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JANUARY 2, 06:30 EDT
SEATTLE -- Avionics designers at the Boeing Phantom Works in Seattle are evaluating a prototype helmet-mounted display system from Microvision Inc. of Bothell, Wash., for potential use in future military aircraft, simulation systems and other Boeing systems, Microvision officials announced Dec. 27.
"Microvision and Boeing envision that the virtual cockpit concept and its variations could be used in helicopters that are currently in the design stage, as well as in a variety of other existing military and commercial aircraft and even in ground vehicles," says Richard Edwards, manager of crew systems technology at Boeing Phantom Works.
The image quality of the display is outstanding and we are confident that the display, integrated with our software, will be an important demonstration tool for a variety of potential customers who require enhanced visualization and navigation capabilities," Edwards says.
The shipment follows Microvision's delivery and demonstration last month of a Virtual Cockpit Display system to the U.S. Army under Phase III of the Virtual Cockpit Optimization Program (VCOP), where Microvision and Boeing are supporting the Army's vision of how a virtual cockpit would function.
Army officials are trying to install displays into pilot helmets to electronically enhance the pilot's view. VCOP enables the pilot to see images through a wrap-around optical system that positions a pair of round lenses between the eyes and the helmet's visor.
An integrated head tracker cues system software to present images such as flight instruments, moving maps, targeting information, and intelligence onto head-up and head-down displays that appear to be superimposed on the aircraft instrument panel and on the real world scene outside of the aircraft, Microvision officials say.
The has stereoscopic optics and electronics for two- and three-dimensional images and resolution of more than 1 million color pixels. The helmet-mounted display is designed for use with Boeing's software. This software, which integrates real-time flight reference and sensor data with planned mission parameters.
Microvision officials say that the virtual cockpit concept and its variations could be used in helicopters in the design stage, and in a variety of other military and commercial aircraft and even in ground vehicles. The goal of the VCOP system is an estimated average yearly procurement quantity of 500 systems per year and an estimated total quantity of 3,000, company officials say.
For more information contact Microvision by phone at 425-415-6847, by fax at 425-415-6600, by e-mail at sales@mvis.com, by post at P.O. Box 3008, 19910 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Wash. 98011-3008, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.mvis.com.
Military & Aerospace Electronics
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