Night Vision Goggles Flight Simulator Contrast via Dynamic Screen Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current night vision goggles (NVG) simulators fail to provide sufficient realism due to insufficient contrast and inability to accurately replicate high dynamic range artefacts like halos and shadows, which are critical for training pilots in night flight operations.
Innovation Solution
A flight simulator system that uses a computer to calculate and project a flight simulator image, with a view tracking device to adjust the image based on the user's viewing vector, dividing the image into central and peripheral parts to enhance contrast and realism by reducing stray light and using a perforated plate or filter to adjust brightness and aperture, allowing for dual view simulations with increased contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dome projection is used for NVG simulation, then the simulation can be performed with actual NVGs, but the contrast is insufficient due to light scatter
Solution Approach 1:
The projection screen is divided into a central high-contrast region and a peripheral low-contrast region. The central region displays high-contrast imagery essential for NVG training, while the peripheral region is dimmed to reduce light scatter into the NVGs, thereby resolving the contradiction between realism and contrast
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the projection screen are assigned different brightness characteristics. The central region maintains high brightness and contrast for critical visual information, while the peripheral region uses reduced brightness to minimize scatter, achieving local optimization of both realism and contrast
2Illumination intensity
If high contrast projectors are used to improve image contrast, then the contrast increases slightly, but the scatter light problem persists
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful scatter light from the peripheral region is effectively 'removed' by dimming that region. This extraction of the problematic light source prevents scatter from degrading the central high-contrast image, allowing high contrast projectors to be used effectively
3Illumination intensity
If contrast enhancement is applied to compensate for scatter, then the effective contrast improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection system dynamically adjusts brightness levels across different screen regions based on real-time tracking of the NVG position and orientation. This dynamic adaptation provides contrast enhancement without requiring complex static optical modifications to the NVGs themselves
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves higher contrast and realism by reducing stray light and enhancing the simulation of NVG artefacts, providing a more immersive and effective training experience for pilots.
Implementation Method 1
A light projector is configured to project the flight simulator image onto a projection screen
Implementation Method 2
NVGs enhance the visibility of otherwise dark objects... in the near-infrared (NIR) region where the NVG has its highest sensitivity
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A night vision goggles aided flight simulator system (100) and method for simulating night flight operations. The system comprises a computer (5) programmed with flight simulator software to calculate a flight simulator image (A1,A2); a projection screen (1) configured to receive the flight simulator image (A1,A2); a light projector (2) configured to project the flight simulator image (A1,A2) onto the projection screen (1); and a view tracking device (3) configured to measure a viewing vector (V) of a night vision device (4). The system (100) is configured to mask the projected flight simulator image (A1,A2) as a function of the measured viewing vector (V).