Human factors evaluation of head-up display and flight performance by photography and data-reduction methods.

Abstract

A photographic method is presented which can determine flight parameters, and many measures of the quality of an electronic Head-Up Display which uses MicrovisionR1 and an electronic horizon as real world information. In conjunction with pilot input factors and pilot acceptance and evaluative factors which can be obtained through other means, there are enough parameters to relate the quality of the display to good flight performance. One method proposed involves the taking of motion pictures through the head-up display while the pilot is using it to fly the airplane. With the use of a film reader, the x and y coordinates of 12 points are obtained as the raw data. This, in turn, through simplified approximate formulas, can be converted to flight parameters and quality of the display which, in turn, can be related to flight performance.