In a new bid to assert its solution for the Army’s mixed-reality ambitions, Anduril Industries has unveiled a helmeted computing system called EagleEye. This system aims to turn soldiers into AI-augmented warfighters. The launch is notable because the initiative is led by Anduril’s co-founder, Palmer Luckey, who previously started the pioneering VR company Oculus, which was later acquired by Meta.
Anduril describes EagleEye as a modular family of systems built on its Lattice software. This technology places command-and-control tools, sensor feeds, and artificial intelligence directly into a soldier’s field of vision. The company states the system can integrate live video feeds and features rear and side sensors to alert operators to potential threats. It can also track teammates in real time. EagleEye variations include a helmet, a visor, and glasses.
This launch occurs as the U.S. Army seeks to expand its pool of mixed-reality gear suppliers. The Army had been using Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System, a twenty-two billion dollar program awarded in 2018. After years of issues, the Army handed control of that contract to Anduril this past February. Then in September, Anduril won a one hundred fifty-nine million dollar award to prototype a new mixed-reality system for soldiers. This is part of the broader Soldier Borne Mission Command effort. Anduril described the award as the largest effort of its kind to outfit every soldier with superhuman perception and decision-making capabilities.
Earlier this year, Anduril also announced a partnership with Meta to develop extended reality devices for the military. This marks an unexpected reunion between Palmer Luckey and his former employer. Luckey stated that he is glad to be working with Meta once again. He said his mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products being built with Meta do just that.
The EagleEye concept has a long history, having first appeared in Anduril’s initial pitch deck draft. Investors at the time convinced the startup’s team to focus on software like Lattice instead. Reflecting on this, Luckey noted that competing directly with Microsoft and Magic Leap then would have been demoralizing and driven by magical thinking. He concluded that everything is different now, stating the world is ready and so is Anduril.