The head unit, made with help from Lockheed Martin (which designed the F-35) is way more than a protective shell. Built around a custom-fitted insert based on a 3-D scan of the pilot’s noggin, it combines noise-canceling headphones, night vision, a forehead-mounted computer, and a projector—not so different from the one in your office’s conference room—that displays live video on its clear visor.

 

The pilot can see through the base and walls of the aircraft, thanks to six cameras mounted outside the F-35. The “Distributed Aperture System” provides a 360-degree view of the plane’s surroundings, stitching together feeds from the corresponding external cameras based on where the pilot’s looking. It labels objects in her field of view with distance, bearing, speed, and altitude. Unsurprisingly cagey on how that works exactly, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson simply said, “There are a number of sensors on the helmet and in the aircraft that allow us to accurately track the precise position of the helmet in space.”

 

If the pilot feels that something she sees should be hit by a missile, or just wants a closer look, all she has to do it look at it to lock on, then flip a switch to zoom in, or fire away. Even when she’s looking elsewhere, the plane’s sensors are constantly looking for threats and keeping track of nearby wingmen, projecting relevant info onto the inside of the helmet’s visor. The fitting process includes measuring the pilot’s interpupillary distance, to ensure a sharp picture.

 

It’s a Good Thing the F-35’s $4

Wow!

 

Think of where we will be in 10 years, 50 years.

 

In the not too distant future we are going to have computer operated, human assisted killing machines in our skies. Or I guess you could say we are already there.

John Conner, man. John Conner.

John Conner, man. John Conner.

 

If we can't control something that is infinitely smarter than us that is absolutely true.

That is really cool.

 

Look at it and with the flip of a switch, kill it.

Wow!

 

Think of where we will be in 10 years, 50 years.

In the not too distant future we are going to have computer operated, human assisted killing machines in our skies. Or I guess you could say we are already there.

 

Was just having this discussion with my daughter yesterday. Imagine what is already in the works today that we won't know anything about for a couple of decades.

 

The U2, Blackbird, Space Shuttle, Stealth Fighter and Stealth Bombers were all basically designed with slide rules on paper using less computing power than my Samsung phone. Imagine what is being worked on today that we will see roll out a decade from now, imagine what can be done with today's computing power.

 

I know Visible Stealth (Cloaking) is not only being worked on but probably already being tested...I remember a man at the Oak Ridge National Lab telling a bunch of students about it a few years ago, the last major obstacle he told them was eliminating the shadow of the item (Tank, Truck, Plane) being Cloaked.

 

The ability to "Beam" atoms from one point to another like a Star Trek Transporter has already been accomplished...it will take a while before a living being can be "Beamed Aboard" but the technology may already be being used to transmit communications that cannot be intercepted.

 

Just imagine what is to come.

Yep JD, we are at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to technology.

 

Was just having this discussion with my daughter yesterday. Imagine what is already in the works today that we won't know anything about for a couple of decades.

 

The U2, Blackbird, Space Shuttle, Stealth Fighter and Stealth Bombers were all basically designed with slide rules on paper using less computing power than my Samsung phone. Imagine what is being worked on today that we will see roll out a decade from now, imagine what can be done with today's computing power.

 

I know Visible Stealth (Cloaking) is not only being worked on but probably already being tested...I remember a man at the Oak Ridge National Lab telling a bunch of students about it a few years ago, the last major obstacle he told them was eliminating the shadow of the item (Tank, Truck, Plane) being Cloaked.

 

The ability to "Beam" atoms from one point to another like a Star Trek Transporter has already been accomplished...it will take a while before a living being can be "Beamed Aboard" but the technology may already be being used to transmit communications that cannot be intercepted.

 

Just imagine what is to come.

 

The B-2 and F-117 were not designed without computer assistance. The previous attempts at flying wings like the B-2 (YB-35 and YB-49) were too unstable and crashed.

 

They were on the drawing board, but they wouldn't have been possible without computers.

The B-2 and F-117 were not designed without computer assistance. The previous attempts at flying wings like the B-2 (YB-35 and YB-49) were too unstable and crashed.

 

They were on the drawing board, but they wouldn't have been possible without computers.

 

Yeah I know, I said they were designed with about as much computing power as a modern phone would have.

 

The bigger point was look at the technology available when they were designed compared to today, over 30+ years later. Then imagine what can be designed and built with the technology of today as compared to then.

 

Yeah I know, I said they were designed with about as much computing power as a modern phone would have.

 

The bigger point was look at the technology available when they were designed compared to today, over 30+ years later. Then imagine what can be designed and built with the technology of today as compared to then.

 

Understood