Development of Multisensory Orientation Technology for Reducing Spatial Disorientation Mishaps

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Development of Multisensory Orientation Technology for Reducing Spatial Disorientation Mishaps

W. B. Albery

The Air Force regards Spatial Disorientation (SD) and loss of situational awareness (SA) as contributing factors in operational Class A ($1 M in aircraft loss and/or pilot fatality) aircraft mishaps. Multisensory systems have been developed to enhance the aircraft altitude information to the pilot. The systems incorporate multisensory aids including helmet-mounted symbology and tactile and audio cues. Two systems have been prototyped and demonstrated in the Air Force Research Laboratory. The technology could have application in the rotary-wing brownout program. This paper discusses the development of two systems and a potential application including an augmented cognition application. Unlike automatic ground collision avoidance systems, these systems do not take over the aircraft if a pre-set altitude is broached by the pilot; rather, these multisensory systems provide complementary attitude cues to the pilot via the tactile, audio. and visual systems that allow the pilot to continue flying through disorienting conditions.