Head-Mounted AR Display Avoids Cockpit Clutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft pilots face reduced visibility due to cockpit constraints, limiting their ability to view critical information and targets, which is exacerbated by the integration of augmented reality objects that can overlap with cockpit equipment, compromising their ability to access essential information without looking away.

Innovation Solution

A vision device with a support positioned on the pilot's head, featuring a display surface, acquisition means for real-time data on the pilot's and cockpit positions, and processing means to position augmented reality objects outside clutter zones, ensuring they do not overlap with cockpit equipment, thereby enhancing visibility and information availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If augmented reality objects are displayed on the display surface, then the pilot's situational awareness is improved, but the augmented reality objects may overlap with cockpit equipment, blocking critical information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituational awarenessVSAvoidoverlap with cockpit equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-acquires clutter zone data representing cockpit equipment positions before displaying augmented reality objects. The processing means uses this pre-acquired data to predict and avoid placing augmented reality objects in clutter zones, preventing overlap before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The acquisition means continuously acquires real-time data on pilot head position, cockpit equipment positions, and augmented reality object positions. The processing means processes this feedback data to dynamically adjust augmented reality object positions, ensuring they remain outside clutter zones while maintaining situational awareness enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the pilot's head position and orientation are tracked in real time, then augmented reality objects can be positioned accurately, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddata acquisition system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The acquisition means is designed to acquire multiple types of data (pilot head position, orientation, cockpit equipment positions, augmented reality object positions) using a unified real-time data acquisition system. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate tracking systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3717956B1Viewing device for aircraft pilot
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE (FR)
  • EP3717956B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3717956B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a viewing device for an aircraft pilot, comprising: a support (10) to be positioned on the head of the aircraft pilot; a display surface (12); display means (15) carried by the support and arranged so as to display augmented reality objects on the display surface; acquisition means (18) arranged so as to acquire, in real time, first data representing a position and an orientation of the support, second data representing a position and an orientation of a cockpit of the aircraft, and third data defining footprint areas (30) occupied by equipment in the cockpit and the augmented reality objects; and processing means (19) arranged so as to define a position of the augmented reality objects, in real time, such that the augmented reality objects are positioned outside the footprint areas when they are displayed on the display surface.