ROVER video receiver.

• Position: Hit

* ROVER stands for remotely operated video enhanced receiver. It is a laptop computer that allows ground forces to see what an aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is seeing in real time by receiving images acquired by the aircraft's sensors. Troops and commanders can review images captured by a UAV to make critical decisions such as whether to strike a target or hold fire if innocent civilians are in the area.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The initial ROVER was developed in 2002 to allow ground forces to view video feeds from Predator UAVs or AC-130 gunships. The device was so large it was carried in a humvee. By fall of 2004, the terminal was reduced to backpack-size. A new version of ROVER that will soon be deployed is expected to be compatible with other aircraft and also allow interaction between ground controllers (who identify targets) and close-air support pilots. With current ROVER systems...