MANNED SIMULATION STUDY RESULTS CONCERNING DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR AN EFFECTIVE HELICOPTER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (OASYS)

A study was conducted by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company for the U.S. Army CECOM Center for Night Vision and Electro-Optics (C2NVEO) to determine the Field of View (FOV), Frame Time (F.T.), slewing and stabilization requirements for an effective Obstacle Avoidance System (OASYS). Four sensor configurations differing in the above parameters were tested at two detection ranges (200 meters and 400 meters). The results indicated that, for the test condition; 1) a 6 X 8 degree FOV was unacceptable, 2) a 200 meter detection range was insufficient, 3) a FOV as small as 20 X 30 degrees can be acceptable provided there is adequate stabilization, frame time and detection range, and 4) a 400 meter detection range is sufficient provided the sensor parameters (FOV, F.T., slewing and stabilization) are adequate.