Dual-color holographic head-up display for increased situational awareness and targeting

Aircraft head-up displays (HUDs) have historically used monochromatic symbology to relay critical information to the pilot. The main reasons for using a single color are the favorable spectral overlap of green wavelengths with the peak of human luminance sensitivity, and the difficulty of achieving performance requirements at two widely separated wavelengths. However, using at least one additional color could greatly enhance pilot situational awareness and effectiveness by color coding information or creating multi-functional symbology. Using a holographic combiner coupled with a spatial light modulator, it is possible to create a dual-color HUD with exceptional advantages such as low tint, higher resolution, reduced parallax, and increased brightness efficiency. In this Phase II effort, we propose a holographic, dual-color HUD that meets the optical requirements of currently fielded HUD systems. The main advantage of such a system is allowing more information to be acquired faster without obscuring the pilot field of view, which leads to efficient decisions and reduced cognitive load on the end-user.