LOS GATOS, Calif.–The PilotVision™ product debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 proved successful, with SA Photonics’ new prototype augmented reality system garnering significant attention from the General Aviation community. PilotVision clips on to a set of communications headgear and provides unmatched situational awareness via high brightness symbology over a very large 62-degree field of view, with almost zero peripheral obscuration. When not needed, the eyepiece can be rotated up to its stow position, just like a boom microphone. PilotVision interfaces with a standard attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) and does not need to be plugged in to aircraft electronics, so that it can be installed in seconds.
PilotVision utilizes iFly GPS™ from Adventure Pilot, a game-changing electronic flight bag that provides navigation and flight planning solution with exhaustive support of AHRS and ADS-B Traffic & Weather devices. Flying Magazine Senior Editor Rob Mark got a hands-on demo at the SA Photonics / Adventure Pilot booth at AirVenture, writing about the experience in his article “iFly GPS and SA Photonics Partner On Wearable HUD for GA.” Mark details the advantages of heads up displays (HUDs) for General Aviation, and comments on PilotVision’s functionality, benefits and low price tag.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) writer Mike Collins detailed PilotVision’s connection to SA Photonics’ Air Force and Army contracts in his recent article. Collins details how PilotVision started as a low-cost HMD for Air Force transport pilots. This contract with Air Force’s AFWERX innovation team developed the PilotVision objective: scale up production so that per-unit costs go down, saving money for civilian purchasers and for the Air Force.
General Aviation News (GAN) also took note of PilotVision’s debut. In the site’s article “Augmented reality display debuts at Oshkosh,” GAN takes note that PilotVision was designed by the same team that designed the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter head mounted display, as well as the JHMCS head mounted display used on the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighter jets. This pedigree was discussed in more detail on Max Trescott’s podcast Aviation News Talk, which focuses on news and technical elements of General Aviation. In the most recent episode Trescott delves deeper into PilotVision’s technology via an interview with Mark. The pair discuss SA Photonics’ Vision Products Manager Mike Browne’s experience developing Air Force and Army HUDs, and transferring that technology to General Aviation, identifying PilotVision as one of the top technologies at Oshkosh 2019.
To read more about PilotVision, please download our flyer and contact sales@saphotonics.com.
About SA Photonics
SA Photonics is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative photonics solutions for military and commercial applications, with particular expertise in augmented and virtual reality head mounted displays, optical communications, laser based sensors, ruggedized photonics hardware, and complex analog and digital components for sea, air, space and ground applications. SA Photonics is a recipient of the Small Business Administration’s Tibbetts Award for outstanding success within the SBIR program, and is routinely listed by the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Fast 500 awards programs as one of the fastest-growing private companies in North America.