The visual system is the heart of a simulator requiring an immersive environment. Although many of today's visual systems have quantum leaps in performance over those of just ten years ago, there are still technology enhancements that will increase the transfer of training from the aircraft to the simulator. Traditional rear-projected simulator displays, consisting of a dome or a tessellation of flat screens, have an inherent variation in resolution from center to edge of a projected image. The growth path in digital projection is around wide aspect ratios such as the HD format. For these formats, resolution variation is far higher than for the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio of tradition al CRT projectors. In a training environment, non-uniform resolution creates a change in image fidelity as a function of where the student is looking. This means that target detection and identification ranges can vary greatly, resulting in inconsistent training. This paper describes a method of achieving constant resolution, eliminating the resolution non-uniformity found with flat and domed displays. It does this through a simple geometric relationship, requiring no expensive custom optics. This paper will show that the principle of constant resolution converts the disadvantage of the HD format, when used in legacy displays, into a significant increase in efficiency. Higher efficiency means fewer projectors, reducing acquisition and maintenance costs.
Constant Resolution: A Disruptive Technology for Simulator Visual System Design
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