Honeywell and a Polish Firm Collaborate to Promote AR Vehicle Display
At the biggest defence trade expo in Poland, Honeywell displayed their wearable augmented reality (AR) 360 Display system, which is intended to help military vehicles drive in low-to-no visibility. The presentation showed how users may travel “blind” thanks to this cutting-edge technology, using a Jeep at MSPO’s outdoor exhibit.
The system’s vehicle-based variant, an augmented reality display mounted on a helmet, provides operators with a 360-degree view in situations when vision is restricted or nonexistent, including in tanks or infantry combat vehicles with few or no windows. The situational awareness in low-sight conditions is greatly improved by this technique.
The technology mimics natural eyesight, according to Milan Pindryc, Honeywell’s customer engineering liaison. Through the use of mixed reality and augmented reality technology, it produces stereoscopic vision, in which each eye sees a different picture. By simulating natural vision, the operator can sense distance and depth more precisely, which enhances their ability to judge a target’s proximity and a slope’s inclination.
Honeywell and the Polish business WZE signed a memorandum of agreement during the expo. In order to ensure that the system satisfies the unique requirements of the military, the collaboration will concentrate on customising it for Polish army use on local platforms.
The system’s short latency, which synchronises the pictures with quick head movements to prevent motion sickness, is one of its main features. Because of its very short latency, pictures are processed smoothly to follow the motions of the operator, which lessens the sensory confusion that often results in nausea.
The software of the system stitches together the pictures taken by cameras placed all around the car, including a bumper camera for accurate navigation, to provide a complete 360-degree vision. The device in the presentation allowed a complete view of the entire exhibition space, including the people outside and the ground below, even though the car was completely blacked up.
The operator flips down a visor to turn on the cameras on the screen, which is attached to a helmet. When the user looks away from his or her line of vision, the system shows three other views: the side, the back and below the car.
According to the company’s information sheet, the system has a 150-degree by 110-degree field of vision and 720P resolution. With this technology, Honeywell is also aiming to address the issues faced by huge equipment operators in the mining industry who have poor sight.
In order to highlight the system’s simplicity of use and short learning curve, Honeywell cited a YouTube video in which a driver successfully drove a blacked-out car across difficult terrain with little to no training. However, the exhibition arrangement did not permit a complete driving demonstration.
For more than ten years, an augmented reality technology has been developed, first in the aircraft industry. On the other hand, the platform it will be integrated with and the particular client needs will determine when it will be deployed in cars.
According to Pindryc, every consumer can have a different computer platform or need a few minor adjustments to what is presented. Additionally, he said that pilots may watch a 360-degree view in high definition while wearing the aviation version of the display, which is worn as a visor. It provides flight instruments and traffic callouts right in the pilot’s line of vision, which is especially helpful in bad weather, at night, or in crowded airspace.
Pindryc pointed out that although the technology was first created for avionics, it has wider uses for land-based systems, where there is a rising need for it.
