Target Detection with Helmet-mounted Displays in Low Visibility Helicopter Operations

Abstract

Poor visibility can pose a serious safety hazard in helicopter flight, leading to a loss of situation awareness, spatial disorientation, and high pilot workload. Therefore, the use of helmet-mounted displays recently became increasingly important for rotary-wing aircraft. To assist pilots in degraded visual environment, new HMD symbology designs were developed at the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance. They were tested in a simulator study with 18 civil and military helicopter pilots and compared to a state-of-the art PFD/ND test condition. Concurrent task performance was investigated, which included the detection and identification of targets in the environment. Hit rate was analyzed as a function of display type, visibility, target type, and the presence or absence of cueing. Moreover, differences between pilot experience and operational area were assessed. Results revealed a significant HMD detection cost for un-cued targets compared to when no symbology was presented. In contrast, cueing significantly increased hit rate, resulting in substantial HMD benefits when proper attentional guidance was provided.