Firms Pool Resources To Develop New Driver Display

German defence giant Rheinmetall and U.S.-based manufacturer Honeywell Aerospace are teaming up to work on projects including a new augmented-reality driver display system that can provide enhanced 360° vision in windowless vehicles.

As per a recent press statement, the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate and share their expertise on the situational awareness tool as well as a range of other projects, including secondary power systems for vehicles.

Honeywell's existing 360 Display product comes in two variants: the aviation version of the visor employs augmented reality technology to give the wearer a high-resolution 360-degree view that seamlessly matches the view outside the cockpit, but also provides additional information such as flight instrumentation. The land vehicle version uses real-time camera feeds to offer a mixed-reality view including sensor information within  immediate field of vision.

The idea is for the new system to provide drivers of tactical tracked or wheeled vehicles with 360° vision enhanced by real-time data using feeds from thermal and daylight cameras, without recourse to windows or periscopes.

The two firms also voiced their intention to put their heads together to work on auxiliary power units for stationary vehicles with minimised thermal and acoustic signatures. Future areas for collaboration could also include  counter-unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS) and electronic warfare.

CEO of Rheinmetall AG Armin Papperger commented: "The list of potential areas of cooperation for our two companies is long. We are grateful to have gained Honeywell as a strategic partner given their long history of innovation and broad technological portfolio.”

And President of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace Matt Milas added: “We are excited to collaborate with Rheinmetall AG to bring our cutting-edge technology to support the missions of our allies across the world. New and existing programs will benefit from our joint development, production and sustainment efforts across an extensive list of global defense platforms.”

• You can read more about the planned cooperation and Honeywell's augmented-reality visor on the Rheinmetall website and on Honeywell's website