Effect of Short-Term Exposure to Stereoscopic Three-Dimensional Flight Displays on Real-World Depth Perception
Abstract
High-fidelity color pictorial displays that incorporate depth cues in the display elements are currently available. Depth cuing applied to advanced head-down flight display concepts potentially enhances the pilot's situational awareness and improves task performance. Depth cues provided by stereopsis exhibit constraints that must be fully understood so depth cuing enhancements can be adequately realized and exploited. The goal of this investigation is whether the use of head-down stereoscopic displays in flight applications degrade the real-world depth perception of pilots using such displays. Stereoacuity tests are used in this study as the measure to interest. Eight pilots flew repeated simulated landing approaches using both nonstereo and stereo three-dimensional head-down pathway-in-the-sky displays. At the decision height of each approach (where the pilot changes to an out-the-window view to obtain real-world visual references) the pilots changed to a stereoacuity test that used real objects. Statistical analysis of stereoacuity measures (data for a control condition of no exposure to any electronic flight display compared with data for changes from nonstereo and from stereo displays) reveals no significant differences for any of the conditions. Therefore, changing from short-term exposure to a head-down stereo display has no more effect on real- world relative depth perception than does changing from a nonstereo display. However, depth perception effects based on size and distance judgments and on long-term exposure remain issues to be investigated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA242333
Entities
People
- Anthony M. Busquets
- Russel V. Parrish
- Steven P. Williams
Organizations
- Langley Research Center