Binocular HMDs in Faceted Flight Simulators

SA Photonics is working with AFRL/Mesa to reduce the problems caused by integrating a binocular HMD into a faceted simulator.  We have developed a proven system for dynamic vergence control that minimizes vergence mismatch in faceted simulators.

Faceted simulator displays are widely used because they are compact and economical.  One drawback, however, is that viewing distance changes depending on where users are looking, which creates a challenge for the integration of binocular head mounted displays (HMDs), because confusing imagery and visual fatigue can result when a user views symbology presented by the HMD at one distance and simulator imagery at different distances.  Understanding the best approach to presenting symbology with a binocular HMD in a faceted simulator has become an important issue, especially with the deployment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and its binocular HMD.

Download a paper summarizing our research that we presented at the I/ITSEC 2009 conference.