Thesis
Effects of Helmet Mounted Display symbology and spatial audio cueing on spatial disorientation prevention and recovery
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2023
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007162
Abstract
Spatial Disorientation (SD) is a major aeromedical/physiological factor in aviation accidents and encompasses a significant number of destroyed aircraft, fatalities, and monetary costs. Historically, SD has been a factor in approximately 13% of United States Air Force (USAF) mishaps, occurring at a rate across all aircraft types at 0.36 accidents per 100,000 flying hours, approximating to about $33M per mishap in monetary costs. With the development of Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) beginning in the 1950s, they have since advanced and are currently fielded on many platforms, such as fighter/attack aircraft. The current generation of HMDs project symbology onto the visor or near eye reticle of the pilot, providing a virtual Head-Up Display (vHUD) and weapons/targeting information. Currently, researchers are focusing on the addition of attitude information to the HMD in a way that provides enhanced aircraft situation awareness, prevents and mitigates SD susceptibility, and aids in recovery from unusual attitudes. Previous research has shown flight performance benefits when attitude information is added to an HMD. The aim of this thesis was to assess the effectiveness of three different symbologies (Current Display Format (CDF), Conformal Reference (CF), and Forward Reference (FR)) in regard to EP flight technical performance and spatial disorientation prevention and recovery. The results herein demonstrate significant flight performance benefits when aircraft attitude information is added to the HMD, which, if fielded, may have a profound impact on SD-related mishap rates.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effects of Helmet Mounted Display symbology and spatial audio cueing on spatial disorientation prevention and recovery
- Creators
- James Elwin Brown IV
- Contributors
- Thomas Schnell (Advisor)Priyadarshini Pennathur (Committee Member)Andrew Kusiak (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Industrial Engineering
- Date degree season
- Spring 2023
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007162
- Number of pages
- xiii, 172 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2023 James Elwin Brown IV
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/22/2023
- Date approved
- 04/22/2023
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, tables, graphs, charts
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-164).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Spatial disorientation is a major factor in aviation accidents, resulting in significant monetary costs and fatalities. Historically, approximately 13% of United States Air Force mishaps have been attributed to spatial disorientation, at a rate of 0.36 accidents per 100,000 flying hours. The development of Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) has advanced since the 1950s and is currently used on many platforms, such as fighter/attack aircraft. Researchers are currently focused on the addition of attitude information to the HMD, providing enhanced aircraft situation awareness, preventing and mitigating spatial disorientation susceptibility, and aiding in recovery from unusual attitudes. This thesis examines the effectiveness of three different symbologies on pilot performance and spatial disorientation prevention and recovery. The results indicate significant flight performance benefits when aircraft attitude information is added to the HMD, which may have a profound effect on reducing spatial disorientation-related mishaps.
- Academic Unit
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984428940602771
Metrics
5 File views/ downloads
26 Record Views