Did you know? Microsoft’s Xbox controller can operate Israel’s ‘Carmel’ battle tanks in a training environment. Yes, you read it right! Microsoft’s Xbox controller makes it possible to control the Israeli tank’s navigation, artillery, and various other essential operations relevant to war tactics.
Israeli battle tank Carmel can be controlled by Xbox controller
From the outside, the Carmel looks just like any other armored fighting vehicle. But it’s the interior of the Carmel that makes the whole implementation truly interesting and mesmerizing, especially for men and women aged 18 to 21, courtesy of video games.
From the inside, the Carmel bears a striking resemblance to a room filled with video game gears, equipment, peripherals, and other high-tech gadgets.
And very importantly, the tank’s internals have been designed by gamers for ‘serious’ gamers (to some extent).
Cashing in on the friendliness and familiarity of Microsoft Xbox Controller, this redefined approach to the war training using Carmel is certainly a state-of-the-art vision put forward by Israel Aerospace Industries.
“They wanted something lighter and more portable,” the Washington Post report quotes Meir Shabtai who is general manager of IAI’s robotics systems operations:
“From teenagers up to pre-military guys, and guys who are after their service, we let each one play with the [Carmel simulation] and define what kind of skills and what kind of accessories we should use, and according to that we developed the whole system.”
We take a look at this short, 57-second clip offering a glimpse of the Carmel:
Well, this is not the first time war machines and video games have been put together. For example, the U.S Navy’s USS Colorado comes equipped with a video game controller that operates its periscope.
In the past, the U.S military has controlled Boeing’s High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator using Xbox controllers.
However, it’s just not Xbox controllers. Some 12 years ago, military engineers had announced plans to control the bomb disposal robots using Nintendo Wii controllers
