Boeing Research & Technology
1 September – 21 December 2011
Total award $52,092
Head Up Displays (HUD) are ubiquitous in high performance military aircraft because of the improved situational awareness that they provide to the pilot, which directly impacts mission effectiveness and flight safety. Transitioning of HUD technology to the Commercial Aircraft has been underway for more than a decade. While the situational awareness and flight safety improvements have clearly justified their use in this sector, the weight, volume, and power penalties they incur from a design and operations standpoint are not acceptable. Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) used in current high performance military aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35 are advantageous from the weight, volume, and power standpoints, but they are not an acceptable solution for commercial flight operations since these pilots do not wear helmets. Head Worn Displays (HWD) that project HUD type data and information onto modified sunglasses or even a monocle offer a promising solution for the commercial aircraft sector. However, many human factors and systems level problems remain to be solved.
The Phase I effort encompasses a complete systems engineering effort that includes pre-concept design, trade studies, options, and layout.
TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES
- Determine a preferred system concept for a Head Worn Display (HWD) system to be used by pilots of FAR 23 and FAR 25 commercial air transports. The HWD would present a to be determined set of real-time situational awareness information consisting of weather (WX), traffic (TX), route, Traffic Collision Avoidance (TCAS), etc. A collision prediction and projection capability is also desired.
- Implement system into hardware and software prototype. Conduct human factors evaluation with test subject pilots via real-time simulation, using the Engineering Flight Simulator in the Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory. Transition prototype system to Boeing, and assist Boeing engineers with development.
Working with me on this program are Graduate Research Assistants:
- Kenton Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. student
- Jim May, M.S. student
- Nick Oliviero, B.S. student
- Josh Harris, B.S. student