The US Army has completed squad-level assessments for the latest, upgraded version of its Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS).
According to Program Executive Office Soldier spokesperson David Patterson, troops from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division recently tested the so-called IVAS 1.2 to see if its design modifications will be enough to support combat operations.
“The purpose [of the assessment] is to measure system performance to ensure the phase 2 IVAS 1.2 prototype systems continue to meet design objectives,” Patterson told Breaking Defense.
The first iterations of the next-generation goggles were marred with difficulties after soldiers complained of disorientation, dizziness, and nausea after using the device.
The spokesperson did not disclose initial findings from the squad-level testing, but said there are currently “no issues” in terms of “producibility” of the goggles.
In July and December 2023, the US Army announced that it had received the first and second batches of 20 and 10 IVAS 1.2 prototypes to undergo user trials.
Design Changes
The IVAS goggle is a militarized version of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 designed to revolutionize how soldiers perform on the battlefield.
Performance issues have caused the army and its developer to produce three iterations – the 1.0, 1.1, and the 1.2, which now features a 60-degree field-of-view.
Unlike previous versions, the IVAS 1.2 has a flat design that allows soldiers to easily flip it up and is reportedly more comfortable.
The computer puck has also been moved to the back of the helmet and the connecting cord is shorter.
Additionally, the IVAS 1.2 has a new low-light sensor that improves its performance in the dark.
“This new version, 1.2, we think it’s really going to hit the mark in terms of what we need to put out there for our soldiers to give them the situational awareness and the leap-ahead capability they need to stay ahead of our peers,” project manager Col. Anthony Gibbs said last year.