THE PERFORMANCE OF GROUND OBSERVERS IN DETECTING, RECOGNIZING, AND ESTIMATING RANGE TO LOW-ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT

Abstract

The purpose of the test was to determine man's capability to visually detect, recognize, and estimate range to low-altitude aircraft. Twenty-seven Army enlisted men served as observers. The results indicate that man can defect and recognize low-altitude aircraft at a considerable range under near-optimum field conditions. The value of binoculars for aircraft detection was found to be dependent upon (a) observer offset from the aircraft flight path, (b) accuracy of early warning, (c) aircraft speed, and (d) exhaust smoke trail characteristics of the aircraft. Under the test conditions employed, binoculars reduced the detection range on the most potentially threatening targets, high- speed, head-on jet aircraft. The data show that large range estimation errors occurred. Filmed simulation of the recognition task appears promising as a training tool.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0645537

Entities

People

  • A. D. Wright

Organizations

  • George Washington University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Aircraft Detection
  • Aircrafts
  • Audiovisual Aids
  • Classification
  • Detection
  • Field Conditions
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Flight Paths
  • Flight Speeds
  • Helicopters
  • Jet Aircraft
  • Observers
  • Psychology
  • Recognition
  • Simulations
  • Training

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Computer Vision.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects