Helmet-mounted display research activity on the NRC Bell 205 airborne simulator

摘要

The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Department of National Defence, is investigating the use of helmet-mounted displays as an aid in improving pilot situational awareness in all- weather search and rescue helicopter operations. For over 30 years, the NRC Bell 205 Airborne Simulator has been an integral part of valuable research programs. Equipped with a full authority fly-by-wire control systems, the Bell 205 has variable stability characteristics, which makes the airborne simulator the ideal platform for the integrated flight testing of helmet-mounted displays in a simulated operational environment. This paper will describe the test facility in detail, including a description of the airborne simulator, the fiber-optic helmet-mounted display hardware, the camera system, the head tracking system, and the sensor platform. In addition, the paper will provide a complete description of the symbology overlaid on the camera image that was developed for use with the helmet mounted display. The paper will conclude with the description of a planned preliminary handling-qualities investigation into the effects of using helmet-mounted displays on the pilot's workload and performance while performing standard maneuvers.