Evaluating thermal and image intensification night vision devices for the ground environment: human factors and usability issues

The Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) program is providing a system to expand the driving envelope for military wheeled and tracked vehicles. The DVE provides the driver with thermal images of the forward scene under night and adverse day conditions. During development, several questions emerged requiring performance-based data to resolve. A comprehensive program to provide the project manager, night vision/reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition with such data was undertaken by DCS Corporation. The program involved several efforts including: the relative merits of the DVE and night vision goggles (NVGs); drivers' ability to detect drop-offs with the DVE and NVGs; and the analysis of drivers' visual behaviors during DVE use. The data collected provides an understanding of how drivers use the DVE in operational settings and suggests areas where training is needed to enhance safety on the battlefield.