Advanced Integrated Combat Computing System (AICCS)

[Octose]

I think you just won Best post of 2010.

[Sleepy]

It'd be interesting to actually price this out from start to finish, since most folks don't have a lot of that just lying around. If more people were involved in the concept, it might develop a bit faster.

One thing folks might look into for developing a sort of Blue Force Tracker, is the use of the ham radio APRS system. Unfortunately, I've been reasonably assured that APRS doesn't cover enough territory to be useful.

That being said, this is really quite clever, and arguably one of the Best Posts of 2010. It'll be interesting to see how this develops.

[Matt]

Couldn't you just do 90% of this stuff with just a phone, if you had the right application? Aside from the remote camera, I really don't see anything that a GPS enabled phone with the Battletac system can do. Aside from allowing you to watch porn while you are waiting for a delayed OP start - nah, you can do that on your phone too.

I'm trying to think of how I might use this during an OP, and I'm only getting visions of me getting shot in the face by the enemy while I'm bleeding with a computer on the battlefield.

Can you lay down some use case scenarios where this would be beneficial?

[Bad Karma]

It's not a matter of what it can do, it's a matter of what it can't. Unlike a phone, or specialized devices like GPS or those god-forbidden Redwolf tracker things, this device is not specifically tailored to or limited to one function. Because it is a full computer with a mainstream OS, you can concievably run any application a situation demands. Corner cameras, remote wireless camera monitoring, GPS tracking, whatever.

It's not designed to be used on the front lines. It's designed for use by officers to orchestrate movement and coordinate intel into battle plans. That's said, you can use a rifle and this at the same time. It is always on, always tracking, and 100% hands free. A phone is not. I'd also like to see an iPhone or other smart phone stay on for over five hours straight running GPS, 3G, and it's camera simultaneously.

[Matt]

Point taken, it makes more sense as a command option.

[Sleepy]

I think at a certain point, if this ever develops past the prototype stage, it would have to move towards the front lines, to allow unit commanders to reciprocate data to the FORCECOM. I'm not saying every grunt on the field needs one, but some unit commanders might enjoy the ability to know certain things.

For example, a recon team could move themselves into position to overwatch on a certain target. As enemy forces move within their knowledge, they can relay that data to other unit commanders. It provides a much more efficient visual medium to other leaders.

Also, it makes it a lot easier to know where other units are in place, as they move from point to point. Basically, setting the thing up as a Blue Force Tracker.

Just some ideas, since I'm not entirely sure what programs you're currently using, and what its limitations are.

[Bad Karma]

Well, software is the only real limitation of the device, the hardware architecture is there to back whatever you can throw at it. Currently, I'm using a basic GPS mapping software and app to run the camera, but who knows what the future may have in store?

Right now, I want to test the field performance of the GPS receiver. If it works under the canopy then I'll be in business to start creating new ways to use this thing, and explore ways to have it communicate with other units. If the GPS doesn't work, though, the entire thing becomes nothing more than a tacticool-looking dead weight on my vest, and it's back to the drawing board. Without the ability to triangulate the wearer's position relative to their surroundings, and in the future to other units, the thing is useless. Here's hoping the GPS works well, but like all things technological it will probably fail miserably.

[Zataru]

I was planning on doing something similar to this with my Droid at Conflict Europe. I'll be using the GPS and a mapping application with the general map objectives (CA, Airfield, Spawn, ect) set as points, so I'll know where everything is and in what direction everything is. (Which helps me a lot, since I'm new to this field.)

I went on a trip to California using the GPS already, and used it about 2 hours with half battery remaining. I'm hoping i can get a full 6 hours out of it at CE. Granted, I wont be using it the whole time.

What i'm doing is nowhere as cool as what you're doing, though.

[Switch]

Karma, I <3 U so much my man. you have a great mind for leadership, and now you can think so much more out of the box to find answers in completing tasks on the battle field. GG!

[Beran]

what kind of plans do you have for water resistance? there are some times of the year where its not so much of an issue, but CE wont be one of them. if you just stuck the computer into a big ziploc, that would work but its going to make the heat retention a lot worse. as for the touchscreen, that's going to be tricky to waterproof effectively. the vinyl helps some, but the whole device looks like a big raincatcher to me.

otherwise, there's a lot of potential here. the open design of it being based on windows makes for some interesting possibilities. you might look into some of the broadband internet cards sold by some of the wireless retailers. not so useful for the more remote locations, but places like T1T and SD should have decent data coverage, and then you could run something like google earth, or other apps requiring a data connection. also, many of them come with built in GPS hardware now, so they serve a dual function.

[Bad Karma]

The unit has 3G connectivity built in via a Bluetooth tether through my iPhone with PDANet. Not as clean as an internal card, but I can still get 300kbps downstream even in somewhat remote locations. Improved water resistance is in the works, which may very well include stuffing the laptop in a big ziploc. Heat is a non-issue because if how slow I have the CPU throttled at. The thing would probably run fine in an oven.

[Bad Karma]

UPDATE:

I took the AICCS for a test-drive tonight out in the woods of McMinnville. I was at a tree farm with trees that were 40-60 feet tall, thick, and providing (from what I could tell) a very dense, full canopy. The AICCS GPS unit tracked bleeding immaculately. At all times I was grabbing at least the required 3 satellites, but generally 4 or 5. Of course, CE4 will be the real test, and the canopy will be different and maybe more dense, but initial indications are good.

[k3gn3123512]

Blind firing is incredibly lame, unsafe, and dishonorable.

Its not blind technically. Since you are attaching a camera to it.

[Sleepy]

Thats bleeding outstanding, Whopper Jr.

Also, in the strictest sense of the phrase, if you could rig a gooseneck camera up to a rail mount, and mount it behind the optic ala Aimpoint 3x mag. Provided you could orient it properly, you could use the optic to point you, and its not technically blind firing.

That being said, its still kind of low.

[Mini-Marine]

Blind firing is incredibly lame, unsafe, and dishonorable.

Its not blind technically. Since you are attaching a camera to it.

Its still blind firing because all you are exposing is your gun.

You can fire without being fired upon.

That is great in a real world situation, but incredibly lame in airsoft.