Keeping Warfighters Safe in the AR Battlespace

Augmented reality is reshaping how we see and interact with the world—but it also brings new risks. At Duke, Professor Maria Gorlatova and her team are pioneering tools to make AR safer, ensuring headsets help rather than harm. Backed by DARPA’s Director’s Fellowship, their work is protecting soldiers and civilians alike—keeping users focused on what truly matters.

Transcript

00:00:06 Augmented reality promises to transform the way we see the world. From sharpening our focus in immersive puzzles to helping doctors save lives, AR has the potential to unlock new capabilities. But like any technology, AR has hidden dangers and vulnerabilities. What if your headset blocked your vision, confused you, or distracted you

00:00:28 from real world threats? and combat situations that could mean life or death. At Duke, EC Professor Maria Goratova is leading research to spot those dangers early. Her team is developing tools that analyze what users see, track their attention, and detect when virtual objects could put them at risk. The goal to ensure augmented reality protects instead of endangers

00:00:51 the people who rely on it. DARPA recently awarded Goratova its prestigious director's fellowship, funding a third year of this project to make AR defenses faster, smarter, and more reliable for military use. This work is helping ensure that tomorrow's augmented reality systems keep soldiers and the rest of us focused on what really matters.