Definition of Display-Control Requirements for Assault Transport Night-Adverse Weather Capability

The U.S. Marine Corps is currently developing a Helicopter Night Vision System (HNVS) to improve low-altitude night and/or adverse weather assault transport capabilities. Martin Marietta Aerospace, under contract to the Naval Air Development Center, has performed a number of man-in-the-loop simulation experiments in its Simulation and Test Laboratory (STL) to define the minimum display and control requirements for the assault transport mission. These simulation studies have investigated forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor requirements, along with alternative displays such as panel mounted displays (PMD), helmet mounted displays (HMD), and integrated control display units. Also explored were navigation requirements, pilot/copilot interaction, and overall cockpit arrangement. Based on pilot performance and opinion data, pilot use of an HMD and copilot use of a PMD appear as both the preferred and most effective night navigation combination.