Brian (one of our original OnSpeed HUD project developers) created a video (several years ago now) using some of his early development F18 SW with actual G3x recorded RS232 flight data played back at 5x normal speed.  This is the Goal of a Create your Own HUD design.  The Black in the video graphic below is actually "CLEAR" in the HUD display projection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0rPdBmn_wY&t=19s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HUD "Pilot Inflight Selectable KEY" Functions - The 10 Key Function Pad below is mounted on my instrument panel just below the HUD under my Dash Board.  The 10 keys mimic a regular computer keyboards 0 to 9 numeric keys and control our OnSpeed 10 preprogrammed HUD functions.  A brief summary of these 10 functions are as follows. 

"1" DataStart key.  The "1" key starts the HUD data record function.  This function records all the processed data inputs (EFIS/ADSB-WIFI Treaffic/ CDI/VDI Analog) as set up in the HUD Configuration file to a USB memory stich plugged into one of the Raspberry Pi 4 USB ports for post mission download and replay. The "2" DataStop key stops this data record function.  When either key is pressed brief sequential Data Start/Stop & Log File Number will flash on the HUD screen at the key press.

"3" Traffic Circle, this function will show a dimmed 360 degree traffic circle around ownship (max range as set up in the configuration file) with tracked ADSB traffic locations and information, each key press will zoom in a specified distance, after the 3rd "3" key press this function will default back to off.  The "4" BuoyCurLoc key will drop a synthetic target Buoy at you current inflight position, the "5" Buoy+1NM key will drop a buoy at 1 NM if front of your inflight location, and the "6" BuoyClear key will clear these targets.  The "7" DebugCycle key is a function mode that will cycle through and display all the data being processed by the raspberry pi such as CPU data (example such as HUD display FPS (frames per second), aircraft data (pitch/roll/etc), GPS data, engine data, traffic data, etc., and would then cycle back to off (No debug data).  The "8" GunMode key is described below.  The "9" FltPath mode cycles the flight path marker from the default mode that shows both the Flight Path (Azimuth and Elevation) and a Caged Marker that that shows just the centerline Elevation flight path, when the "9" key is pressed the centerline Caged marker is removed and only the Flight Path marker is displayed.  Of note depending on aircraft flight path this marker is often outside of the HUD field of view.  The last "0" TDBox/CDI/VDI key is described below.  All these function keys are software reprogrammable and will change and evolve as the software matures.

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HUD "Pilot Inflight Selectable "KeyPad" with Function Identifications

 

 

HUD BFM DogFight Mode - New "FUN" Function Feature!  BFM stands for Basic Fighter Maneuvers.

  Pictures below are Video screen shots from the linked BFM test video.  The picture on the left shows the BFM Gun Funnel Mode symbology tracking an Un-Ranged Practice Target.  The Gun Funnel Mode has 3 selectable Aircraft Wing Spans (25/30/35 feet) to help improve unranged target ballistics .  Picture on the right shows the LCOS (4th) mode using ADSB range between Own ship and a cooperative Targets ADSB datalink position.  The Green Arc inside the 50 MiliRadian tracking circle shows Target Range starting at 9k feet with the larger Green Tick mark at the 9 O:Clock position and rotates counterclockwise to show 6k feet range at the 6 O:Clock position and then 3k feet at the 3 O:Clock position and so on.  The Green + Plus symbol is the 2 Deg above aircraft waterline (boresight) simulated Gun aim point.  The cooperative Target N-Number and Target Range (in 100's of feet) is shown in the digital text information below the altitude.  If an ADSB closest target is available (inside 2 NM's) it will be shown in the digital data in all BFM modes.  Currently the Gun Funnel and LCOS displays are not fully Dynamic but will become fully dynamic in a matter of time. 

  The BFM video is some what blurry at times from the aircraft/engine vibration and camera mounting challenges, the vibration is significantly improved from the initial flight testing but will improve more as we continue to work the issues.  You can also see a little Prop Blur when my RV8 (in a turn) passes through the easterly morning Sun (~90 Degs), but the target and HUD graphics remain fully visible, other than flying into the sun the prop blur has been fully removed by using the ND 32 (Neutral Density) filter. 

  The BFM GunMode modes are selected by cycling the "8" GunMode Key (on the 10 key HUD Mode Selector).  Default is BFM off, first '8" key press brings up the Gun Funnel '25' foot Tgt wingspan display mode, the next "8" key press cycles to the 30 foot wingspan mode, next "8" key press cycles to the 35 foot mode, then the next "8" key press cycles to the LCOS (Ranged Target) mode.  The 5th "8" key press press cycles the "GunMode" back to the default BFM Off mode (no BFM display.  This mode is still under test.

See the below Video (from my RV8) at-->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BEmGv72IiI

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New HUD CDI/VDI Mode - Using an Analog to Digital Chip wired into your NAV units 150 millivolt Analog Needle output the the HUD software can now process and display your CDI needle output (Same as your HSI Display) to show Nav course guidance, and when selected can also display Vertical course guidance (same as your VDI displays).  This mode is selected by cycling the Zero Key (on your 10 key HUD Mode Selector).  Default is CDI off, first '0" key press brings up the CDI needle, 2nd "0" key press adds the VDI Needle to the CDI Needle, 3rd key press cycles back to default CDI/VDI OFF mode (no display.  This mode will also likely see a TD Box function mode added that will put a Box on the HUD display around the nearest target location or an Azimuth location cue at the edge of the HUD to help the pilot with target visual identification help.  Its not known yet if the ADSB target position data rate can accurately support this function.  This mode is still under test.

 

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Screen Shots from the CDI Mode software development 

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Other HUD Videos;

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A F-18 HUD Description from the DCS Simulator world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhXgnxNjzvc

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Next are Videos including discussion on how the F18 and F16 HUD's work and are different;

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First look at the F18C HUD Screen Shot I attached and see what I have pointed out. The F18C has both a Fixed Flight Path Marker, (Centered to Vertical & +/- Horizon) and a True (Ghost) Flight Path Marker as you just observed in your latest HUD Video.

 

Watch the complete HUD F18C HUD Video on youtube to see what is displayed -->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw1RDzll9_Q

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 Now the same F18C Video + a Night Video with F18 pilot descriptions as to what you are watching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRKOgkQ-ai4

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Now look at the Original F18 E/F HUD Design design and watch both the Flt Path Marker and the Ghost Velocity Vector.

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You might Ask why are they not aligned (Flight Path Marker and Ghost Velocity Vector). Well its because the Angled Flight Deck Runway is off set from the ship so the Carrier is moving Left to Right as seen by the F18 Pilot. So the F18's True velocity vector has to point where the carrier will be when the F18 hits the deck. As I was trained by some Navy F18 Pilots during my F35 work true flight path (Ghost Velocity Vector) should start out about at the Bridge on final and will slowly merge to the Fixed Flight Path Marker at touchdown.

 

So the F18 HUD video is really cool.  But what does it mean to a GA Pilot? Were not likely to land on a moving runway,

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First watch this F16 Extreme maneuvering HUD Video (Takeoff/Maneuvers/Landing) in a 5 min video.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHx-OWdHqf8

 

You can see that the Flight Path Marker stays centered to the Attitude center line (+/- Degs) from the Horizon, but the entire Attitude shifts Left Right following the True Flight Path so the Flight Path Marker is actually shows the true Flight Path but only during moderate or less maneuvering when you can see it.

 

Then watch this standard military pattern and landing as seen through the F16 HUD video. Not very good quality.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssiqkcQNL7k

 

Turkish F16 Landing HUD Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-wazTyhFJc

 

You can watch the Flight Path Marker and attitude lines stay visible during the entire landing but the pilot has to compensate a little for a cross wind.

 

Our OnSpeed HUD video software supports all the same functionality but still needs work to align all the flight cues correctly with the outside world as seen through the HUD.

 

And as before if you are a SW developer and would like to join our GitHub HUD development project please contact Chris or me.

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