In the past such situations called for constant surveillance via binoculars either discrete or in headgear to try to spot the approaching enemy.  However, such binoculars were limited by reaction times and luck, and the skilled enemy could sneak up on friendly forces and catch them unaware.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, a major defense contractor, is looking to solve this problem and take binoculars and imaging technology into the next century.  The company is leading a consortium of academia and industry that has just received an award to begin design prototypes of its panoramic binocular day/night system that uses brain wave monitoring to trigger target detection and alert soldiers of threats.

Brain wave monitoring is nothing new.  The consumer industry this year received some device sporting the technology in the form of brain mice.  Users found the new mice to be particularly handy in first-person-shooter games, but also handy in analyzing stress responses for mediation and athletics.

The new Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System program, or CT2WS, is a logical extension of these ideas and is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).  Its goal is to not only provide the soldier with an extremely wide, panoramic field of view, but to also implement a neuro-optical interface to trigger target detection for fast-moving, elusive targets.  The first phase of objectives for the project is to develop the basic circuit model for the device on a breadboard and to complete the Human-aided Optical Recognition/Notification of Elusive Threats (HORNET) system, which will include the brain interface and the threat detection algorithms.

The HORNET utilizes special electro-encephalogram electrodes sandwiched in a custom helmet against the scalp.  These electrodes provide constant monitoring of the soldier's electrical brain activity.  Over time, the system will learn and be trained.  By accepting whether a soldier is in a threatening situation or not, and comparing it to their brain response, the system will learn to recognize combat situations and react appropriately.

Michael House, Northrop Grumman's CT2WS program manager states, "Northrop Grumman's HORNET system leverages the latest advances in real-time coupling of human brain activity with automated cognitive neural processing to provide superior target detection.  The system will maintain persistent surveillance in order to defeat an enemy's attempts to surprise through evasive move-stop-move tactics, giving the U.S. warfighter as much as a 20-minute advantage over his adversaries."

The system will be put to use both at home and abroad.  Among its possible uses are border patrol, IED detection, and active combat in areas like Iraq.  The initial phase of development will take 12 months and will grant up to $6.7 million to the project.

Among the many collaborators with Northrop Grumman on the project are SAIC, San Diego, Calif.; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.; Theia Technologies LLC, Wilsonville, Ore.; Sensics, Inc., Baltimore, Md.; L-3 Communications Infrared Products, Dallas, Texas; Georgetown University, Wash., D.C.; Portland State University, Portland, Ore.; and the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo.