Visor Projection Aviation Head-Mounted Display

To address the Army need for a next generation sunlight-readable Heads-Up-Display (HUD), Intellisense Systems, Inc. (ISS) proposes to develop the new Visor Projection Aviation Head-Mounted Display (VIPA-HMD) based on an innovative modular design modification of a commercially available miniature laser pico-projector microdisplay to produce an ultra-compact low-profile display light engine. The innovations of VIPA-HMD include the use of the existing spherical visor of aviator helmet, HGU-56P, with narrow-band RGB coating to form a collimator within the tight space allowed by the helmet, use of focus-free RGB laser scanned imagery for full color expanded symbology over a wide field of view, and a light engine design with a very light miniature projection head that allows use of laser protection visors and meets Common Helmet-Mounted Display (CHMD) crash standards. The system will support external video from existing HUD computers, and projects high see-through bright/sunlight-readable imagery at a programmable focal distance for day-night conditions at low cost. In Phase I, ISS will conduct a feasibility study on commercial microdisplay products with design modifications to fit on HGU-56P helmets, build a demonstration prototype, and evaluate display performance. In Phase II ISS will build and produce VIPA-HMD prototypes, perform testing, and develop a production plan.