Author Topic: Check this cool HUD for GA pilots (Read 264 times)

osage · « **on:** March 03, 2003, 08:09:21 AM »

http://www.pilotjournal.com/content/pastissues/nomad.html

They call it augmented reality.

It's from a very interesting little company called Microvision in Washington state. The MOEMS technology is amazing, they use a tiny vibrating mirror to scan beams of light on the retina. They call it Retinal Scan Display, and the same RSD engine can be used for an incredible variety of applications.

An old friend of mine is the CEO and the company looks to be on the verge of making it bigtime after a 6-year roller coaster ride.

I can't wait till the technology becomes cheap enough to use as a PC flight sim display.

crowMAW · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2003, 08:43:04 AM »

Very cool Osage. I wish I could have one in my cockpit...I'm sure it will be way out of my aviation budget for some time though. Has your buddy gotten it approved by the FAA yet?

One suggestion on the design...it would be much more convenient if the product was integrated into a headset/mic so that a pilot does not have to wear two headgear items. Or better yet, see if a generic method can be developed of attaching it to an existing headset.

Best of luck to your friend.

osage · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2003, 09:03:43 AM »

They're in the process of getting FAA certification. As yet it's only a backup system.

Last week they started trials of a souped-up military version for use in a Blackhawk helo (full color moving map display with tactical information). Currently the moving map display info isinterpreted by a guy in back and relayed verbally to the pilot because the vibration is so severe that a MMD is just a blur to the pilot if it is attached to the cockpit.

The pilot was clearly pleased with the see-through map--he said that it was clear even in a 2-G turn.

If they successfully complete the trials it will likely be used in a lot of military helos, since it's what they call an appliqué system.

The Nomad II will be considerably less unwieldy and a lot cheaper. Eventually it will just be a pair of glasses with a microphone attached.

And cheaper!

devious · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2003, 09:08:40 AM »

Doesn`t that screenshot look like it`s displaying an M$ Win XP Window ?

Be afraid, be very afraid....

osage · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2003, 09:30:56 AM »

Holy crap they just got an article in Forbes about them today!

http://forbes.com/home/2003/03/03/cx_ah_0303tentech.html