360 Degree Field of View Information in a 120 Degree Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Display

Army aviators are flying helicopters in highly dynamic and dangerous scenarios. In urban warfare, this can mean avoiding obstacles and external threats. On platforms like the US Army CH-47 Chinook, the pilot has guidance from a flight engineer or crew chief who can look down through a hatch in the floor. Other Army helicopters do not have that luxury. Regardless, there are numerous blind spots remaining around the aircraft that leave it vulnerable. SA Photonics has developed innovative methods of mapping a 360° FOV into a 120° FOV with our immersive High Situational Awareness and FOV system (HiSAF) system in order to support warfighter situational awareness and decisive actions. The central 1:1 region will allow a natural viewing environment while providing peripheral vision over the remaining 360° FOV, outside of the central region. The SA Photonics HiSAF system can be configured real-time in both an augmented reality (AR) optically see-through configuration, as well as direct view virtual reality (VR) version. Our Phase I system will be expanded to evaluate variations for establishing best concept and demonstrate more realistic warfighter scenarios for ground and air. Candidate sensor solutions will be examined and recommendations made for best uses of the concept.