Research engineers at NRC's Flight Research Laboratory studied the effects of binocular overlap and field-of-view on pilot workload and aircraft system handling qualities. They systematically varied both binocular overlap and the total field-of-view in two separate in-flight experiments. In each experiment, evaluation pilots performed a series of ADS-33 manoeuvres while wearing goggles that simulated a helmet-mounted display and, thus, limited their field-of-view. The effects of the goggles on pilot performance were evaluated using the following criteria: Cooper-Harper handling qualities ratings, visual cue ratings, pilot comments, and observer notes. It was found that handling qualities improved in a non-linear fashion as either the field-of-view or the binocular overlap increased. Pilot comments, preferences and objective data agree with handling qualities data collected. The pilots adopted several strategies to overcome the limitations on the visual system introduced by the goggles. They increased their scanning head movements in frequency and magnitude, and they divided the visual fields into discrete zones for scanning. The results of the study show that reduced field-of-view and binocular overlap degrade helicopter system performance to the point where additional control system augmentation is needed for fly a helicopter safely in Nap-of-the Earth (NOE) operations. The results suggest that full binocular overlap provides the best performance in practical situations.


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    Title :

    An investigation of helmet-mounted display field-of-view and overlap tradeoffs in rotorcraft handling qualities


    Additional title:

    Untersuchung des Einflusses eines durch ein helmmontiertes Display eingeschränkten Sichtfeldes sowie von binokularen Überdeckungen auf die Steuerbarkeit von Hubschraubern


    Contributors:
    Jennings, S. (author) / Dion, M. (author) / Srinivasan, R. (author) / Baillie, S. (author)


    Publication date :

    1997


    Size :

    10 Seiten, 7 Bilder, 13 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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