OCULUS RIFT HAS found a few new uses since it was acquired by Facebook, and an extra one can be added to the list: driving large vehicles.
The Norwegian Armed Forces is putting the technology to good use by combining them with their armoured vehicles, Norwegian site TUTV reports.
When you’re driving one, it’s difficult to see what’s in front of you and it becomes even more difficult when the hatch is closed during combat.
By using four cameras, positioned on each side of the vehicle so it’s filming in each direction the driver is able to see all around them. The video is transferred through a computer to the VR headset, creating a 360-degree viewpoint for the driver.
Some of the members of the project speak of the possibility of adding gaming elements to the view such as a map of the area, orientation and speed. The demo unit costs roughly $2,000 (€1,435), making it one of the more cheaper military projects.
The drawback is the eyestrain from the headset is too great for it to be the default method, but the Norwegian Armed Forces expect it to be useful in combat scenarios where the hatch must be kept shut.
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