Manual Precision Hover with Superimposed Symbology on FLIR Image

A research effort was initiated to investigate display, sensor and instrumentation requirements for a manual precision hover task. This effort included a simulation and a flight test program. The moving-base simulation effort included the optimization of symbology requirements and the selection of alternative display concepts to be tested in the Research Aircraft Visual Environment (RAVE) flight test program. The simulation was also used to ground test hardware to be installed in the RAVE and to train the subject pilots. For the flight test, a Marine CH-53A helicopter was modified by installing a third pilot's station in the forward cargo area containing a panel mounted CRT and standard instrumentation. The RAVE flight test program included the simultaneous testing of three different position hover sensors; Electronic Location Finder, Infrared Tracker, Random Scene Passive Tracker; and derivation of velocity and acceleration information in conjunction with the symbology evaluation. One of the alternative hover displays tested, the Stabilized Terrain Optical Position Sensor (STOPS), was also a position sensor by virtue of its stabilizing downlooking image. The flight test program demonstrated a manual precision hover capability utilizing symbology developed in simulation.