Sensor-Fused Multispectral Adaptive Imaging Low-Power Low-Weight Helmet-Mounted Display

To address the Air Force need for a binocular multispectral adaptive imaging system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new clip-on Sensor-Fused Multispectral Adaptive Imaging Low-Power Low-Weight Helmet-Mounted Display (SMALL-HMD) system.  This proposed system is based on advanced low-power multispectral sensors and adaptive fusion algorithm that overlay multispectral digital imagery with computer-generated symbology and presenting the resulting image in real time to the user on a low-profile see-through holographic HMD.  The innovations in SMALL-HMD include optical tiling of visible/NIR and SWIR images using a small on-helmet common optics and adaptively fusing these images with tactical symbology (including imagery from other aircraft-mounted sensors, such as LWIR) in a 40-degree FOV with 100% binocular overlap and 1:1 magnification.  The compact and low-power SMALL-HMD can be integrated with a clip-on ANVIS-compatible helmet mount.  In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of SMALL-HMD by providing a laboratory demonstration of a single-color see-through minimum resolution (640 x 512 pixels) fused image containing at least SWIR, NIR, and symbology.  In Phase II, POC plans to develop a high resolution (1280 x 1024 pixels) SMALL-HMD clip-on prototype that meets the space weight ergonomic and power (SWEP) requirements for current helmets. BENEFIT: Military applications of the SMALL-HMD system will include multispectral fused imagery for use in both fixed-wing and rotorcraft fleets, as well as special forces operations.  The SMALL-HMD system can be incorporated by the U.S. Air Force into the current F-22 and future F-35 fighters, the HH-60 Pave Hawk search-and-rescue helicopter, and ground vehicles using SWIR headlamps that only the driver/passengers can see.  We anticipate widespread appeal of the SMALL-HMD technology to such nonmilitary applications as Homeland Security search-and-rescue operations, firefighting, gaming HMD, flight simulators, and other immersive display systems, including medical and CAD/CAE 3D image displays, and virtual reality displays for endoscopy/laparoscopy.