Date Approved

6-30-2022

Embargo Period

7-5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

College

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

Advisor

Shreekanth Mandayam, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Nidhal Bouaynaya, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Patrice Tremoulet, Ph.D.

Keywords

heads-up display, rotorcraft, helicopter pilots, flight checklist, cockpit display

Subject(s)

Augmented reality; Virtual reality in aeronautics

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract

Situational awareness, both tactical and strategic, is essential for humans engaged in complex tasks in civilian and military theaters of operation. Previous work has shown that heads-up displays are effective tools for providing critical information to operators in such situations. Hitherto, heads-up displays have been designed to relay instrument and sensor information to the operator in a topical, timely, and accurate manner. There is a large body of complementary work in the area of human factors that deals with presenting information to a user without detracting from the primary mission. This thesis investigates, measures, and validates the effectiveness of a framework to provide additional information to an operator in an augmented reality format. This thesis focuses on applications of heads-up displays for rotorcraft pilots. Virtual reality (VR) environments are augmented to accept externally computed situational awareness information using established frameworks for human systems engineering. These frameworks will ensure that such additional information will not negatively affect the operator's cognition in performing mission-critical tasks. The research work described in this thesis will demonstrate that such augmented heads-up displays will provide civilian and military actors with enhanced tools for operational effectiveness, safety and survivability especially in critical situations.

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