![]() On the right is the Thales TopOwl Helmet-Mounted Sight and Display that is operational in five major helicopter programs across 16 countries, including the Cobra AH-1Z and Huey UH-1Y.Ĭredit: Photos courtesy of Thales-a global technology leader for aerospace, transport, defense and security markets. On the left is the GENTEX Scorpion Helmet-Mounted Cueing System in use within the A-10 Thunderbolt and the Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve F-16 Block 30/32 Viper aircraft. Slave onboard sensors such as radar and FLIR.įigure 17.10 shows two modern, currently deployed helmet-mounted displays in use within fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.įigure 17.10 This image shows two head-mounted displays currently in use within U.S military aircraft. To date, dozens of different helmet-mounted displays have been developed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft around the world, each of which has served at least one of the following purposes:ĭisplay targeting, navigation, and aircraft performance data to the pilot.ĭirect high off-boresight (HOBS) air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. In many regards, helmet-mounted displays can be considered the first widely deployed augmented reality systems. Such systems allow critical information to be displayed to a pilot regardless of where his head is pointing, further maximizing the amount of time a pilot spends looking outside of the aircraft instead of inside of the cockpit. But here, the major limiting factor is that the pilot must be looking straight ahead to see this information.Īt this point, the next logical step in cockpit design was the movement of the information display from the HUD unit to optical elements mounted within, or directly onto the visor of, the pilot’s helmet. Similarly, the widespread adoption of HUDs, or heads-up displays-a transparent screen, or combiner, typically mounted on the cockpit dash at eye level-and the conversion of some cockpit avionics information from letters and numbers to a symbolic representation further eased this burden. ![]() Movement to multifunction displays (small screens surrounded by buttons) within which this same information about aircraft systems, navigation, weapons status, sensors, and so on is logically organized into multiple pages, rather than everything always being visible, helped the information processing task immensely. The net result was a frequent sense of information overload, high stress, and a loss of situational awareness. The great challenge with these early designs was that the pilot was forced to spend a significant amount of time with his attention focused inside the cockpit reading dials and gauges or interpreting grainy sensor images instead of looking outside the aircraft where targets and threats were located. This complex mental processing task was over and above the actual job of operating the aircraft and solving problems related to the geometry of flight, aerial combat maneuvering, and tactical engagement. Often this information was presented in alphanumeric form (a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters), the totality of which was intended to communicate critical information and help a pilot form a mental image about what was happening outside of the aircraft. Previously, cockpits were filled with dozens of switches, buttons, and other manual controls, in addition to numerous highly coded dials and gauges providing information on aircraft systems, navigation, weapons status, sensors, and more. The cockpit designs of military aircraft, and in particular fighter jets, have changed significantly over the past several decades. In the following sections we look at some of these challenges and the solutions found through the application of virtual and augmented reality-enabling technologies. ![]() ![]() As their size and capability have steadily increased over the years, so too have the challenges involved in their safe operation and effective utilization. Learn More Buy Advanced Cockpit AvionicsĪircraft have evolved to become some of the most complex and consequential machines created by man. Practical Augmented Reality: A Guide to the Technologies, Applications, and Human Factors for AR and VR ![]()
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