Soldiers See Real-Time Drone Feeds From New Handheld Devices

By Kris Osborn – Managing Editor – Warrior Maven

The Army and Textron Systems are developing a lightweight portable One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT) that allows dismounted soldiers to view real-time nearby drone video feeds using a modified frequency.

OSRVTs have been in combat with the Army since 2007. They are integrated into vehicle platforms such as Stryker vehicles, allowing infantry to view feeds and control sensor payloads from nearby drones while on the move.

The laptop-like drone controllers are configured with an adapter kit so that they can operate from almost every Army vehicle. In fact, OSRVT software is hosted in the Army’s emerging Humvee replacement, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Fielding of OSRVTs is currently 69 percent complete, Army officials said. This new technology allows soldiers such as dismounted infantry not in vehicles to view combat-relevant drone feeds while on foot.

Current OSRVTs include a transceiver, antenna, and ruggedized tablet computer that enables with an unmanned aircraft, Army Program Managers for OSRVT, UAS Common Systems Integration Office, have told Warrior.

Certain small, handheld Army drones, such as a Puma or Wasp, can be operated by dismounted soldiers. However, while quite useful in combat circumstances, they have a more limited range, endurance and sensing ability compared to larger, medium-altitude drones such as an Army Gray Eagle.

Other planned upgrades to the OSRVT configuration include a modified Ku-band Directional Antenna (KuDA) for mobile vehicle operations that will be ready this year and bi-directional technology by 2020. The Army plans to have additional communications security for the OSRVT in place by 2020 as well, Ary developers said.

The OSRVT system supports level of interoperability three (LOI3) via a KuDA; LOI3 allows the OSRVT user to control the sensor payload (except weapons) when allowed by the primary operator.