US Army Backs New MicroLED Vision Study

Kopin Corporation has been awarded a significant U.S. Army contract to advance warfighter vision.

The contract involves a Soldier Display Trade Study to define the optimal MicroLED characteristics for Extended Reality (XR) heads-up displays (HUDs) for warfighter XR solutions. 

The Soldier Display Trade Study focuses on identifying ultrabright MicroLED tradeoffs to optimize see-through XR applications, prioritizing daytime-readable displays that are brighter, more energy-efficient, and capable of delivering clear visibility across diverse lighting conditions-from intense daylight to overcast starlight. The trade study will culminate in a comprehensive “Microdisplay Requirements and Performance Matrix,” setting the standard for next-generation soldier vision systems.

MicroLED technology offers more brightness, enhanced power efficiency, and long operating lifetimes and eliminates the temporal artifacts associated with Laser Based Scanning (LBS). These attributes ensure daytime readability and reliable operation while minimizing nausea and discomfort often associated with earlier XR systems-an advancement for soldiers relying on extended use of HUDs in high-stakes missions.

This new contract will illustrate what microdisplay will be needed for next-generation soldier vision systems, including head-mounted see-through displays, handheld devices, platform-mounted systems, and advanced weapon sights like the Next Gen Squad Weapon Fire Control (NGSW-FC).