Citation

Schnell T, Keller M, Etherington T. Int. J. Aviat. Psychol. 2009; 19(1): 33-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10508410802597390

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We conducted 2 independent fixed-base flight simulator studies to determine trade-offs in synthetic vision system (SVS) display resolution, field of regard, terrain data density, texture, and shading during off-path operations. The data we present herein are a synthesis of prior work and may be useful for consideration by SVS designers and certification entities. Pilots flew off-path tasks, following the middle of a curved valley depicted on the SVS. The SVS parameters were manipulated between runs and cross-track deviations from the desired path following the middle of the valley were recorded. Off-path terrain navigation tasks were used to isolate the effect of the different SVS terrain depictions on cross-track error without the overriding effects of other flight guidance symbology. For off-path SVS operations and based on the results presented in this article, we recommend an SVS head-down display resolution of about 105 pixels per inch (ppi; 32.7 pixels per degree of visual angle) or better at a viewing distance of 21 in., a field of regard of 60 degrees, a terrain data density of 6 arc sec or better, a two-color checkerboard or elevation-based coloring scheme (or a combination thereof), and Gouraud shading of the texture.