US 10,971,027 B2 · System and method for improving safety when operating aircraft in reduced- or modified-visibility conditions

Abstract

A system and method for improving safety when operating an aircraft in reduced or modified visibility conditions is disclosed. A flight helmet having a visor with an electrically controlled optical state is configured to automatically move the visor up out of the pilot's line of sight on receipt of a signal from a safety sensor. This sensor-based automated moving of the visor helps alleviate danger in circumstances where the visor is improperly hindering the pilot. The helmet can be used, for example, in reduced-visibility training sessions and thereby improve the safety of such sessions. And the helmet can be used with enhanced or synthetic vision systems as a failsafe if the systems are hindering rather than helping the pilot.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for training a pilot to operate an aircraft in sudden-onset reduced-visibility conditions, the method comprising:

(a) providing a flight helmet comprising:
(i) a visor comprising an electrooptic material having an optical transmittance, wherein the electrooptic material is disposed to restrict the pilot's view outside the aircraft when the electrooptic material is in a low-optical-transmittance state;
(ii) a power supply connected to the electrooptic material;
(iii) a flight-safety sensor configured to generate a signal;
and
(b) changing the output of the power supply to change the optical transmittance of the electrooptic material, wherein the changing step is performed without first informing the pilot that the changing step is to be performed at the moment it is performed;
(c) receiving a signal from the flight-safety sensor;
and
(d) changing the position of the visor depending on the signal received from the flight-safety sensor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for improving safety when operating aircraft in reduced- or modified-visibility conditions

Life of this patent

System and method for improving safety when operating aircraft in reduced- or modified-visibility conditions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18