Synthetic Vision for Navigation: What should it look like and what should it do?

Eric Theunissen

Abstract:	Although there is no single agreed upon definition of synthetic vision, the common element in almost all definitions and implementations is a computer generated depiction of the environment based on spatial data. Typical synthetic vision display concepts present a view of the outside world as seen from the cockpit. To address the question to what parts of the navigation task the information conveyed by a synthetic vision display can contribute, this paper focuses on the potential of synthetic vision technology for the integration of spatial data with navigation related data. The possibilities to present information about the planned route, air traffic control (ATC) commands, warnings, and other traffic in a relevant and coherent context are discussed and references to earlier work that attempted to integrate some of these elements are provided. The need to provide strategic information is addressed, and the resulting requirements on the frame of reference used to generate the spatial display are discussed. To support the information extraction and direct the attention of the user, the use of non-veridical geometry, geometric- and symbolic enhancements, and attribute manipulation is discussed in the context of earlier research performed into spatial displays. To illustrate the possibilities for information integration, a generic architecture is described that forms the basis for the synthetic vision approach proposed in this paper. Examples of implementations of a navigation display format, a flight guidance display format, and a taxi guidance display format that are based on this architecture are provided. Finally, the technical feasibility with respect to today’s state of the art electronic flight displays is addressed.
Published in:	Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000) June 26 - 28, 2000 The Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	810 - 819
Cite this article:	Theunissen, Eric, "Synthetic Vision for Navigation: What should it look like and what should it do?," Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000), San Diego, CA, June 2000, pp. 810-819.
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