Honeywell has revealed the first details of a series of tests on a new technology that merges computer-generated synthetic vision and infrared-based enhanced vision systems to improve head-down situational awareness in the cockpit.
The SmartView system is being designed to give pilots the option of using augmented vision for Category-1 precision approaches to within 50ft (15.24m) above the ground.
Honeywell has found that merging a Kollsman EVS II infrared camera into a synthetic view of the terrain creates a visual advantage of 3.05-18.29m (10-60ft) compared to the naked idea in "marine weather conditions."
The SmartView system overlays IR imagery onto a synthetic terrain database, allowing the flight crew to clearly see a real-time picture of the surrounding terrain even at night or in bad weather.
The system uses a toggle that allows the flight crew to change transparency of the IR picture in relation to the three-dimension synthetic view.
The company is still working with the US FAA's regulatory authorities to receive approval for obtaining landing credits to fly with the merged system to within 50ft of the ground.
The FAA's NextGen roadmap includes a plan to introduce a process to regulate a new category called "equivalent visual operations" between 2012 and 2016, Honeywell says.
Honeywell executives described the SmartView technology as a situational awareness aid rather than a primary navigational system.
In one flight sortie on 24 June, a Honeywell-owned testbed aircraft equipped with the merged vision software flew a combined 11 approaches to Monterey and Santa Barbara airports in California. The sortie resulted in the finding of a 3-18m visual advantage.
Source: Flight Daily News
