CROWS: Public Videogame Turns Into Weapon Trainer

CROWS with M2 HMG(click to view full) DID has covered the CROWS remotely-operated machine gun before, and its use in Iraq on up-armored HMMWVs and M1117 Guardian vehicles. The weapons have been successful in the field, and DID has even covered a (now-defunct) blog by a CROWS service technician in Iraq who was moving into a “train the trainer” phase. So, how about a “train the public” phase? CROWS is a “remotely-operated weapons system.” In plain English, it’s an automated, unmanned turret that can be operated from inside a vehicle, with the gunner using a joystick for firing and control while looking at a screen that shows visual, infrared, or other images from the RWS sensors. The weapon is also stabilized, which means it will adjust automatically as the vehicle it’s on shakes and moves. Does that sound like a video game to you? The US Army thought so too… America’s Army screenshot(click to view full) Acting on that insight, the US Army worked with game developers to put a CROWS module and mission sets into the new version of the hit Pentagon-sponsored videogame/ recruiting tool/ preparation tool “America’s Army.” Indeed, what could be more logical than using a computer […]