That's where bionic ear cuffs come in. TCAPS, or Tactical Communication and Protective System, is a device that protects soldiers' hearing while helping them maintain awareness of their surroundings. TCAPS analyzes every incoming sound, then amplifies the quietest ones—for example, conversation with a fellow soldier—and turns down the loudest ones, such as the blast of an IED. On top of that, they also broadcast radio communications. The cuffs are small enough to wear comfortably under a helmet, so a soldier could probably wear them all day without any drawbacks. So far, about 20,000 TCAPS devices have been deployed in the field since 2014, mostly to Special Operations forces. In fact, the Navy SEALs who stormed Osama Bin Laden's compound in 2011 were wearing TCAPS, according to author Mary Roach. Learn more about the devices in the videos below.