Check 6! Now a Possibility for Vehicles, Too

Check 6(click to view full) BAE Systems announced a $45 million contract from General Dynamics Land Systems that will see them equip U.S. Army Stryker family wheeled APCs and and M1 Abrams family tanks with their “Check 6” infrared rear-view system. Deliveries are set to begin in April 2009, and BAE Systems expects to deliver more than 12,000 of these systems over the next decade. The Check 6 system uses a thermal viewer derived from the company’s weapon sights, in order to provide all-water, all-hours visibility. It’s fitted into a tail light housing, and installs with no drilling or welding. The system allows the crew to “see” in a cone behind the vehicle, without leaving its armor protection. More than a few civilian drivers could also benefit from this technology. These days, some do. Daylight videocameras mounted in the rear of civilian vehicles, and displayed on the rear view mirror or dashboard screen, are now available as options on a number of medium and high-end cars.