Apache Aviator Visual Experiences With the IHADSS Helmet-Mounted Display in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Hiatt, Keith L.; Rash, Clarence E.; Harris, Eric S. J.; Gilberry, William H.

doi:10.21236/ada426334

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Recognizing the shift in the role of the AH-64 attack helicopter, the study concluded with a recommendation for a future investigation that would encompass AH-64 pilots operating in the urban combat environment. 9 This recommendation was pursued by Heinecke et al, 10 who repeated a variant of the OIF Study in 2006. This study again found reduced frequencies of reports of visual complaints, consistent with the 2003 OIF study.…”

Section: Figure 11 Cohort Study Logomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The period post-9/11 allowed for studies during actual combat operations to determine if peacetime training and combat flight environments differed. [9][10] In this current report, the authors have reviewed the extant literature and provide a summary of the seminal studies investigating visual performance and perception issues performed over the past three decades.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

2008

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In the late 1970s the U.S. Army developed the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS) a , which is a helmet-mounted display (HMD) for use in the AH-64 Apache helicopter. The helicopter and the system were designed with the Cold War in mind such that the Apache would be able to stand off far from the frontlines and attack deep targets -primarily tanks -before they could engage our ground forces. The design used a right-sided monocular display optical system that was intended to reduce head-supported weight. This novel monocular design introduced a number of issues that had the potential of causing visual perception problems for pilots. Since the initial fielding of the Apache in the early 1980s, numerous reports have appeared in the literature that evaluated realized visual complaints voiced by Apache aircrew. In this review, the authors provide a summary of seminal reports, surveys, and experiments conducted over the past three decades. The extant literature described investigated these visual issues as the Apache's mission has evolved from the stand-off engagement tactics of the Cold War to the new Apache missions of close air support, deep attack, and raids currently occurring in the Global War on Terrorism.

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Section: Figure 11 Cohort Study Logomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

2008

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“…By mounting the IHADSS behind the tinted visor, Apache aviators are capable of flying daylight missions with HMD symbology. 1,2 Mounting the HMD combiner lens outside of the visor's position will have performance issues (e.g., center of mass, image contrast, etc.) that need to be understood, and engineering solutions must be sought to overcome these performance losses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance effects of mounting a helmet-mounted display on the ANVIS mount of the HGU-56P helmet

2006

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The U.S. Army, under the auspices of the Air Warrior Product Office, is developing a modular helmet-mounted display (HMD) for four aircraft series within its helicopter fleet. A design consideration is mounting the HMDs to the HGU-56P Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System (ANVIS) mount. This particular mount is being considered, presumably due to its inherent cost savings, as the mount is already part of the helmet. Mounting the HMD in this position may have consequences for the daylight performance of these HMDs, as well as increasing the forward weight of the HMD. The latter would have consequences for helmet weight and center-of-mass biodynamic issues. Calculations were made of the increased luminance needed as a consequence of mounting the HMD in front of an HGU-56P tinted visor as opposed to mounting it behind the visor. By mounting in front of the helmet's visor, the HMD's light output will be filtered as light coming from the outside world. Special consideration then would have to be given to the HMD's light source selection process, as not to select a source that would differentially reduce luminance by a mounted visor (e.g., laser protection visors) compared to the ambient light in the aviator's field-of-view.

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“…A number of studies [1][2][3][4][5] have documented pilot reports of degraded visual cues, visual symptoms, and visual illusions while flying using the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS) monocular helmet-mounted display (HMD) fielded on the AH-64 Apache helicopter. Prior to 2003, all of these studies were conducted in relatively benign environments (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most recent study, conducted in late 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), was the first to investigate the presence of visual complaints and artifacts in an operational combat environment. 5 The study consisted of two parts, a written questionnaire and an oral interview. A previous paper presented the results of the questionnaires, which documented a lower reporting rate for most visual illusions and complaints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

AH-64 aviator impressions of IHADSS HMD flight in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Hiatt

Rash

2005

SPIE Proceedings

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As part of a 2003 survey during Operation Iraqi Freedom, forty AH-64 Apache aviators were interviewed regarding their experience using the AH-64's monocular helmet-mounted display (HMD). Participants represented a total of 8564 flight hours and 2260 combat hours in the OIF theatre of operation. The interview consisted of 12 questions that addressed previously identified potential problem areas (e.g., maintaining full field-of-view [FOV], combiner breakage, and sensor slew rate) and requested participant opinion on the best and worst features of the IHADSS, day versus night use of the IHADSS, and the acceptance of a hypothetical binocular IHADSS design. Participants expressed a desire for a larger FOV; emphasized the impact of poor helmet fit on ability to achieve and maintain a full FOV; decried the overall performance of the current FLIR sensors; and reported that the current slew rates for the PNVS and TADS are slower than desired (worse for TADS), necessitating compensation in normal head movement rates

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Apache Aviator Visual Experiences With the IHADSS Helmet-Mounted Display in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Abstract: I i"'fl|Hi1.jii-Ho if WtJ'/ Approved for public release, distribution unlimited.

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

Performance effects of mounting a helmet-mounted display on the ANVIS mount of the HGU-56P helmet

AH-64 aviator impressions of IHADSS HMD flight in Operation Iraqi Freedom

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Apache Aviator Visual Experiences With the IHADSS Helmet-Mounted Display in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Abstract: I i"'*fl|Hi1.jii-Ho if *WtJ'/ Approved for public release, distribution unlimited.

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

Visual issues associated with the use of the integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) in the Apache helicopter: three decades in review

Performance effects of mounting a helmet-mounted display on the ANVIS mount of the HGU-56P helmet

AH-64 aviator impressions of IHADSS HMD flight in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Abstract: I i"'fl|Hi1.jii-Ho if WtJ'/ Approved for public release, distribution unlimited.