Visual Display Design for Mitigation of Helicopter and Tiltrotor Brownout Spatial Disorientation

In response to the US Department of Navy Phase 1 STTR solicitation, N22A-T001: Visual Display Design for Mitigation of Helicopter and Tiltrotor Brownout Spatial Disorientation; Alphacore, in partnership with Iowa Technology Institute proposes in Phase 1 to develop, describe, and define potential methodologies and designs for a visual display system that will prevent loss of spatial awareness during DVE encountered with brownout conditions. Our proposed feasibility study will investigate options, including the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options investigated. At the conclusion of the Phase 1 feasibility study, the Alphacore team will recommend the option that best meets the defined Phase 1 technical objectives.  To mitigate brownout-related spatial disorientation, our envisioned conceptual approach integrates an augmented reality-enhanced visual display with the helicopter windshield or other cockpit transparency surfaces such as the chin-bubble or other windows to provide the necessary outside visual cues and symbology to the pilot when landing during brownout conditions. When landing, and as the visibility deteriorates, the windshield visual display will turn on in a seamless manner and provide both an AR overlay to replicate a distant horizontal reference as well as to provide augmented reality (AR) overlays for nearby fixed ground objects as visual countermeasures. By integrating the AR display with existing on-board cameras and the avionics, the displayed AR overlays can be updated in real-time as the helicopter descends. However, our intent is to not display a detailed real-world artificial image onto the windshield during brownout, but instead display simplified and easy to understand real-time AR overlays and symbology to replace the key brownout hidden visual cues.