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I watched an episode of the superb documentary series Future Weapons last night, which was showcasing some technology from the American Military’s Future Combat Systems program.

The whole series is really just an extension of the Shock and Awe principal, also known as Rapid Dominance (which, by the way, has a lot of parallels with my own personality). Showing technology to the masses is an obvious show of strength, it increases Americans faith in their military and instils fear in the enemy - look how potent our weapons are!!.

Future Combat Systems is the “future of warfare”, basically stocking out the battlefield with “intelligent” systems which can communicate with each other. No reason why the battlefield shouldn’t also enjoy the advent of ubiquitous computing. Gamers especially will be familiar with elements of the FCS program, such as the currently cancelled/suspended Land Warrior concept. Which is basically a soldier jacked into an intelligent battlefield.

As i’ve discussed with some of you in the past, the military actively pursues gamers. Evidenced by the America’s Army video game, and the recruitment of young gamers as pilots. Young people who already manifest some of the basic skills and training necessary. Who clearly demonstrate the ambition and interest. But that’s really a given, i’m interested in a slight aside.

I read an article some time ago about the development of an automated weapon system. When soldiers were asked their opinions on a control method - they responded that they’d most prefer a console joypad. I can’t entirely remember which particular brand but i believe it was a dual shock pad.

It makes sense because it’s a control medium that they’re very familiar with. Both from experiences before joining the forces, and their barracks/backhome game time. Aiming a missile remotely with a video monitor? Sure! I’ve done that loads of times on my Xbox.

You can see from the screengrab that this is exactly what i observed being used by the military. Specifically it’s a wired Xbox 360 controller.

It’s being used to control an iRobot FCS SUGV. The SUGV is a reconnaissance robot, which is controlled remotely by a soldier (with a joypad, apparently) and used to explore and investigate locations that may be unsafe for the soldier and his group to enter. It’s a tracked vehicle with a camera platform that can be raised and lowered.

I wonder if they’ll still be using the 360 pad when it’s deployed in the field, or if it was simply being used as an early test. Although it’s a superb controller, i’d hardly call it rugged.

In the same episode they cover a vehicle called the Crusher which is an all terrain vehicle (for want of a stronger term). It too is controlled by a remote soldier, and also uses hardware familiar to the gamer.

A steering wheel, complete with pedals. Now that may well be a piece of bespoke hardware, i’m not familiar with steering wheel controllers, but the size and colour scheme say video game peripheral to me.

I can imagine that it’s difficult for the average Joe to wrap his head around controlling something that isn’t there. Using only a tiny screen for display, and relying on controls that always feel like there’s something missing (where’s the rest of the car gone??). But that’s everyday play to a gamer.

We’re used to taking a concept, and applying a physical control to it. Making a skateboarder move his feet by using the motion of a pair of small joysticks, or flying a plane using a few keys on a keyboard. For a gamer the relationship between physical action and desired result is a strong one, so no wonder the military wants us.

Now as soon as they apply the hack-and-slash game mechanic to real warfare, i’m in!