The founder of Oculus has returned to the virtual reality space, now bringing his expertise to the battlefield.
Anduril just announced its partnership with Microsoft to uplevel the United States Army’s integrated visual augmentation system. Palmer Luckey, who founded the defense startup in 2017 after selling Oculus, said in a press release the IVAS program is his top priority.
“This is Anduril’s bread and butter, and we’ve been building the backbone for this for years,” he said. “I can’t wait to show our customers what’s next. I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come.”
The mixed reality headsets help soldiers see more of the battlefield and detect threats in real time.
Anduril integrated its Lattice software to enhance the system’s ability to detect drones and airborne threats. Lattice is an AI-powered software platform that provides real-time situational awareness and automated threat detection across domains, including air, land, and sea.
Microsoft said IVAS, with its integrated sensors, will help soldiers see everything on the battlefield and make better decisions.
“IVAS is more than the sum of its parts,” Robin Seiler, Microsoft’s Vice President of Mixed Reality, said in a statement. “Through integration across existing and new software and sensors, IVAS brings a full picture of the battlefield to every soldier, enabling safer and more effective operations.”
The Army initiated the IVAS program in 2018 as part of its efforts to equip soldiers with advanced technology. The program initially focused on enhanced situational awareness, decision-making, and survivability. Microsoft played a key role in the program, adapting its HoloLens augmented reality tech to meet military needs.
The headsets provide real-time information overlays including maps, enemy positions, and mission-critical data, directly in a soldier’s field of vision. Data from various onboard and external sensors, including thermal imaging, night vision, and weapon-mounted cameras, give soldiers a comprehensive view of their surroundings.
Soldiers can use the wearables to navigate through difficult terrain and urban combat settings. They can accurately identify and engage targets using built-in tools like rangefinders and aiming systems. Training scenarios can be run directly through the headset, simulating combat environments and tactics.
The system also tracks soldiers’ vital signs, like heart rate and fatigue, delivering commanders real-time updates on the physical condition of their units.
Lattice’s open architecture means it can work alongside other military hardware and software so the system can grow and adapt with new advancements.
Luckey founded Oculus in 2012. His Oculus Rift prototype quickly gained attention through a viral Kickstarter campaign. Oculus VR was acquired by Facebook, now Meta, in 2014.
Luckey departed Facebook three years later in March 2017 amid controversy about his support for President Trump and shifting leadership dynamics. He quickly launched Anduril, with a focus on transforming military capabilities.
In November 2022, he unveiled the concept of a VR headset that kills the user if they die in the virtual world. Though Luckey did develop the concept, it remains a conceptual device.
Anduril has experienced rapid growth since its founding, quickly gaining attention for its autonomous systems, AI-driven platforms, and sensor fusion for military and national security applications. The startup has secured many high-profile defense contracts working with the Department of Defense border security, and allied governments.
Anduril also just announced it’s expanding its advanced technology into space. The company is developing systems to improve awareness of space threats and help control space operations. Its Lattice software will be used to automatically manage satellites and space assets.
Anduril plans to launch its own space system by 2025.