Officials at the U.S. Army`s Aircrew Integrated Systems (ACIS) program office at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., needed a display for the Army`s ACIS Comanche Compatible Common Helmet program, which is to be part of the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche scout-attack helicopter.
They found their answer with the Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) technology from Microvision in Seattle.
"We are impressed with the potential performance enhancements enabled by Microvision`s unique VRD technology," says Tom Metzler, project manager, Aircrew Integrated Systems for the U.S. Army. The Comanche program is an important milestone in the advancement of a truly integrated digitized battlefield network. Microvision`s technology raises the bar for what is attainable in next generation aircraft."
The $4 million contract calls for Microvision to provide a prototype display system that uses an alternative to conventional helmet-mounted technologies.
The Microvision VRD technology, which displays a visual image onto the viewer`s retina using low-power laser light sources, effectively eliminates high voltages from close proximity to the pilot`s head, claim Microvision officials. Microvision will deliver a display system to the U.S. Army that uses a lightweight binocular, green monochrome, 1,280-by-1,024-pixel-resolution display. Future upgrades may include higher resolution and full-color.
As part of the Aircrew Integrated Common Helmet program, VRD technology is competing for the Comanche helicopter. The Comanche is the U.S. Army`s next-generation armed reconnaissance helicopter with a planned requirement for two advanced helmet-mounted display systems per aircraft. Microvision`s VRD-based display also can be retrofitted into other existing helicopter systems. - J.M.
For more information on Virtual Retinal Display technology contact Microvision by phone at 206-623-7005, by fax at 206-623-7331, by mail at Microvision, 2203 Airport Way South, Suite 100, Seattle, Wash. 98134, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.mvis.com.
