Abstract

Flight simulator training systems require accurate display system geometric alignments to minimize distortion of the pilot's view of the simulated world.  Since their introduction in the early 1980s, Cross-Cockpit Collimated Displays have been the system of choice for a wide range of flight training applications. This class of display system presents special geometric alignment challenges.

Today's alignment system instrumentation can routinely fully characterize the distortion over the full field of view from the pilot, copilot, and design eye positions. Unfortunately, it is not possible to simultaneously remove all distortions from all eye positions.

This paper analyzes and categorizes the types of distortions that arise in visual display systems.  We describe, illustrate, and discuss four distinct types of distortions that fall into basic correctable and uncorrectable categories.

We also describe a practical method for performing a rapid comprehensive distortion characterization from the cockpit. That characterization includes a comprehensive analysis function that quantifies non-stationary distortion errors for specific display systems.