Inside the New Military Tank Operated by an Xbox Controller

Every year, millions of gamers play games like Call of Duty: Warzone to experience the thrill of a virtual battlefield. But what if gaming went beyond your screen and out into the real battlefields of the world?

That is the case with the Carmel. That is the unassuming name for a special Israeli tank designed to be the next generation of military craft. And that tank is controlled by an Xbox controller!

The gaming comparisons don’t stop there. It also has A.I. honed by games like Doom and Starcraft II. While it sounds crazy, some think gamer-friendly vehicles like this are the future of “modern warfare.”

Go ahead and put down your own controller, and we’ll take a closer look under the Carmel’s hood.

From bedroom to battlefield

Most gamers would be out of place in a typical tank. That’s because the displays and the controls are nothing like what they are familiar with.

The Carmel changes all of that. It is filled with touchscreen tablets that allow drivers and operators to make adjustments to weaponry, speed, and more. And the driver controls the steering, aim, and firing of this tank with an Xbox controller.

In short, anyone who has logged their share of hours playing video games will feel right at home steering this tank around. But it still takes training beyond video games to operate the vehicle at peak efficiency.

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Made for younger soldiers

The notion of controlling a tank with an Xbox controller may sound insane. However, there is a very specific method to their madness.

It was designed for the Israeli Defence Force’s active-duty forces. And these forces are mostly comprised of men and women between the ages of 18 and 21.

It was only logical, then, to create a tank that would be instantly familiar to these younger soldiers. And that familiarity cuts down on training time and increases their overall combat efficiency.