Multipurpose low-cost synthetic vision system

This article deals with development and implementation of low-cost synthetic vision system primarily targeted for light sport aircrafts and general aviation. The system uses high resolution terrain database with 3D topographic objects and produces image comparable with flight simulators. The visualization includes emulation of head-up style display with 3D navigation data and instruments. The hardware part uses commercial off-the-shelf inertial units and the visualization part is based on gaming technology. This system is intended to work as a back-up system for non IFR experienced pilots in case of unintended flight into IMC.

Introduction

The continuous development of technologies (new high-tech airplanes and lots of available used ones) and the economic crisis that has pushed the prices low making relatively new established categories of general aviation airplanes — the ultra light airplanes(in Europe) and Light Sport Airplanes (LSA in the USA) easily accessible to young pilots. According to statistics, there are many controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents every year. These young pilots have low instrument flying experience and usually make bad decisions in judging the developing weather situation. This usually leads to CFIT accidents with fatal results. These young pilots have one big advantage – they are familiar with various PC flight simulators (and games). This brings up an idea to give them a synthetic vision system into their cockpit that would provide them with a view they know and know how to fly – with the visualization similar to the flight simulator but in the real time in the real airplane. In the case of CFIT they would just fly the simulator and save their lives.