Digital Flight Gloves

ABSTRACT: The working environment of pilots and flight engineers is saturated with displays, switches, buttons, and annunciator panels. Productivity could be greatly enhanced through the implementation of a digital glove which permits the Warfighter to operate equipment virtually. IST is proposing to leverage its experience with advanced tracking systems, electronic-textiles, wearable electronics, and military garments to develop a digital flight glove that will replace conventional switches and panels in the cockpit. This glove will track gross hand movements with unprecedented accuracy using IST"s proprietary Biomimetic Orientation and Tracking (BOT) system. Our BOT system will provide low-latency five dimensional coordinate inputs in a form factor that is small, robust, and has low power requirements. Fine motor control, such as that required for data entry and manipulation of virtual switches, will be achieved using sensors located at the fingertips. All of these features will be incorporated into flight gloves that posses the required tactile acuity, durability, and FR rating. BENEFIT: The proposed system will allow the pilots and crew of aircraft to greatly enhance productivity by offering a simple, intuitive interface for multiple platforms. The proposed system would not be limited to military aircraft use, but could also be transitioned to civilian aircraft and would be a viable option for almost any task that requires interfacing with large numbers of instrument panels, displays, etc. The glove could also be used as a generic interface for computers or gaming systems.