Effects of Backscattered Light on Target Light Detectability in a Ground Test Environment

Abstract

Field tests were conducted to determine how ability to detect target lights is affected by backscattered light (light reflected back to the pilot from his own exterior lights), under VFR atmospheric conditions. Results indicate that backscatter has little effect on detectability of target lights in atmospheric transmissivities of about 20% per mile and greater. Differences in threshold could, in the main, be accounted for by atmospheric transmissivity and differential sensitivities of the eye. The striking differ ences in the subjective appearance of different backscatter colors and modes of flashing suggest that other effects such as distraction, fatigue, and disorientation may not be negligible, even though target detectability is not affected.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0409909

Entities

People

  • Kenneth G. Cook
  • Louis G. Porter
  • Theodore H. Projector

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Applied Psychology
  • Candles
  • Contracts
  • Corporations
  • Data Science
  • Environment
  • Field Tests
  • Information Science
  • Lighting Equipment
  • Military Aircraft
  • Perception
  • Peripheral Vision
  • Psychology
  • Scattering
  • Transmissivity

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Spectroscopy.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.