Aircraft Windscreens Enhance Visual Search Disruption Produced by Laser Glare

摘要

Naval aircrews may be exposed to laser radiation that is used for a variety ofpurposes. Consequently, there is high probability of both deliberate and accidental exposure personnel to laser radiation. One deliberate use of laser radiation may be as a mission deterrent to disrupt aircrew visual performance. The purpose of this study was to determine how low-intensity laser glare interacts with an aircraft windscreen and if flat or wraparound aircraft windscreens differentially enhance glare and disrupt visual search performance. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of laser glare in high ambient light. Visual search time to locate target disks viewed through either a flat or curved windscreen under laser glare conditions was significantly longer compared to a no glare control. The glare pattern and disruption of visual search under low ambient light, simulating dawn or dusk, was more extensive when viewed through a wraparound F/A-18 windscreen than a flat A/4 windscreen. Detection of targets also depended on their location relative to the center of the laser glare pattern. Visual search performance returned to baseline levels under daytime ambient lighting conditions. The results of this experiment illustrate that aircraft windscreens can significantly increase laser-produced glare as measured by a visual search performed under low levels of ambient lighting. Eye protection is needed to prevent mission disruption, even at laser intensities that are not harmful to the eye....Lasers, Visual search, Glare, Windscreen.