Defense Tech: Look, Ma . . . No HUD!


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Edited by Christian Lowe \| Contact

Look, Ma . . . No HUD!

Graham Warwick at Flight International updates the status of JSF's cutting edge helmet system:

"Lockheed Martin has begun flying the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with the helmet-mounted display (HMD) system that will be the primary source of flight information for pilots of the stealthy combat aircraft.

"Developed by Vision Systems International (VSI), the HMD was used by chief test pilot Jon Beesley for the first time last week, on the 10th test flight of the F-35. Previous sorties were flown using only head-down instruments as the F-35 is the first fighter in decades to fly without head-up display (HUD).

"The HMD provides a 'virtual HUD' capability, says VSI, presenting flight symbology as well as displaying day and night imagery from the F-35's 360° distributed-aperture infrared sensor and electro-optical targeting sensor.

"Replacing the HUD with a helmet-mounted display requires precise head tracking and low-latency graphics processing, says VSI.

"Developing the JSF HMD has presented tough challenges, particularly clearing the helmet-mounted optics for safe ejection at speeds up to 450kt (830km/h). VSI says the HMD demonstrated structural integrity up to 600kt in tests leading to flight certification."

No HUD? What are the Hornet drivers going to do? And will we replace "HUD cripples" with "Helmet cripples"?

Read the full article here.

(Gouge: NC)

-- Ward

Comments

nice to meet you

Posted by: wowpowerleveling at April 14, 2008 11:08 PM

thats the sickest halmet iv ever seen. kindov like halos master chief but hell of alot cooler

Posted by: Sean at December 18, 2007 10:40 PM

It looks cool but heavy. How many G can the pilot pull before getting a sore neck?

Posted by: Ray at November 9, 2007 11:18 AM

My first thought was "Someone's been playing too much Halo" :-)

To answer p3t3's question: while they don't have the same degree of head tracking and so forth (harder to do outside of a cockpit), Microvision's Nomad has been trialled with Stryker tank brigades, for FBCB2 use.

The Nomad's a lightweight helmet-mounted reticle that projects a laser raster image directly onto the user's retina, providing a crisp, high-resolution display. This allows the tank commander to maintain computerised navigational and situational awareness while observing, without having to pop back down the hatch in order to see what the screens are doing.

So worry not: the Army's not completely forgotten when it comes to the high-tech wizardry :-)

Posted by: Dr. Curiosity at April 14, 2007 03:03 AM

It's not just a HMD, it is a HMD 'system' integrated with a lot of other 'stuff' alluded to in the post. As to some of the questions raised in the comments. See this old article for more info on functionality: http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/military/1145.html.
Some of the design has obviously changed since the Aviation Today article, but you'll get the overall idea.

And Dang it! -- I just gotta get here more often to catch these great posts when they're fresh!

Posted by: SMSgt Mac at April 13, 2007 09:14 PM

Why not have a similar thing for tank gunners and commanders?

Posted by: P3t3 at April 13, 2007 03:47 AM

â€œDon't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.â€

Posted by: P at April 12, 2007 08:41 PM

Man, all you need is the breathing sound effect, and the funny radio-changed voice and you could have a play at modernizing Darth Vader.

I think if our troops in Iraq wore it, it would scare the pants off the locals.

Posted by: Takeo at April 12, 2007 05:21 PM

Other than looking like an alien... how much does that thing weigh do you think? And what happens if all the fancy electronics in it malfunction? Lots of questions...

Posted by: TZ at April 12, 2007 01:22 AM

mrnitropb, A HUD is fixed. Which means it can only provide targeting information on targets directly in front of the plane. All-aspect weaponry can be targeted anywhere, though, which is why helmet-mounted sighting makes sense.

Posted by: Moose at April 11, 2007 11:43 PM

So what exactly was wrong with HUD's?

Posted by: mrnitropb at April 11, 2007 06:47 PM

That helmet just screams evil.

Posted by: Marshall at April 11, 2007 06:12 PM

After seeing the picture, my first thought was...
.
"Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own... Resistance is futile." :)
.
My second thought was... Who built the bong? 8O)

Posted by: Camp at April 11, 2007 05:01 PM

Looks alien or SciFi for real.

"The HMD provides a 'virtual HUD' capability, says VSI, presenting flight symbology as well as displaying day and night imagery from the F-35's 360ï¿½ distributed-aperture infrared sensor and electro-optical targeting sensor."

360 does he mean 360 like with this helmet on you will basicly be able to look through the airplane in all directions 360. Like look below the aircraft by just looking down between your legs. That would be a very cool feature and when doing things like eye in the sky support missions of troops make things move all the more smoother and easier for target aquisition.

Dam it looks alien thou. I guess its the triangle rather than rounded top and so far back. I tell ya what if you gotta punch out when you hit the ground you better take it off quick before some nutball lays a round of buck shot on you thinkin he just got rich byway of hard proof of aliens.

Posted by: C-Low at April 11, 2007 03:44 PM

What an ugly helmet.

Posted by: pedestrian at April 11, 2007 03:41 PM

OK, now that thing just freaks me out. Plus it looks reaaalllyy EXPENSIVE.

Posted by: Grandjester at April 11, 2007 01:02 PM

Look, Ma . . . No HUD!

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