The ups and downs of the US Army’s IVAS mixed reality project are well documented; notably, over the past year, Microsoft lost leading control of the multi-billion project to Andruil Industries.
Looking forward, US Army senior representatives gave updates regarding the IVAS following its leadership switch-up.
Lt. Gen. Robert Collins, speaking on the matter, explained that the US Army is “committed to IVAS” and will “continue to improve that system.”
Collins also added:
We’re continuing in the prototype [phase], and we’re learning to iterate. to make sure that we’ve got the requirements right.
The IVAS is still very much undergoing its prototype phase, which does not appear to be slowing down—the Head of Program Executive Office Soldier, Maj. Gen. Christopher Schneider explained that, “we have some decisions that we have to make, and I think we’re going to be pretty close to having those resolved.
Schneider noted:
In the next month or so, we’ll be able to talk on the way ahead. – [IVAS got] really great feedback from soldiers on IVAS 1.2. – We’re very, very comfortable where we are in that we have some huge opportunities with Anduril.
The Microsoft HoloLens, Anduril Industries Transition
Microsoft recently lost the IVAS contract, estimated to be worth $22 billion. While the HoloLens had seen some use in enterprise applications over the years, the IVAS contract was crucial for keeping the device relevant as the market evolved, with more companies introducing similar products.
Interestingly, after losing the IVAS contract, Palmer Luckey’s start-up, Anduril, has taken over the role that the HoloLens division previously occupied. Anduril is a company focused on defence technology.
Those familiar with the tech industry will remember Palmer Luckey as the founder of Oculus, the virtual reality company that was acquired by Mark Zuckerberg and later integrated into Meta and Reality Labs after Luckey’s departure.
Anduril is taking over developing and producing a mixed-reality device, following Microsoft’s work with the HoloLens-powered IVAS; however, Microsoft will support the project’s backend and AI frameworks.
Recent reports have highlighted concerns over the discontinuation of devices and the impending end of technical support for HoloLens. This situation worsened for Microsoft earlier this month when it lost the U.S. Military IVAS contract, valued at approximately $22 billion.
In light of losing the IVAS contract, Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Corporate Vice President, Robin Seiler, addressed the company’s stance on HoloLens and its mixed reality strategy.
Seiler mentioned that Microsoft is “transitioning away from hardware development” but will continue supporting HoloLens 2 hardware and software until 2027, as announced in October.
Notably, after losing the IVAS contract, Microsoft’s HoloLens division was succeeded by Anduril, a startup founded by Palmer Luckey, known for creating Oculus, the virtual reality company acquired by Mark Zuckerberg. Anduril is now responsible for developing and producing a mixed-reality device, building on Microsoft’s earlier work with the HoloLens-powered IVAS.
Palmer Luckey Speaks on IVAS
In a joint press release between Anduril Industries and Microsoft covering the IVAS partnership, Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril Industries, explained how the US Army IVAS program “represents the future of mission command” by combining “technology and human capability to give soldiers the edge they need on the battlefield.”
“The ultimate goal is to create a military ecosystem where technology acts as an extension of human capability,” Luckey remarked, “By empowering soldiers with the tools they need to make faster, smarter decisions, we’re building a future where technology and human ingenuity combine to ensure mission success.”
In the same official commentary on the partnership, Robin Seiler said:
We are incredibly proud of the work our teams have put in to help the U.S. Army transform its concept of a soldier-borne, AR headset into reality with the IVAS program. Our Soldier-Centered Design approach helped reimagine technology development with the Army that continuously took in real-world soldier feedback to develop a product that soldiers love.
“We are excited to partner with Anduril for the next phase of IVAS and leverage our combined strengths to meet our commitments on this vital program and deliver a game-changing capability for every U.S. soldier,” Seiler added.
Microsoft is actively involved in the IVAS project by integrating Microsoft Azure to provide cloud computing support for mixed reality and artificial intelligence technologies. This participation reinforces Microsoft’s role as a backend framework provider in the emerging extended reality market, establishing the company in this field.
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