The "Airport Visualization and Operations SystemTM" (AVOSTM) concept is an application of virtual reality display to aircraft operations in the vicinity and on the surface of airports under poor and zero visibility conditions. Aircraft identification, position and attitude are down-linked to the AVOSTM control center in the airport tower. A 3-D view of the airport, all aircraft and surface vehicles, exactly as would be seen by the pilot in good visibility, is computer generated in the AVOSTM control center and up-linked to the aircraft. The up-linked video signal is projected onto a pilot "Personal Display ViewerTM" (PDVTM), similar to helmet mounted displays. The pilot would use this virtual reality display to monitor the landing, guide the aircraft to the gate and back to the runway for take-off, with no other aids. The system concept supports operations of airport surface vehicles required to service aircraft. The primary innovations are the display and distributed airborne/ground system concept using data-links that could provide this capability at an affordable price. It is an important new pilot display system that can increase airport capacity in reduced and zero visibility conditions in a more natural and safer manner than map-type displays that are currently under development. Commercial Applications:The applications are for commercial and other aircraft that require flight operations in poor and zero airport visibility conditions. Potential commercial products include: the AVOSTM airborne system, including interfaces to aircraft systems and datalinks; the Personal Display ViewerTM; the AVOSTM ground control center, including the interfaces to a D-GPS-based ground vehicle positioning system, the airport surface traffic surveillance system and data/video up-links; and, the overall system integration at each airport. It is premature to decide on commercialization strategies for the various products, until feasibility is established. Paradigm 2000 plans to apply for patents on the AVOSTM system and elements mentioned above, if feasibility is established with the SBIR effort, to obtain a competitive advantage. Strategic alliances for commercialization will be negotiated during Phase II, when Paradigm 2000 is in a stronger negotiating position.
