Conspicuity Comparison of Current and Proposed U.S. Army Wire Marker Designs.
Abstract
In-flight wire strikes are a serious threat to U.S. Army aviation during all-weather daytime and nighttime helicopter operations. To reduce this threat, the aviation training community employs a passive marking system for increasing the conspicuity of high tension cables, electrical power lines, and telephone wires. This system uses international-orange fiberglass spheres having a diameter of approximately 11.5 inches and utilizing various conspicuity enhancing schemes. These spheres are attached to the cables and wires at locations heavily used by aircraft. In this study, the conspicuity of the basic and proposed modified designs was investigated as a function of background, illumination level (for both day and night with weather effects), sun (or other bright source) angle, and viewing system (e.g., unaided eye, thermal sensor, or image intensifier). While no differences among designs were observed under daylight conditions, improved performance under several viewing/lighting conditions was observed for two retroreflective polyhedron designs under typical aircraft lighting conditions at night. Increased detection ranges were noted both with and without image intensification devices and under aircraft lighting conditions characteristic of the local aviation training environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA233518
Entities
People
- Clarence E. Rash
- John S. Martin
- Richard R. Levine
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab