Multi-steradian Image Display for Anechoic Simulators (MIDAS)

Simulation of the real world has long been recognized as an effective means both for testing military equipment and for training personnel. However, effectiveness of such simulation is highly dependent upon its fidelity. It becomes paramount, therefore, toaccurately model the environment in which simulation takes place. For human-in-the-loop simulations, the need for fidelity places severe demands upon display technology; demands that push the limits of virtual imagery with respect to resolution,brightness, color depth, and contrast ratio.The Air Force's Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Systems (PRIMES) facility provides a simulated environment wherein simulations can be conducted within an RF anechoic chamber. Ideally, such a facility would employ displays that haveminimal influence upon the environment of the chamber. Toward this end, we have identified several display technologies that provide out-the-window imagery without involving either electronic or metallic surfaces within the chamber.Our proposed Phase I program has two principal objectives; these being to narrow the choice of approach to that most suited to the PRIMES facility and to validate by way of proof-of-concept experiments the technical soundness of that approach.The MIDAS technology can be applied to commercial flight simulators. It is expected to also have applications in fields as diverse as head mounted displays and electronic cinema.