Army wants an eagle-eye view

The Army wants to develop a lens that resembles the eye of an eagle.The goal is to develop a device that "mimics the visual acuity of a bird of prey," according to the Army research solicitation.

Resource: Read the solicitation

"Since vision is the most important sense for birds, and good eyesight is essential for safe flight, this group has a number of adaptations which give visual acuity superior to that of other vertebrate groups," the Army said. The objective is to "develop an innovative solution which will allow the operator to achieve the same sort of superior imaging and improved situational awareness available to avian predators."

A key attribute will be effective focal length that can easily be changed. The lens must be able to shift across its full dynamic range quickly, according to the Army. The system must be able to automatically detect targets and compute the range.

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