Rivet Delivered 70 Smart Glasses to U.S. Army
The Washington, D.C.-based startup aims to field augmented reality tools for mission command and technical assistance.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Robotics
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Rivet has delivered 70 prototypes of its Rivet Hard Spec smart glasses to the U.S. Army. The hardware was developed as part of the military's Soldier Borne Mission Command program.
Why it matters
The technology is designed to assist soldiers with technical tasks and enhance situational awareness during complex deployments. It marks a shift toward integrating wearable AI interfaces for battlefield command.
Rivet delivered 70 prototype units, supported by a $55 million Series A financing round. The performance metrics of the hardware remain under evaluation by military personnel.
The players
Rivet
A Washington, D.C.-based startup developing wearable augmented reality hardware and AI-integrated mission command software for defense and industrial sectors.
U.S. Army
The land service branch of the United States Armed Forces currently evaluating wearable technology to modernize mission command and field maintenance.
The details
The Rivet Hard Spec uses visual input from the user to command AI agents that manage external systems. The device provides soldiers with procedural instructions for mechanical and technical tasks that they do not perform regularly. Future iterations intend to enable soldiers to use the glasses to command remote robots and drones.
Timeline
Rivet was selected for the Soldier Borne Mission Command program in 2025.
The 70 prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army in October 2026.
The Tech Race
This deployment follows the objectives established by the U.S. Army Soldier Borne Mission Command program to modernize infantry gear. It signals a move beyond laboratory research toward operational field testing of AI-enabled command interfaces.
While currently limited to the U.S. Army for mission command, Rivet is actively adapting this technology for commercial aerospace manufacturing and vehicle maintenance. These sectors may see field testing of similar industrial-grade augmented reality tools in the near future.
The takeaway
The deployment represents a shift in how soldiers interact with complex, non-standard mechanical equipment through AI guidance. Observers should track the upcoming results of the Soldier Borne Mission Command evaluations to see if the units transition into a broader procurement phase.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of defense-focused autonomous systems, browse our coverage in Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Defense News.
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