For warfighters operating in the field, the ability to
detect threats from standoff distances can be life-saving. When advanced radar
and drone coverage is not available, warfighters typically rely on their own
vision to scan their surroundings. Scanning over a wide area, though, is
challenging because of the amount of territory that must be reviewed, the
limited field of view of the human eye, and the effects of fatigue. Current
technologies like binoculars, cameras, and portable radars can help to improve
visibility and increase the threat detection rate. Unfortunately, current miss
rates of 47 percent or greater using these technologies leave warfighters
unprepared and vulnerable.
DARPA launched the Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System (CT2WS) program in 2008 with the goal of maximizing warfighters’
awareness of their surroundings by developing man-portable visual threat
detection devices.