64 Addressing the Stress of Information Overload The system contains a variety of filters based on the structure of the German military chain of command. For example, the battalion commander or company commander can see platoons and squads, but don’t need to know the position of every soldier. And the soldiers see only what’s in their area of interest and what’s around them. “From my own experience in Afghanistan, we used to look at analog maps of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the whole map would be red,” the integrator said. “That didn’t mean there was an IED everywhere, it just meant nobody was filtering the data or updating the map, and you couldn’t use it for decision-making.” When designing these digital systems, cognitive load is a key consideration. Similar to how equipment is getting smaller and lighter to remove the physical load of soldiers so they can be nimble and move quickly, the cognitive capability to absorb information and make good decisions in stressful situations is also being considered. The digitization of old systems has accelerated lately thanks to the shift away from analog radios to digital radios that provide not just voice communication but enable digital sharing of tactical information. “I would say it’s a big leap forward,” the integrator said. “It brings an edge on who is where on a dynamic battlefield.” Rheinmetall includes a fair number of ex-military officers who see the opportunity to innovate and improve on the tech they had, with the knowledge of what is needed. In the case of the integrator we spoke to, it would sometimes take 10 to 15 minutes to communicate plans with everybody via the analog radio about where they want to go. “When you draw on the map and share it with others, there are no questions anymore,” he said. “And they don’t have to shout through the woods.” The vehicles and the soldiers are all interconnected on all one network now with a system that is proven and certified. The future soldier system will be deployed with the multinational NATO task force in the Baltics soon. “It’s not an island in itself but is interoperable with the rest of the task force,” the integrator said. Soldiers test the tank in an exercise with various degrees of camouflage. Connected soldiers provide eyes and ears on the ground to aid tanks in situational awareness.
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