Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) - timeline

updated 1/16/20

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• 7/20/15 Contract W909MY12D0005-0004RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, ENGINEERING, TRAINING, AND SOLDIER VISUAL INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPORT TO NIGHT VISION AND ELECTRONIC SENSORS DIRECTORATE (NVESD) IN ITS ACQUISITION OPERATIONS TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A HEADS-UP, SEE-THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) SYSTEM PROVIDING THE SOLDIER INTEGRATED DATA AND VIDEO DISPLAY FROM A WEAPON SIGHT, A COMPATIBLE TRANSMITTER (TO BE DEVELOPED UNDER THIS EFFORT), AND AN ANDROID DEVICE, SUCH AS A SMART-PHONE. THIS SOLDIER VISUAL INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED DISPLAY RESOLUTION, BRIGHTNESS, SEE-THROUGH OPTICS, FULL COLOR DISPLAY, AND MULTIPLE WIRELESS INTERFACES.

http://government-contracts.insidegov.com/l/34054425/W909MY12D0005-0004 (dead link)

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• 10/22/15 U.S. Army Awards BANC3 $15 Million In Cutting Edge Research & Development and Fielded System Contracts

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BANC3 announced today that it has been awarded $15 million in contracts which will enable the company to continue providing research and engineering, software development, and sustainment services for the U.S. Army. Work on these contracts includes:

Providing the CERDEC NVESD research and development for a heads-up, see-through Augmented Reality (AR) system that issues the warfighter coordinated data and video visual from a weapon sight, a special transmitter and an Android apparatus, such as a smartphone. This Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) will provide better display resolution, brightness, see-through optics, full color visualization and several wireless interfaces.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-army-awards-banc3-15-million-in-cutting-edge-research--development-and-fielded-system-contracts-300164824.html

https://www.c4isrnet.com/intel-geoint/sensors/2015/10/29/banc3-wins-army-augmented-reality-contract/

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• 10/26/15 Army Heads Up Situational Awareness Technologies p.4 50 Threshold & 70 Objective degree FOV

https://www.afcea.org/events/documents/MilcomARCharts.pdf

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• 12/16 2016 ManTech Brochure page 22

• Integrating early prototypes into High Definition Aviation Digital Display (HiDADD) Apache vision system upgrade tech demo (FY16), F-35 visor (FY16), and Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) tech demo (FY17)

https://www.dodmantech.com/JDMTP/Files/2016_ManTech_Brochure.pdf

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• 3/17 AEWE Benning 2018 Experiment Objectives

http://www.benning.army.mil/mcoe/cdid/aewe/content/pdf/2018/Objectives.pdf?17MAR2017

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• 3/17 Intevac Investor Presentation

page 17 - Pursuits - SVIT

http://investor.intevac.com/static-files/50b6e214-8ebb-483e-bb56-ff1610b8824f

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• 8/17 eMagin 2Q 2017

Delivered high brightness displays to an additional defense contractor for the US Army Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) program. This key program will improve the situational awareness, lethality and survivability of the dismounted warrior and the eMagin OLED display is integral in providing the technological path for future military head mounted display systems.

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/10-q-emagin-corp-2017-08-10

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• 1/18 AEWE 2018 Technologies System Book p.8 & 9

Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) A

CAPABILITY DESCRIPTION

The SVIT Helmet Mounted Display weighs 4.8 oz and mounts in an ENVG3 HMA and PA. The battery pack weighs 6.2 oz (Total 22.2 oz). The SVIT system wirelessly interfaces to the daytime HMD or to an ENVG-III (AN/PSQ- 39) and a FWS-I for heads-up SA and Rapid Target Acquisition in day or low-light situations.

CAPABILITY RELEVANCE

SVIT improves situational awareness with icons and graphics that are visible within the user’s field of view (FOV) and with the Nett Warrior (NW) end user device (EUD) by using a see-through helmet mounted display or the ENVG III (AN/PSQ-39), in limited visibility. SVIT improves lethality with the Rapid Target Acquisition function providing boresighted weapon sight imagery within the user’s FOV. Four integrated buttons are used to control the device, or voice activation using a boom microphone. The SVIT system reduces the need for the user to look down at the EUD, and improves lethality and survivability with remote weapon sight imagery.

Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT) B

CAPABILITY DESCRIPTION The SVIT Helmet Mounted Display weighs 5.5 oz and mounts in an ENVG3 HMA and PA. The battery pack weighs 7.1 oz (Total 24.3 oz). The SVIT system wirelessly interfaces to the daytime HMD and the FWS-I for heads-up SA and Rapid Target Acquisition.

CAPABILITY RELEVANCE SVIT improves situational awareness with icons and graphics that are visible within the user’s field of view (FOV) and with the Nett Warrior (NW) end user device (EUD) by using a see-through helmet mounted display. SVIT improves lethality with the Rapid Target Acquisition function providing boresighted weapon sight imagery within the user’s FOV. A four button body controller is used to control the device, or voice activation using a boom microphone. The SVIT system reduces the need for the user to look down at the EUD, and improves lethality and survivability with remote weapon sight imagery.

http://www.benning.army.mil/mcoe/cdid/aewe/content/pdf/2018/Participating%20Technologies.pdf?25JAN2018

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• 3/1/18 Army Warfighting Experiment 18

https://twitter.com/AWE18_AWL/status/969311062578384903

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• FY 2020 ManTech Brochure

2nd to last page -

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Microdisplays (C5ISR Center)

This Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology-Army and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center funded effort directly patterned Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) emitters onto advanced silicon backplanes, eliminating the need for color filters and increasing the efficiency and brightness by more than 15X. The technology transitioned tothe Apache Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System, Soldier Visual Interface Technology, Nett Warrior and test programs within the Navy (EVA goggles) and Air Force (F-35 visor).

https://www.armymantech.com/pdfs/FY20Brochure.pdf

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• Banc3 -Augmented Reality (AR) – Soldier Visual Interface Technology (SVIT)

http://www.banc3.com/Platforms/Dismounted-Soldier-Systems.aspx

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• eMagin and BANC3 both clients of MRA Digital - Scroll through Clients near bottom of page

http://mradigital.com

The Road to IVAS part II Collins Aerospace/Digilens , Intevac, eMagin

I. Enhanced Visual Acuity - EVA

A. eMagin's 2K x 2K successfully demonstrated for EVA -

Intevac Investor Presentation Q3 2017 Update - page 14   2016 milestones -

2k-by-2k High Resolution Digital Goggle Successfully Demonstrated for NAVAIR’s EVA – Enhanced Visual Acuity Program

- Increased Program Potential; All Digital EVA Competitors Utilizing Intevac Sensors

B. eMagin Direct Patterning development including for EVA -

RDT&E Project Justification: PB 2017 Office of the Secretary Of Defense , Feb, 2016

page 6 -

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Microdisplays - Phase II (FY 2016-2017): Establish manufacturing capability for producing an ultra-high resolution, high brightness, high contrast, full color microdisplay at a low unit cost. Mature and combine manufacturing processes: Silicon on Insulator (SOI) and Direct Patterning technologies to enable a 5X improvement in yield and 5X longer lifetime of displays, reducing life cycle costs. $$221.7M savings for aviation and Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) goggles (27,700 displays between 2017-2032) x $8K/unit savings). Applications include F-35 Heads-up Helmet Mounted Display System, Apache, EVA, F-18, F-15, F-16, affordable color/monochrome displays with high brightness and high contrast to enable Warfighter to fully use sensors and cuing/augmented reality hardware.

C. Collin Aerospace Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) Award-

Within the framework of the $24.7 million contract, Collins Aerospace will develop the Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) system. The EVA is to increase flight safety and mission effectiveness by enabling Navy and Marine Corps helicopter and tiltrotor aircraft crews maintain visual situational awareness down to very low altitudes during the day and at night — especially in degraded visual conditions like blowing dust and snow, according to militaryaerospace.com.

The field of view will be of at least 40 degrees horizontal and vertical, and as wide as 110 degrees horizontal and 60 degrees vertical.

D. FY 2020 ManTech Brochure

2nd from last page -

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Microdisplays (C5ISR Center)

This Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology-Army and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center funded effort directly patterned Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) emitters onto advanced silicon backplanes, eliminating the need for color filters and increasing the efficiency and brightness by more than 15X. The technology transitioned to the Apache Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System, Soldier Visual Interface Technology, Nett Warrior and test programs within the Navy (EVA goggles) and Air Force (F-35 visor).

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II. Integrated Digital Vision System (IDVS)

A. Collins Aerospace/IDVS

AUSA 2016: Digital sight for the soldier

Integrated Digital Vision System for warfighters - Multispectral Night Vision , Seamless transition from day to night

Rockwell Collins’ IDVS Is Google Glass on Steroids

B. eMagin/IDVS

Display Summit 2017 - Integrated Digital Vision System (IDVS) -

The first prototypes utilized two high resolution OLED micro-displays with see-though free-form prisms for near-eye display. The next generation IDVS will incorporate high definition waveguide displays for better see-through quality and higher brightness.

C Digilens/Collins Aerospace/IDVS

Digilens slide #26 IDVS pictured - bottom right photo-

https://www.slideshare.net/AugmentedWorldExpo/chris-pickett-digilens-xr-is-hard-heres-why

Digilens slide # 24 IDVS pictured -

24. 7/13/201 23 ArHUD - in Rockwell Collins Night Vision System DigiLens Waveguide

https://www.slideshare.net/AugmentedWorldExpo/jonathan-waldern-digilens-digilens-switchable-bragg-grating-waveguide-optics-for-augmented-reality-applications

D. Digilens/OLED

Digilens slide #6 - OLED compatible -

6. Dual Waveguide Color Architecture Architecture now uses separate r/G and B/G waveguides - Performance, cost, form factor trade-off. Each layer addresses the entire FOV and contains input, fold and output grating. All architectures are DLP/LCoS/OLED/MLED compatible. COPYRIGHT DIGILENS INC. 2018

https://www.slideshare.net/AugmentedWorldExpo/jonathan-waldern-digilens-digilens-switchable-bragg-grating-waveguide-optics-for-augmented-reality-applications

DigiLens Secures Investment from UDC Ventures - Universal Display supplies only OLED materials.

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III . Conclusion

Collins Aerospace is using eMagin OLED in EVA and most likely OLED compatible Digilens waveguides to achieve as wide as 110 degrees horizontal and 60 degrees vertical with day/ night capability .

At the same time Collins Aerospace is developing IDVS with similar capabilities likely again using EMAN OLED and Digilens .

Potentially these solutions could be used in IVAS to provide a wide FOV with day/night multispectral capabilities using eMagin partner Intevac's sensors .

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Note Intevac has been awarded an IVAS contract -

Intevac Receives $28.6 Million Award to Supply Camera Modules for IVAS Program

FY2020 ManTech OLED direct patterning & FWS

https://www.armymantech.com/pdfs/FY20Brochure.pdf

2nd to last page -

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Microdisplays (C5ISR Center)

This Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology-Army and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center funded effort directly patterned Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) emitters onto advanced silicon backplanes, eliminating the need for color filters and increasing the efficiency and brightness by more than 15X. The technology transitioned tothe Apache Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System, Soldier Visual Interface Technology, Nett Warrior and test programs within the Navy (EVA goggles) and Air Force (F-35 visor).

Page 33 - Family of Weapon Sights (FWS)

Low Cost Freeform Prism Eyepeices 

Objective

Augmented reality devices provide overlays of information for Soldiers before, during and after operations. The Low Cost Freeform Prism Eyepieces project aims to develop processes for low cost freeform prism eyepieces, which provide high brightness and full high definition color images for an augmented reality display. It will mature manufacturing technology for a low- cost augmented reality eyepiece.

Benefits:

• 15X reduction in the cost of the current units
• Greater adoption across air and ground platforms, dismounted Soldiers and training and simulation applications
• Increased situational awareness through wide field-of- view and high resolution imagery
• Improved training effectiveness
• Reduced cycle time – from 6 to 1.5 weeks
• Enhanced Domestic Industrial Base - increased supplier base for freeform prism optics
• Scalable technology across DoD systems with numerous opportunities for transition

Low-cost, wide field of view, high brightness and high resolution eyepieces enable increased situational awareness for augmented reality applications across multiple platforms (Army photos)

Deliverables:

• Precision machining of injection molds for freeform prism eyepieces

• Hard, durable coatings on optical polymers• Repeatable, precision optical bonding of freeform

surfaces• Low cost molding of a glass field lens • Snap-in assembly of optics

Transition and Implementation:

• PEO Soldier – Future Vision Mobility Device (FVMD) and Family of Weapon Sights (FWS)

• PEO Aviation - Air Warrior 1b

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eMagin (freeform) Prism Optic -

2018 10K  -  

 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1046995/000104699519000002/eman-20181231x10k.htm

We are developing an additional prism optic for a project that will pair with our SXGA096 display, which is of interest to a potential customer. We are currently evaluating prototypes received from potential manufacturing partners for this project.

SXGA096 OLED‑XL/XLS (Super eXtended Graphics Array, 1280 x 1024)

The SXGA096 display features a 9.6‑micron color pixel and was designed with the same level of feature integration as the DSVGA microdisplay, as well as a low pin‑count, high speed low voltage differential signaling, or LVDS, data interface. The compactness and high information content of the SXGA096 makes it ideal for small form factor applications such as commercial headsets and smart weapon sights. This microdisplay incorporates OLED XLS technology more than doubling the OLED XL brightness. This expands the range of optical solutions that can be used with this display to result in smaller and lighter display modules.

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Also of note Banc3 development -

Free-form Prism Eye Piece

BANC3 developed the Free-form Prism Eye Piece by using innovative design principles to design and manufacture a new breed of free-form prisms for optical-see-through HMD. The prism is designed to work with the newest high-resolution color AMOLED micro-displays to advance the current state of the art in optical-see-through HMDs.

http://www.banc3.com/Capabilities/Research-and-Development.aspx