US defence firm shapes new digital battlefield with “smart” visual helmets

American defence technology company Galvion has unveiled its latest advancements in combat helmet systems, introducing a modular platform that transforms standard helmets into connected data and visualization hubs. 

The technology, part of Galvion’s CORTEX line, was showcased at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exposition in Washington in October, as reported by The Defense Post.

While retaining the protective capabilities of traditional helmets, Galvion is now integrating advanced electronics and visualization tools designed to improve both lethality and survivability for soldiers on the battlefield.

“CORTEX is intended to make your helmet smarter and to bring some electronics and visualization capability to the helmet platform itself,” a Galvion representative explained.

“So going beyond the protective nature of a helmet — which is, of course, essential — now we’re looking at how to bring data and visualized information into it to either enhance lethality for the individual warfighter or improve protectiveness, in the sense of understanding where your threats are.”

The first product in the CORTEX lineup, the CORTEX Echo, is a bolt-on system compatible with multiple helmet platforms. Demonstrated on Galvion’s Caiman helmet at AUSA, the Echo routes data through the helmet’s rail system to various connection points. Controls are located on the left temple, and a Visual Augmentation System (VAS) connector on the side allows integration with different display technologies depending on mission requirements.

The Echo directly links to the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), a tactical mapping and situational awareness application widely used by U.S. and allied forces. Data from an ATAK-enabled device is transmitted through a downlink cable to the helmet’s compute system, placing maps, alerts, and sensor information directly in the user’s line of sight.

When loss of concentration can become fatal

A longstanding issue with soldier-worn technology is that vital information is often displayed on chest-mounted screens, forcing operators to look down and momentarily lose awareness.

“And that’s not a very wise thing to do when you’re in a threat environment, right?” the Galvion representative said.

“So the idea is by getting this information displayed in a convenient way near your eye, you can get your head out of your ATAK and you can keep your situational awareness out towards the threat area.”

Galvion distinguishes itself from competitors in two major ways. First, the company has embraced an open architecture approach, moving away from proprietary display systems that limit compatibility. Unlike other solutions that lock users into a single ecosystem, CORTEX Echo is compatible with virtually any heads-up display technology.

The second differentiator is the user interface. Galvion’s Alert Center application is designed to be intuitive, comparable to a smartphone, requiring no manual to configure displays or adjust information layouts.

At AUSA, Galvion also previewed a concept called CORTEX Evo — a fully integrated helmet-electronics system that removes the need for bolt-on components. The prototype suggests a future where the helmet itself serves as the computing platform, reducing weight and streamlining the form factor.

“This is really a concept that we’re showing here, with this idea of how far we can push things to where there is really no difference between the helmet and the electronics that are supporting these types of missions and this type of data aggregation,” the representative explained.

By Nazrin Sadigova