Called SITA by its creator Physical Optics Corp, the Tactical Flex Display Unit is offered in a couple of different sizes. It’s currently greyscale and sunlight readable as well as compatible with NVGs. They’re working on a color version that will also be sunlight readable. Below, you can see a couple of mockups.
SITA runs on Android OS and offers a certain amount of inherent functionality along with the ability to serve as a I/O peripheral for other devices. Currently using a commercial mapping software, they are working on the integration of NGA digital mapping products (raster and vector), SITA can be used as an autonomous Blue Force Tracker. POC pairs SITA with a digital GPS Receiver and commercial satellite tracker/text messenger Track24 to offer BFT services as well as sat text messaging.
Tags: Physical Optics Corp, SOFIC 2014
Make it Rover capable and you will win over every JTAC i know
Is this, fundamentally, a flexible-screen e-ink display with touch input? As I understand it, the state-of-the-art as it pertains to e-ink displays is limited in its ability to maintain refresh rates high enough to display full-motion video. Additionally, every color e-ink display I’ve researched, to this point, shows a quite dramatic “wash-out” in sunlight or even bright indoor lighting. SSD, did you have a chance to observe the display as it changed images to speak to refresh rates/performance? This is absolutely the theoretical technology that will allow us to overcome many of the lim-facs of the conventional, backlit display with regards to power draw, covert lighting, daylight readability, etc. I’m just not convinced, however, that current e-ink technology can do what we need it to.
I played with the early prototypes of these at Camp Roberts a couple years back, before they added touch screen. Overall, I’m chomping at the bit to get my hands on these for my use. But, to Matts point, it’s not perfect for all cases. My observations:
1) The model I played with was not great at video. So it’s not a GCS replacement for live video exploitation. Good for imagery though.
2) Wash out was not an issue. It was more visible than other displays.
3) Power draw is teh awesomes. That’s the win for e-ink in my opinion, along with easy day read and durability.
The little black receivers shown above, I didn’t get to play with but saw at SOFIC and they are a very good add-on. Made by some company in Canada. They’re basically Iridium sat text message modems (and yes GPS). The display combined with that modem becomes a global-coverage, low-power reporting/tasking/messaging/imagery/mapping/nav suite.
I’m using a very similar set-up with a COTS android phone and iridium modem but they are less durable and draw more power. I’ll be upgrading my kit with these two items once they become commercially available.