Proceedings Article | 27 April 2007
Proc. SPIE. 6559, Enhanced and Synthetic Vision 2007
KEYWORDS: Image fusion, Visualization, Image processing, Video, Control systems, Head, Navigation systems, Video processing, Digital video recorders, Global Positioning System
Military helicopter operations are often constrained by environmental conditions including low light levels and poor
weather. Recent operational experience has also shown the difficulty presented by certain terrain when operating at low
altitude by day and night. For example, poor visual cues when flying over featureless terrain with low scene contrast, or
obscuration of vision caused by wind blown and re-circulated dust at low level (brown out). These types of conditions
can result in loss of spatial awareness and loss of precise control of the aircraft. Atmospheric obscurants such as fog,
cloud, rain and snow can similarly lead to hazardous situations. Day Night All Weather (DNAW) systems applied
research, sponsored by UK MOD, has developed a systematic, human centred approach, to understanding and
developing pilotage display systems for challenging environments. A prototype DNAW system has been developed
using an incremental flight test programme, leading to the flight assessment of a fully integrated pilotage display
solution, trial HAWKOWL, installed in a Sea King helicopter. The system comprises several sub-systems including; a
multi-spectral sensor suite, image processing and fusion; head down and head-tracked Display Night Vision Goggles;
onboard mission planning and route generation; precision navigation; dynamic flight path guidance; and conformal, task
dependent, symbology. A variety of qualitative and quantitative assessment techniques have been developed and applied
to determine the performance of the system and the capability it provides. This paper describes the approach taken in the
design, implementation and assessment of the system and identifies key results from the flight trial.
