Lawmakers Push Army to Deploy Advanced Cameras for Improved Situational Awareness
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New York lawmakers want the branch to implement technology produced in their home state.
New York lawmakers from both Congressional chambers recently pressed the Army to prioritize the development of advanced cameras that can improve military surveillance and situational awareness—particularly in tight spaces.
In a letter penned late last week to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Reps. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., and Joseph Morelle, D-N.Y., called for the branch to implement technology that offers 360-degree views.
“Our military service members still face a dangerous level of tactical uncertainty in combat zones, and it is imperative that the Army use all the tools at its disposal to swiftly procure technology to mitigate these risks,” they wrote.
The lawmakers argued that most devices the military currently turns to for evaluating dangerous scenarios, such as pole-mounted cameras and mirrors, are limited in their fields of view. More sophisticated systems, like drones, aren’t easily accessible by all military forces.
A solution to the challenge, the lawmakers propose, involves sophisticated tactical camera devices that offer a look from many directions.
“We understand that multiple entities within the Army, including the Maneuver Center of Excellence and US Army Special Operations Command, are currently in the process of exploring these solutions, including those within the Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition space,” the Congress members wrote. “We urge you to prioritize the development of tactical stabilized omnidirectional cameras and request an update on the progress of the Army’s efforts to resolve this gap in tactical situational awareness.”
Though their letter didn’t explicitly mention companies with tech worth considering, the lawmakers pointed to throwable cameras developed by New York company Bounce Imaging in a corresponding press release.
“Military operations are constantly evolving, and technology must evolve with it,” Higgins said. “A device developed by Bounce Imaging, based right here in Buffalo provides a unique solution to challenges faced by our servicemembers in a variety of situations. Access to new, state-of-the-art equipment that can help detect, mitigate and navigate dangerous situations will improve operations and save lives.”