We're nonetheless a few years away from getting some consumer-friendly LCD sunglasses, but wouldn't you comprehend it the army's already rocking a pair. The Office of Naval Research TechSolutions department has delivered the first 30 units of what it calls Fast-Tint Protective Eyewear (FTPE). They'll change tint robotically based on exterior gentle, very like at present obtainable prescription glasses, but because of their LCD development can go from darkish to clear in only a half-second. This implies a SEAL squad could blow a door and infiltrate a room without having to ask the terrorists to carry their hearth whereas everybody takes off their shades. Initial stories are good and SOCOM is planning on buying another 100 units. Here is more about rapid prototype review stop by our web page. Maybe by the point they're delivered someone will launch an image of the things and we cannot have to use a random photo of camouflage shades like this one.

Update: Travis wrote in with a hyperlink to James Vaughan Photography, which has a few pictures of prototype variations of these glasses. We've grabbed one.

[Image Credit: James Vaughan Photography]

ONR's TechSolutions Providing SEALs with New Glasses That Change Lens Color on the Fly

By Geoff S. Fein, Office of Naval Research, Corporate Strategic Communications

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Office of Naval Research's (ONR) TechSolutions department is set to ship to Navy Special Warfare Command personnel later this 12 months new protective eyewear that can eradicate the need for warfighters to cease to vary out colored lenses to accommodate differences in gentle levels.

The Fast-Tint Protective Eyewear (FTPE) adjustments color quicker than transitional lenses generally discovered at an optometrist's workplace. "Transition time is lower than 0.5 seconds," stated Stephanie Everett, ONR's TechSolutions program supervisor.

"Currently, warfighters are utilizing a set of interchangeable lenses that require them to cease and manually swap lenses to adjust the goggles to a specific mild setting," Everett said. "But they cannot take the time to stop and take away and exchange the lenses."

Instead, they often merely remove their sunglasses when moving inside, leaving their eyes unprotected. The FTPE was designed to enable them to keep up ballistic protection under all lighting situations, with out interrupting their operational tempo.

Liquid crystal options inside the lenses include personalized dyes that transition to amber, blue, dark gray or clear when an electric cost is applied. Lenses can change color mechanically as wearers transfer in and out of varying environments, or lens colors might be altered manually by pushing a small button on the side of the glasses. Additionally, the lenses meet the American National Standards Institute's ballistic affect security necessities.

The request for brand new eyewear got here to TechSolutions from warfighters in July 2009, and the mission is almost full. The initial delivery was for rapid prototyping 30 pairs of the new eyewear, which have already gone out for rapid prototype analysis with warfighters who will use them in training. "They may present structured suggestions on the glasses," stated ONR's Command Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Ziervogel, who oversees the TechSolutions division.

After this analysis, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is predicted to take delivery of the FTPE glasses. "SOCOM is shopping for 100 models primarily based on the initial assessment and seeing the results from the current analysis," Ziervogel mentioned.

Last August, an earlier prototype was assessed, which led to design modifications, that are included in the current eyewear. "The user feedback made this prototype even better," Everett said.

Results from this round of assessments are expected in April, and the suggestions shall be forwarded to Ohio-primarily based AlphaMicron. The corporate, along with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, Ind., was chosen to develop FTPE.

"We anticipate extra minor design changes based mostly on the outcomes of the present evaluation," Everett mentioned. AlphaMicron will incorporate any changes into what shall be near a final product.

TechSolutions accepts recommendations and options from Navy and Marine Corps personnel working at the bottom level on ways to improve mission effectiveness by way of the appliance of know-how. It is solely centered on delivering needed expertise and moving the sea companies towards simpler and environment friendly use of personnel. TechSolutions makes use of rapid prototyping of applied sciences to satisfy particular requirements.

About the Office of Naval Research

The Office of Naval Research gives the science and expertise crucial to keep up the Navy and Marine Corps' technological benefit. Through its affiliates, ONR is a pacesetter in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher studying and 914 business partners. ONR employs roughly 1,four hundred individuals, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with extra workers at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.