Advancements in electronic display technologies have provided many benefits for military avionics. The modernization of legacy tanker transport aircraft along with the development of next-generation platforms, such as the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker, offers a timeline of the evolution of avionics display approaches. The adaptation of advanced flight displays from the Boeing 787 for the KC-46 flight deck also provides examples of how avionics display solutions may be leveraged across commercial and military flight decks to realize greater situational awareness and improve overall mission effectiveness. This paper provides a review of the display technology advancements that have led to today’s advanced avionics displays for the next-generation KC-46 tanker aircraft. In particular, progress in display operating modes, backlighting, packaging, and ruggedization will be discussed along with display certification considerations across military and civilian platforms.
The KC-46 is the next generation, multi-role, aerial refueling tanker aircraft being developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force. Rockwell Collins has developed the Remote Vision System (RVS) that supports aerial refueling operations under a variety of conditions. The system utilizes large-area, high-resolution 3D displays linked with remote sensors to enhance the operator’s visual acuity for precise aerial refueling control. This paper reviews the design considerations, trade-offs, and other factors related to the selection and ruggedization of the 3D display technology for this military application.
KEYWORDS: Organic light emitting diodes, Military display technology, Reflectivity, LCDs, NVIS filters, Short wave infrared radiation, Image resolution, Mobile devices, Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Control systems
The paper will review optical and environmental performance thresholds required for OLED technology to be used
on various military platforms. Life study results will be summarized to highlight trends while identifying remaining
performance gaps to make this technology viable for future military avionics platforms.
A commercially available 15-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) television was modified to
include a sunlight-readable resistive touch panel for technical evaluation with regard to a variety of rugged military and
aerospace applications. By removing the circular polarizer (CP) from the AMOLED and relying on the touch panel's CP,
the authors were able to minimize change in display luminance while adding touch capability and reducing reflectance.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have realized substantial advancements over the past twelve years since Rockwell Collins
began designing LED backlights, resulting in performance improvement and cost reduction for avionics displays.
Display and backlight packaging approaches have evolved to address the challenges associated with these LED
improvements and the backlight emitter count reductions that followed. The objective of this paper is to discuss the
backlight and display packaging design adaptations that helped avionics displays benefit from these LED improvements.
KEYWORDS: 3D displays, Visualization, Video, Cameras, 3D modeling, LCDs, 3D image processing, Display technology, Sensor technology, Defense and security
In this paper, we report on the development of a high definition stereoscopic liquid crystal display for use in a variety of
applications. The display technology provides full spatial and temporal resolution on a liquid crystal display panel
consisting of 1920×1200 pixels at 60 frames per second. Applications include training, mission rehearsal and planning,
and enhanced visualization. Display content can include mixed 2D and 3D data. Source data can be 3D video from
cameras, computer generated imagery, or fused data from a variety of sensor modalities. Recent work involving
generation of 3D terrain from aerial imagery will be demonstrated. Discussion of the use of this display technology in
military and medical industries will be included.
In this paper, we report on the development of a 3D vision field upgrade kit for TALON robot consisting of a
replacement flat panel stereoscopic display, and multiple stereo camera systems. An assessment of the system's use for
robotic driving, manipulation, and surveillance operations was conducted. The 3D vision system was integrated onto a
TALON IV Robot and Operator Control Unit (OCU) such that stock components could be electrically disconnected and
removed, and upgrade components coupled directly to the mounting and electrical connections. A replacement display,
replacement mast camera with zoom, auto-focus, and variable convergence, and a replacement gripper camera with fixed
focus and zoom comprise the upgrade kit. The stereo mast camera allows for improved driving and situational awareness
as well as scene survey. The stereo gripper camera allows for improved manipulation in typical TALON missions.
In this paper, we report on the development of a high definition stereoscopic liquid crystal display for use in training
applications. The display technology provides full spatial and temporal resolution on a liquid crystal display panel
consisting of 1920×1200 pixels at 60 frames per second. Display content can include mixed 2D and 3D data. Source data
can be 3D video from cameras, computer generated imagery, or fused data from a variety of sensor modalities.
Discussion of the use of this display technology in military and medical industries will be included. Examples of use in
simulation and training for robot tele-operation, helicopter landing, surgical procedures, and vehicle repair, as well as for
DoD mission rehearsal will be presented.
In this paper, we report on the use of a 3D vision field upgrade kit for TALON robot consisting of a replacement flat
panel stereoscopic display, and multiple stereo camera systems. An assessment of the system's use for robotic driving,
manipulation, and surveillance operations was conducted. A replacement display, replacement mast camera with zoom,
auto-focus, and variable convergence, and a replacement gripper camera with fixed focus and zoom comprise the
upgrade kit. The stereo mast camera allows for improved driving and situational awareness as well as scene survey. The
stereo gripper camera allows for improved manipulation in typical TALON missions.
The use of tele-operated Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for military uses has grown significantly in recent years
with operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In both cases the safety of the Soldier or technician performing the mission
is improved by the large standoff distances afforded by the use of the UGV, but the full performance capability of the
robotic system is not utilized due to insufficient depth perception provided by the standard two dimensional video
system, causing the operator to slow the mission to ensure the safety of the UGV given the uncertainty of the perceived
scene using 2D. To address this Polaris Sensor Technologies has developed, in a series of developments funded by the
Leonard Wood Institute at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, a prototype Stereo Vision Upgrade (SVU) Kit for the Foster-Miller
TALON IV robot which provides the operator with improved depth perception and situational awareness, allowing for
shorter mission times and higher success rates. Because there are multiple 2D cameras being replaced by stereo camera
systems in the SVU Kit, and because the needs of the camera systems for each phase of a mission vary, there are a
number of tradeoffs and design choices that must be made in developing such a system for robotic tele-operation.
Additionally, human factors design criteria drive optical parameters of the camera systems which must be matched to the
display system being used. The problem space for such an upgrade kit will be defined, and the choices made in the
development of this particular SVU Kit will be discussed.
KEYWORDS: 3D vision, 3D visualizations, Cameras, Robotic systems, Analytical research, Imaging systems, Situational awareness sensors, 3D displays, Visualization, 3D acquisition
In September 2009 the Fort Leonard Wood Field Element of the US Army Research Laboratory - Human Research and
Engineering Directorate, in conjunction with Polaris Sensor Technologies and Concurrent Technologies Corporation,
evaluated the objective performance benefits of Polaris' 3D vision upgrade kit for the TALON small unmanned ground
vehicle (SUGV). This upgrade kit is a field-upgradable set of two stereo-cameras and a flat panel display, using only
standard hardware, data and electrical connections existing on the TALON robot. Using both the 3D vision system and a
standard 2D camera and display, ten active-duty Army Soldiers completed seven scenarios designed to be representative
of missions performed by military SUGV operators. Mission time savings (6.5% to 32%) were found for six of the seven
scenarios when using the 3D vision system. Operators were not only able to complete tasks quicker but, for six of seven
scenarios, made fewer mistakes in their task execution. Subjective Soldier feedback was overwhelmingly in support of
pursuing 3D vision systems, such as the one evaluated, for fielding to combat units.
KEYWORDS: 3D visualizations, 3D displays, Cameras, Robots, Visualization, 3D image processing, Video, Situational awareness sensors, LCDs, Stereo vision systems
The flow of information among our armed forces is greater than ever and the workload on the
warfighter is increasing. A novel, stereo-based 3D display has been developed to aid the warfighter
by displaying information in a more intuitive fashion by exploiting depth perception. The flat panel
display has a footprint consistent with current and future vehicles, unmanned systems, and aircraft
and is capable of displaying analog 3D video and OpenGL 3D imagery. A description of the display
will be given along with discussion of the applications evaluated to date.
The paper describes how military display users can benefit from emerging commercial market trends toward wideformat
and high-resolution displays. This emerging display format offers several human factors benefits and more
information along with high-definition sensor compatibility. The current commercial market trend highlights the growth
of wide formats, which may affect the future availability of standard format COTS displays. The vetronics display that is
being developed for the FCS family of combat vehicles is an example of a COTS wide-format, high-resolution display
that is ruggedized for the next generation of soldiers.
A flat panel stereoscopic display has been developed and tested for application in unmanned ground systems.
The flat panel display has a footprint that is only slightly thicker than the same size LCD display and has been
installed in the lid of a TALON OCU. The approach uses stacked LCD displays and produces live stereo
video with passive polarized glasses but no spatial or temporal multiplexing. The analog display, which is
available in sizes from 6.4" diagonal to 17" diagonal, produces 640 × 480 stereo imagery. A comparison of
soldiers' performance using 3D vs. 2D using live stereo video will be given. A description of the display will
be given along with discussion of the testing.
A new avionics prototype has been developed combining a very large high-resolution display area with a touch panel
designed for warfighter and civil-aviation use. This paper describes the design challenges as well as the prototype's
capability and concept for application in airborne environments.
KEYWORDS: Organic light emitting diodes, Commercial off the shelf technology, LCDs, Military display technology, Resistance, Humidity, Glasses, Reflectivity, Temperature metrology, Night vision
A characterization was performed on a monochrome, low-information content polymeric light emitting diode (PLED)
display to determine the effects of ruggedization for military display applications. A summary of the environmental,
mechanical, and optical characterization results show that a unique direct bonding method and night vision imaging
system (NVIS) filter material can be used to ruggedize commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) PLED displays to operate in
demanding military environments. Significant enhancements to a COTS PLED device are discussed in terms of impact
resistance, enhanced sunlight readability, and compatibility with night vision operations.
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