A Helmet-Mounted Virtual Environment Display System
Abstract
This effort researches existing Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) systems and presents a prototype design of a color Helmet-Mounted Virtual Environment Display System. Many existing systems are discussed, including systems currently in use by the US Navy, Air Force, and Army. Several differing designs are presented and evaluated. The Air Force Institute of Technology Helmet Mounted Virtual Environment Display System places the user in an visual situation that is generated by a computer. This HMD system could easily be adapted for use with a video camera. This paper presents an inexpensive system design that incorporates the benefits of other efforts. The cost trade offs are evaluated and the best design for the lowest cost is presented. The optics, three dimensional considerations, the mounting platform and display technologies are also discussed. The final HMD system design is described in detail and presented so that any reader could build a similar system for minimal cost. This system uses color Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) mounted directly before the eyes of the user. Specially designed optics were developed to enable the user to focus on the image only inches away. The positional information of the user is determined by a sensitive electro-magnetic device developed by Polhemus Navigational Sciences. This system is very accurate but has a limited effective range. Predictive tracking is discussed and implemented using a simple Kalman filter equation. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA203055
Entities
People
- Robert K. Rebo
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology