TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Human Systems

OBJECTIVE: Reduced visual hardware requirements on aircraft and simulators, while significantly enhancing pilot situation awareness.

DESCRIPTION: The restricted fields of view (FOV) that are provided by night vision devices (NVDs) are an increasingly important performance limitation for rotary wing aviation. The normal human FOV spans roughly 200� laterally and 135� vertically [1]. However, current NVDs typically provide a much smaller FOV. For example, the AN/AVS-9 provides a 40� spherical FOV. This FOV restriction limits pilot situation awareness (SA) and has been identified as a causal factor in numerous aviation mishaps [2]. Expanding the FOV provided by aviation NVDs should improve both safety and mission effectiveness.

Hardware limitations of current image-intensifier tubes are one major reason for the small FOV of current NVDs. Because of rectilinear optics, each tube itself has a limited FOV. Solutions attempting to create NVD systems with larger FOVs by combining multiple tubes have resulted in substantial increases in the weight, bulk, and price. Wide angle lenses, which provide spherical views, can increase the FOV provided to a single sensor and potentially do so without the drawbacks of multiple tube systems. However, the images provided by such systems are distorted, especially toward the periphery. Consequently, although lenses that provide FOVs of 180� or more are common for static applications such as security cameras, their use as visual aids in dynamic settings has been quite limited to date.

An innovative spherical sensing system for use by helicopter pilots that provides a spherical FOV of at least 200� is sought. The spherical sensor should affix to an existing Night Vision Goggle (NVG) in order to increase the FOV of the NVG. Materials should be selected to reduce the overall weight of the spherical sensor.

PHASE I: Design a concept for a spherical view NVG with a FOV of at least 200�. Develop a test plan that outlines how the proposed system will be demonstrated to be safe and effective for use by helicopter pilots under operational conditions. The test plan should contain provisions for documentation of the training necessary for pilots to adapt to any unusual visual features of the display and the duration and severity of after effects of using the system.

PHASE II: Build a demonstration prototype NVD system and conduct controlled, ground-based experiments to investigate its safety and utility in dynamic environments.

PHASE III: Build a flight-worthy NVD system and demonstrate its safety and effectiveness in rotary wing flight.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology would have non-military applications as well. For example, the enhanced situation awareness that would be provided by the increase in FOV could potentially aid navigation systems as well as endoscopic cameras for invasive surgical applications.

REFERENCES:
1. Spalton, D.J., Hitchings, R.A., & Hunter, P.A. (1994). Atlas of Clinical Ophthalmology (2nd Ed.). London: Harcourt.

2. Braithwaite, M. G., Douglass, P. K., Durnford, S. J., and Lucas, G. (1998). The hazard of spatial disorientation during helicopter flight using night vision devices. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 69, 1038-44.

KEYWORDS: Night Vision Devices; Night Vision Goggles; Field-of-View; Wide Field-of-View; Situation Awareness; Safety

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 20 and August 16, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 17, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.B Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.3 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.