Low Cost Night Vision System for High Speed Vessel Operations

A concept for a low cost, high quality night vision system for use by coxswains and crew members during night intercepts that is capable of providing the visual acuity, depth perception and situational awareness necessary for high-speed maneuvers is a described. It allows the operator to see the sea state at night, safely maneuver a high speed boat and pursue covert intercepts. The helmet-mounted wide field of view (FOV) night vision goggle system proposed provides an innovative 150¿ by 50¿ FOV coverage and optically projects the I¿ imagery to infinity for relaxed forward viewing by the operator, and allows an unconstrained view of lighted instruments below the NVG¿s mounting position. With this system the coxswain is able to observe his real world environment through a visor display that presents unity magnification (1x) night vision imagery and permits him to use his central and peripheral vision to steer the pursuit boat.