Dynamic registration of an optical see-through HMD into a wide field-of-view rotorcraft flight simulation environment

Franz Viertler, Manfred Hajek

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To overcome the challenge of helicopter flight in degraded visual environments, current research considers headmounted displays with 3D-conformal (scene-linked) visual cues as most promising display technology. For pilot-in-theloop simulations with HMDs, a highly accurate registration of the augmented visual system is required. In rotorcraft flight simulators the outside visual cues are usually provided by a dome projection system, since a wide field-of-view (e.g. horizontally > 200° and vertically > 80°) is required, which can hardly be achieved with collimated viewing systems. But optical see-through HMDs do mostly not have an equivalent focus compared to the distance of the pilot's eye-point position to the curved screen, which is also dependant on head motion. Hence, a dynamic vergence correction has been implemented to avoid binocular disparity. In addition, the parallax error induced by even small translational head motions is corrected with a head-tracking system to be adjusted onto the projected screen. For this purpose, two options are presented. The correction can be achieved by rendering the view with yaw and pitch offset angles dependent on the deviating head position from the design eye-point of the spherical projection system. Furthermore, it can be solved by implementing a dynamic eye-point in the multi-channel projection system for the outside visual cues. Both options have been investigated for the integration of a binocular HMD into the Rotorcraft Simulation Environment (ROSIE) at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen. Pros and cons of both possibilities with regard on integration issues and usability in flight simulations will be discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDisplay Technologies and Applications for Defense, Security, and Avionics IX; and Head- and Helmet-Mounted Displays XX
EditorsJames E. Melzer, Daniel D. Desjardins, Michael P. Browne, Kalluri R. Sarma, Paul R. Havig, Peter L. Marasco
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628415865
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventDisplay Technologies and Applications for Security, Defense and Avionics IX Conference - Baltimore, United States
Duration: 21 Apr 201523 Apr 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9470
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceDisplay Technologies and Applications for Security, Defense and Avionics IX Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period21/04/1523/04/15

Keywords

  • Head-mounted display
  • dynamic eye-point
  • motion parallax
  • simulation
  • spherical projection
  • vergence

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