In-flight evaluation of a fiber optic helmet-mounted display

Sion A. Jennings; Arthur W. Gubbels; Carl P. Swail; Greg Craig

doi:10.1117/12.317426

11 August 1998 In-flight evaluation of a fiber optic helmet-mounted display

Sion A. Jennings, Arthur W. Gubbels, Carl P. Swail, Greg Craig

Proceedings Volume 3362, Helmet- and Head-Mounted Displays III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317426
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), in conjunction with the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND), is investigating the use of helmet-mounted displays (HMD) to improve pilot situational awareness in all-weather search and rescue helicopter operations. The National Research Council has installed a visually coupled HMD system in the NRC Bell 205 Airborne Simulator. Equipped with a full authority fly-by-wire control system, the Bell 205 has variable stability characteristics, which makes the airborne simulator the ideal platform for the integrated flight testing of HMDs in a simulated operational environment. This paper presents preliminary results from flight test of the NRC HMD. These results are in the form of numerical head tracker data, and subjective handling qualities ratings. Flight test results showed that the HMD degraded handling qualities due to reduced acuity, limited field-of-view, time delays in the sensor platform, and fatigue caused by excessive helmet inertia. Some evidence was found to support the hypothesis of an opto-kinetic cervical reflex whereby a pilot pitches and rolls his head in response to aircraft movements to maintain a level horizon in their field-of- view.

Citation Download Citation

Sion A. Jennings, Arthur W. Gubbels, Carl P. Swail, and Greg Craig "In-flight evaluation of a fiber optic helmet-mounted display", Proc. SPIE 3362, Helmet- and Head-Mounted Displays III, (11 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317426

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