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Canadian Helicopter
Verifies Night Vision System
with Ascension's laserBIRD
BURLINGTON,
VERMONT; JANUARY 20, 2004:
The National Research Council
of Canada’s Institute for
Aerospace Research
(NRC-IAR), in collaboration
with QinetiQ,
has developed a helicopter
augmented reality night vision
system using Ascension
Technology’s laserBIRD™ tracker.
Wearing a helmet with Night
Vision Goggles on which flight
symbology is superimposed,
pilots have successfully landed
a Bell helicopter by following
a computer generated path
to the landing zone.
laserBIRD optical tracker
in actual Bell helicopter
flight trials.
laserBIRD is tracking head
movements to virtual conformal
pathways within NVGs; used
in approach.
Note scanner behind pilot's
head.
Photo courtesy of NRC-IAR
The helicopter night vision
system is part of NRC-IAR’s
research into the use of augmented
reality displays to expand
the operational envelope of
rotorcraft. Specifically,
night vision systems would
enhance pilots’ ability to
navigate in degraded visual
conditions. With the laserBIRD
sensor mounted on the pilots’
helmet, superimposed flight
symbology can be projected
wherever the pilot looks because
his or her head movements
are precisely tracked.
Motion tracking in a real
helicopter faces challenges
beyond those of simulator
projects. NRC-IAR selected
laserBIRD over other motion
trackers for its speed and
accuracy. According to Sion
Jennings, NRC-IAR research
officer, mechanical trackers’
physical link to the helicopter
was problematic, magnetic
trackers encountered metallic
interference and inertial
trackers were not accurate
in the moving, vibrating rotorcraft
environment.
“The laserBIRD gives us the
best combination,” said Jennings.
“Relative insensitivity to
vibration, no metal interference,
accuracy and flexibility.
We don’t have to recalibrate
if we switch helmet size.
It is quick and easy to change.”
laserBIRD delivers highly-accurate
position and orientation tracking
without distortion. Its miniaturized
scanner reflects laser beams
throughout the tracking space.
The helmet-mounted sensor
instantly picks up the laser
beams. Signals are then directed
back to the scanner’s DSP
electronics for processing
and transmission to the onboard
computer generating and projecting
the display.
Jennings describes the helicopter
project as “concept verification.”
Applications for such a system
would include emergency medical
services, law enforcement
operations and military medevac
units. “We’re looking at augmented
reality to improve the safety
and capability of helicopter
crews in night operations,”
Jennings explained.
NRC-IAR’s night vision system
project was developed in conjunction
with the Canadian Department
of National Defense, the UK
Department of Defense and
QinetiQ.
The National Research Council
of Canada’s Institute for
Aerospace Research undertakes
and promotes research and
development in support of
the Canadian aerospace community
in matters affecting the design,
manufacture, performance,
use and safety of aerospace
vehicles. For more information,
visit www.nrcaerospace.com
or contact Michelle Gagnon
at michelle.gagnon@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Ascension Technology Corporation
develops magnetic, optical
and inertial motion-tracking
solutions for 3D computer-graphics
applications in military targeting
systems, simulation, virtual
reality, biomechanics, animation
and medicine.
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