Helmet Display System for Helicopter Hovering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing helicopter hovering systems face challenges in maintaining a stationary position, especially under poor visibility conditions or turbulence, as current information presentation methods divert the pilot's attention from their natural lateral vision, making it difficult to operate in a familiar and effective manner.

Innovation Solution

A helmet display system that uses navigation means and a helmet posture detection device to generate symbols in the pilot's field of view, providing a first and second target representation aligned with the homing heading and perpendicular to it, including speed and attitude indicators, allowing precise hovering by leveraging the pilot's natural observation habits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If information is presented on dashboard display screens, then the pilot can see helicopter position relative to terrain, but the information is presented partly outside the useful field of vision and requires unfamiliar operation mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation presentation completenessVSAvoidpilot operation familiarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a Head-Up Display (HUD) as an intermediary device that projects flight information onto a transparent display surface in the pilot's forward field of view. This allows the pilot to see both the external terrain and flight information simultaneously without switching between instruments, maintaining familiar lateral vision techniques while providing complete position information within the useful field of view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional dashboard screens to a three-dimensional spatial presentation by projecting information in the pilot's forward view space. The display surface is positioned in the pilot's central field of vision, creating a layered visualization where flight data exists in the same optical space as the external environment, eliminating the need to shift attention to peripheral dashboard displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If dashboard display screens are used, then position information is provided, but lateral vision essential for precise hovering is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehovering position accuracyVSAvoidlateral vision capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The HUD acts as an intermediary that overlays position accuracy information directly in the pilot's forward view, allowing simultaneous use of lateral vision techniques for hovering while maintaining precise position awareness. The display provides vertical and lateral position data without requiring the pilot to shift gaze to dashboard instruments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If helmet display system is used, then information is superimposed on external landscape in large field of angular displacement, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of angular displacementVSAvoidhelmet display system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-functional integrated system where the helmet display unit combines posture detection, information processing, and graphical display capabilities in a single device. The system serves multiple functions including tracking helmet orientation, calculating optimal symbol positions, and rendering navigation information, thereby managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate components.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2703928B1System to assist with maintaining the hovering of a helicopter
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 THALES SA
  • EP2703928B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2703928B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2703928B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The system has a pilot symbol generating unit (GS) provided in helmet display at virtual positions fixed relative to a terrestrial mark (RT) to compute representations comprising targets when a helicopter (H) rejoins or remains in vicinity of a preset position in the frame. One of the targets is located in a cape rallying direction at the preset position, and another target is located in a direction perpendicular to cap rally. The directions are referred with respect a current position of the helicopter. The former target is displayed at any moment based on orientation of helmet (C).