SBIR-STTR Award

Presently available night vision goggles (NVG) are not matched to the needs of tactical air crew members. They seriously limit effectiveness of the aviator by interfering with peripheral vision head-down instrument readability head-up displays and depth perception. The view has been limited to a narrow 40 deg field. They are hazardous in high-g OR in the wind blast at ejections they cannot be gain-adjusted and they become saturated from news own gun muzzle flash. S-tron proposes to integrate sensors in the aviator's body environment seeking to match a new electro-optical display and helmet to the needs of the tactical aviator and the existing capabilities of his sensor array. Proposed areas of improvement include restoring and enhancing depth perception, muzzle flash suppression, display FLIR and computer-generated 3-d symbology. Cockpit instruments should appear normal; straight-ahead and peripheral normal vision should be limited only by present helmet and aircraft structure. The system protects against mechanical and optical hazards, high-g and ejection, and protects the aviator down to and on the ground. Limited equipment mockup and optical design is proposed; phase I is primarily an assessment of aviator needs, technology options and DOD policies, and leads to the phase II hardware demonstration.

Available night vision aids for air crew members are not matched to the tactical mission. The conclusions of the Phase I study included: (1) head mounted head-up display will be a commanding benefit in combat, permitting near-simultaneous engagement of numerous targets throughout the hemisphere; (2) present helmet weight is marginally acceptable in the 6g-9g environment, and head-mounted mass and moments must be decreased, not increased, in adding night vision functions; (3) this requires as full integration of the electrooptics video functions in a new and lightweight electro-optical helmet structure; (4) it is vital to track and interpret pupil position, for rapid designation and consciusness/alertness measurement; and (5) laser eye safety must be integrated in the design from inception. This Phase II proposal describes the technology and program to implement these functions in demonstration hardware for usaf investigation and testing.