[simpits-tech] Off Axis collimated 'out the window' displays

[Chris Woodul]

I saw one of the huge mirror systems being made at Thales ( formerly
Thompson Training and Simulation) in Gatwick England. The material is MYLAR,
and was stretched into a perfect (computed ) parabola. The relationship of
this parabola, and the angle of it are tuned exactly to the Fogged cureved
screen that has the image rear projected onto it. The image projected for a
WIDE view usually has three channels to give a very wide image. When you do
that a very complex operation to blend the images together comes into play.
I have also watched that occour, and was very impressed.
I also got the impression that the mylar is very fragile, and you cant go
poking at it when it is done. It also must be stabilized mechanically so
that if mounted on a motion platform it wont shift due to intertia ( they
are very large)
Older simulators used individual Monitors and Collumating mirrors( which
were very heavy ) and you could see "segments" of each channel as you look
thru each window on your side of the cockpit. You could not really see out
the "other guys" windows.
( go look at an older 727 simulator and you can see this in action) Once you
have seen or flown a LEVEL D flight simulator for a newer aircraft ( 777, or
Airbus etc) you will be completely spoiled. I once flew a 4 day old CAE 777
simulator for 4 hours.....what an unbeliveable experience! The bad part of
doing that, is that it spoils you....and makes you have fantasies of winning
the lottery.
Who needs a Yacht, or a Lambroghini when you can have visuals like that???
Chris Woodul

----- Original Message -----
From: "D E" <d_p_e@hotmail.com>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 7:45 AM
Subject: [simpits-tech] Off Axis collimated 'out the window' displays


>
> I have for some time been looking into the idea of creating a mirror
system
> for the out-the-window view of my flightdeck.  This would involve the
> construction of a custom structure/outhouse for the flightdeck and for the
> parabolic style mirror.   I am designing the mirror shape on CAD & Will
look
> into ways of how a mirrored surface could be made. Thought about using
> Mirror on a roll - with the problems of it going on to a curved surface +
> joins etc. Ideally i'd want some kind of reflective coating.  Almost like
> chroming? but obviously a nice cheap alternative.  I've sometimes seen a
> mirror-like reflective coating on plastics - i wonder if this is an
option?
>   Got any Ideas?
>
> Has anyone else on the group thought about making this kind of display?
I
> think the effort would pay off, as long as the design is correct and
> accurate and the build is precise. My time scale for such a project is
> loooooong - long enough to get it right and  long enough to spread the
> costs.  I don't want it to cost an arm and a leg - flying becomes more
> tricky with only one of each.
>
> On a cross collimated flight deck ... Does the mirror create a focal point
> and if so where?
>
> Am i correct in saying that - if you are between the mirror and the focal
> point (the principle focus), the image formed is larger than the original
> object, upright and appears to be behind the mirrored surface?
>
> Here are a few websites links to look at:-
>
> http://www.glassmountain.com/images/crewview2.jpg
>
>
http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/mcintyre/vergences/optics/go_notes/go_mi
rr.html
>
> http://www.opticalphysics.com/current.htm
>
> http://www.seos.co.uk/images/products/pan/panor.pdf
>
> Hope to hear your comments/ideas on this,
> Best wishes,
> Derek
> d_p_e@hotmail.com
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech@simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
page.  Thanks!