Development of the Non-Distributed Flight Reference Off-Boresight Helmet-Mounted Display Symbology

Abstract

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is developing helmet-mounted display (HMD) symbology to support its acquisition development programs that in turn transition the latest advances in crew systems to the operational user. This HMD symbology is being designed to provide aircrew with the ability to maintain spatial orientation and awareness of aircraft state while performing off-boresight tasks across day, night, and all-weather conditions. Requirements dictate that the HMD symbology must perform at least as well as the existing head-up display symbology for off-boresight piloting tasks, as well as target acquisition and designation across air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. This paper summarizes the research conducted by AFRL investigating the non-distributed flight reference (NDFR) HMD symbology. The research describes the necessity of having off-boresight symbology on the HMD, how the NDFR symbology has been evaluated and designed to date, and most importantly, the benefit to the pilot when using off-boresight symbology compared to using the HUD alone.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

AFMAN 11–217V1 (2000). Instrument flight procedures. (USAF).

Fischer

Fuchs

, (1992). Symbology for head-up and head-down applications for highly agile fighter aircraft – to improve spatial awareness. Proceedings of AGARD Symposium on Combat Automation of Airborne Weapon Systems Man/Machine Interface: Trends and Technologies, AGARD-CP-520.

Geiselman

E. E.

Osgood

R. K.

(1994). Utility of off-boresight helmet-mounted symbology during a high angle airborne target acquisition task. In Lewandowski

R. J.

Stephens

Haworth

L.A.

(Eds.), Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineers (SPIE): Helmet- and Head-mounted Displays and Symbology Design Requirements, 2218, pp. 328–338.

Geiselman

E. E.

Osgood

R. K.

(1995). Head vs. aircraft oriented air-to-air target location symbology using a helmet-mounted display. In Lewandowski

R. J.

Stephens

Haworth

L.A.

(Eds.), Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineers (SPIE): Helmet- and Head-mounted Displays and Symbology Design Requirements II, 2465, pp. 214–225.

Geiselman

E. E.

Havig

P. R.

Brewer

M. T.

(2000). A non-distributed flight reference symbology for helmet-mounted display use during off-boresight viewing: Development and evaluation. Helmet and Head-Mounted Displays V. Lewandowski

R.J.

Haworth

L.A.

Girolamo

H.J.

(Eds.), The International Society for Optical Engineering. Bellingham, WA., pp. 272–283.

Havig

P. R.

Jenkins

J. C.

Geiselman

E. E.

(2002). A comparison of HMD ownship status symbology and frame-of-reference orientation during two aircraft control tasks. Proceedings of SPIE, Helmet-Mounted Displays VI, Lewandowski

R. J.

Haworth

L. A.

Girolamo

H. J.

(Eds), SPIE, Bellingham, Washington.

Jenkins

J. C.

Thurling

A. J.

Havig

P. R.

Geiselman

E. E.

(2002). Flight test evaluation of the non-distributed flight reference. Proceedings of SPIE, Helmet-Mounted Displays VI, Lewandowski

R. J.

Haworth

L. A.

Girolamo

H. J.

(Eds), SPIE, Bellingham, Washington.

Osgood

R. K.

Geiselman

E. E.

Calhoun

(1991). An evaluation of an off-boresight helmet-mounted display for a simulated flying task. AGARD conference proceedings 517, Helmet-Mounted Displays and Night Vision Goggles, pp. 14. 1–147.