 10th 2008 4:54AM]

How do they always get such awesome acronyms?

[rivetgeek @ Jun 10th 2008 5:13AM]

if they cant find a cool acronym, they change the project to fit a cool word

[ratnikh @ Jun 10th 2008 5:33PM]

wait until you see their WHORENET binoculars....

Wild Hottie Optical Recognition with Enhanced Notification of Extreme Titties

[johnm @ Jun 10th 2008 5:08AM]

So, they're getting "Spidey-senses"?

As, in Spider-Man, come on people, you read the comics too! LOL

[Wwhat @ Jun 10th 2008 5:49AM]

A hornet isn't a spider, and it's not enhancing vision, it's monitoring what you see so they can later put what they learned in the population control terminators they'll put on the street, but that last part is a secret so hush hush ;)

[JohnM @ Jun 10th 2008 10:20AM]

I know a hornet isn't a spider... but *I think* you're missing the point of the system. The idea is to let the soilder know there is danger before he realizes it. And that's what "Spidey-senses" did for Peter Parker. He knew their was danger before he saw it!

If not, then I have indeed got the wrong end of the stick!

[Skipaan @ Jun 10th 2008 5:32AM]

So if you look at a hot chick, will the system alert your wife?

[itlnstln @ Jun 10th 2008 8:26AM]

I think it's supposed to alert your penis, but I already have a good enough system for that. Useless...

[James @ Jun 10th 2008 5:46AM]

Sign me up for a pair of peril-sensitive sunglasses!

[Harry Wagstaff @ Jun 10th 2008 6:00AM]

Not sure how helpful they'd be to soldiers.

Maybe the French could use them. They can't run from what they can't see!

[loujob @ Jun 10th 2008 6:06AM]

Wow my neighbor works there and was thinking about getting me a job there as a paid internship. If anyone knows the company, please tell me what you think about it.

[Trent @ Jun 10th 2008 11:22PM]

I just started there in the ES (Electronic Systems) sector. The pay is good, and the benefits are great. The work is interesting, although of course it depends on what project(s) you're working on. I'd highly recommend applying for the internship as early as possible as a security clearance takes forever to get.

[compressedbunny @ Jun 10th 2008 9:49AM]

The Northrop Grumman HORNET system has been specially designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. At the first hint of trouble, they turn totally black and thus prevent you from seeing anything that might alarm you.

[Mindfield @ Jun 10th 2008 10:31AM]

Zaphod Beeblebrox approves.

[sinai @ Jun 10th 2008 2:22PM]

now i need a head-mounted holographic monitor that'll project a "!" above my head and all will be full of awesome.

[Patrick @ Jun 11th 2008 7:53PM]

ratnikh that acronym was sooooo funny...hehehe, made me laugh after a hard day at work..thanks