Combat Land vehicles are small relative to the systems that they carry, yet these systems are increasing
rapidly in complexity to provide needed improvements to situational awareness, vehicle management and
weapons systems. Processing loads have increased rapidly driven by vehicle health, weapons and selfprotection
requirements and there are more display functions than ever. All must be accommodated in a
limited space where electronics competes with weapons, ammunition and crew comfort. In this paper we will
examine a unique system solution for vehicle computing and associated data display that provides system
level advantages from a compact COTS base at a cost that is compatible with Army vehicles. We will
examine the packaging, operational environment, processing, operator interface and display design options
with a special focus on the trade-offs. Finally, we project current solutions into a future with expanded
applications that exploits new display, materials and processing technologies into a new, more flexible
vehicle display.
OLED display technology has developed sufficiently to support small format commercial applications such as
cell-phone main display functions. Revenues seem sufficient to finance both performance improvements
and to develop new applications. The situation signifies the possibility that OLED technology is on the
threshold of credibility for military applications. This paper will examine both performance and some possible
applications for the military ground mobile environment, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of this
promising new technology.
Just as iPhones with sophisticated touch interfaces have revolutionised the human interface for the
ubiquitous cell phone, the Military is rapidly adopting touch-screens as a primary interface to their
computers and vehicle systems. This paper describes the development of a true military touch interface
solution from an existing industrial design. We will report on successful development of 10.4" and 15.4"
high performance rugged resistive touch panels using IAD sputter coating. Low reflectance (specular <
1% and diffuse < 0.07%) was achieved with high impact, dust, and chemical resistant surface finishes.
These touch panels were qualified over a wide operational temperature range, -51°C to +80°C
specifically for military and rugged industrial applications.
The DCM for the Drivers Vision Enhancer system is the display part of a relatively low cost IR imaging
system for land-vehicles. Recent changes to operational needs, associated with asymmetrical warfare have
added daytime operations to the uses for this mature system. This paper will discuss cost/performance
tradeoffs and provide thoughts for "DVE of the future" in light of these new operational needs for the system.
OLED technology has matured sufficiently to consider it a realistic candidate for military display applications.
Manufacturing sources are transitioning from an early developer to a business focused and often rationalised
supply base that already has a sustainable business model. New commercial products, with a growing list of
applications are slowly swelling the list of available OLED display components that can be considered for
military requirements. This paper describes an exploratory application of OLED technology to the Towed
Artillery Digitisation (TAD) programme. The Gunners Display function in this system endures the most
difficult environment available in Army programmes. By replicating the Gunners Display, we have confirmed
that OLED technology is compatible with and technically almost ready for rugged military applications using
newly available commercial sources.
KEYWORDS: Commercial off the shelf technology, Cockpit displays, Military display technology, Temperature metrology, Chromium, Specular reflections, Standards development, Reflectivity, Chemical elements, Reflection
Avionics displays, particularly for cockpit applications are associated with high performance and high cost
solutions. COTS displays have well acknowledged limitations but provide a potential high value for money
solution if this performance can be stretched to a level compatible with "fit for use". This paper will describe
the initial design tradeoffs and decisions that formed the basis for development of a low-cost cockpit display
for a military helicopter.
KEYWORDS: Commercial off the shelf technology, Light emitting diodes, LED backlight, LED displays, Optical filters, Temperature metrology, LCDs, Glasses, NVIS filters, Video
Many avionics displays, particularly for cockpit applications require NVG compatibility. Unusually, the
mission definition for a new maritime helicopter has identified a need for NVG compatibility for all of the
mission-system displays, including the 20.1" diagonal, SXGA resolution Tactical Workstation Display (TWD)
located in the rear cabin. This paper will describe some design tradeoff considerations and describe both
some required and measured performance parameters.
KEYWORDS: LCDs, Simulation of CCA and DLA aggregates, Visualization, Human-machine interfaces, Video, Electromagnetic coupling, Electronics, RGB color model, Displays, Light emitting diodes
This paper outlines how the convergence of: high resolution rugged AM-LCD; high reliability solid-state backlighting; low-power, high-performance microcircuits; and robust, reconfigurable software can be combined in a modular architecture, to provide a truly "one size fits all" multi-function instrument. The 3ATI form-factor has been selected for this demonstration, as it both represents a very significant population of legacy applications, and because of its compact nature, providing a significant technical challenge. The authors outline how these challenges were addressed and present one application example as applied to the Threat Warning Instrument (TWI), for the Canadian Forces CH-148 (derived from the Sikorsky H-92 platform) "Cyclone" Defensive Aids Suite.
KEYWORDS: Commercial off the shelf technology, Military display technology, Manufacturing, Defense technologies, Electronics, Reliability, LCDs, Temperature metrology, Product engineering, Video
COTS components provide an affordable solution for land mobile display requirements. However, most military programmes require that components be available for an extended period of at least 10 years. Industrial COTS components are typically available for about 3 years, causing severe problems in supportability, with attendant cost implications. This paper will describe a COTS based solution for the M1A2 SEP Commanders Tactical Display and the problems encountered and overcome over an operational period of 8 years.
KEYWORDS: Video, Electroluminescence, Simulation of CCA and DLA aggregates, LCDs, Magnesium, Control systems, Glasses, Interfaces, Commercial off the shelf technology, Prototyping
Resizing AMLCD's by cutting has been demonstrated over a period of 15 years. However, compatibility of this approach with a harsh land-military environment has only recently been established. This paper will describe development and testing of a resized AMLCD, specifically to explore application to this environment. The application and test environment selected is that of the Control-Display unit for the Mobile Gun System (MGS). We describe the existing MGS display requirements and how the resized COTS display matched these requirements. We have also included results from performance and environmental tests that were used to validate this technology in the land-mobile environment.
Displays for military vehicles have very distinct operational and cost requirements that differ from other military applications. These requirements demand that display suppliers to Army and Marine ground-environments provide low cost equipment that is capable of operation across environmental extremes. Inevitably, COTS components form the foundation of these “affordable” display solutions. This paper will outline the major display requirements and review the options that satisfy conflicting and difficult operational demands, using newly developed equipment as an example.
Recently, a new supplier was selected for the Drivers Vision Enhancer (DVE) equipment, including the Display Control Module (DCM). The paper will outline the DVE and describe development of a new DCM solution. The DVE programme, with several thousand units presently in service and operational in conflicts such as “Operation Iraqi Freedom”, represents a critical balance between cost and performance. We shall describe design considerations that include selection of COTS sources, the need to minimise display modification; video interfaces, power interfaces, operator interfaces and new provisions to optimise displayed video content.
The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is typical of a new generation of Military vehicle. These new vehicles utilise information technology to provide substantial force multiplier and enhanced survival gains for the Marines. Larger, high performance displays with an integral computing capability are an essential element of these new systems. This paper reports on the development of an 18.1” display for the EFV. We describe the functionality, construction and performance of a “smart display” that utilises COTS components adapted to a severe ground-mobile environment, from concept to prototype test and delivery. We also indicate design enhancements that will take this system into volume production with maximized performance and minimised obsolescence risk for a system that is likely to evolve over a long operational lifespan.
Affordable performance and survivability is the key to providing displays for new Army programs. The Towed Artillery Digitisation (TAD) program applies COTS computers and communications to traditional artillery functions in order to increase lethality and effectiveness at minimal expense. The human interface requires the flexibility of displays to facilitate the decision loop and to implement the gun interface. GDC is tasked with providing two different displays for the TAD program and this paper will focus on how functional and performance requirements were met at affordable cost. The TAD displays operate in extreme environmental conditions and we describe both the functions of these displays within the TAD system and how GDC addressed the environmental issues.
Laboratory photometric measurements are taken of a display backlight one metre away from the emission surface (diffuser) with a whole acceptance angle on the photometer of about 0.125 degrees (2.182mm spot size at emission surface). A simulation method was sought to be able to obtain the brightness uniformity (luminance peak to trough ratio from above one lamp to the null between lamps in a picket-fence backlight). A 3D raytrace BackLight model in TracePro and a 2D Mathematical model in Matlab have been developed. With a specimen backlight in the laboratory, a smooth luminance profile was measured by the photometer on the diffuser surface. Ray Trace models in both 3D and 2D take too long to produce smooth 'continuous filled' distributions. The Mathematical 2D approach, although with limitations, yielded smooth solutions in a very reasonable time frame.
KEYWORDS: Commercial off the shelf technology, Military display technology, Video, Interfaces, Displays, Digital video discs, Chromium, Electronics, Packaging, Sensors
Driven by the need to achieve cost-effective man-machine interface solutions, the adoption of commercial off the shelf (COTS) AMLCD panels in armoured fighting vehicles has become a fully accepted reality. This paper will explore some downside aspects of the new reality attendant on use of COTS display components, such as performance limitations and component obsolescence, as experienced on fielded military display products. Modular architecture and design solutions intended to minimise the impact of COTS product instability will be discussed.
Ground vehicle displays must function in the most demanding operational environment with stringent functional requirements. Operational demands on displays are rapidly increasing, reflecting its position as the primary man-machine information interface. Modern vehicles are fitted with sophisticated second generation FLIR imaging systems, map, external situational awareness displays and vehicle systems status displays. Operator interfaces are constantly evolving to reflect the need to reduce crew count. All this is happening in an environment of cost reduction and the insertion of COTS elements.
KEYWORDS: Electroluminescence, Optical filters, Glasses, Video, Forward looking infrared, Optical components, Simulation of CCA and DLA aggregates, Control systems, Bandpass filters, Electrodes
The thrust of this paper will be to trace some of the design decisions made during development of the M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) display. We will describe factors which determined the size, resolution, optical filtering, as well as packaging characteristics. The Commanders Thermal Viewer (CTV) display is a 16:9 aspect ratio, 9.2' diagonal, mirror electrode EL, providing a 1316 X 480 pixel resolution. These characteristics were determined through a combination of vehicle space limitations, human factors considerations and technology limitations. Packaging, both electrical and mechanical were determined by the environmental and physical constraints of confined space inside a main battle tank.
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