Development of a New Simulation Software for Visual Ergonomy of a Cockpit

1. Development of a New Simulation Software for Visual Ergonomy of a Cockpit Pascal MARTINEZ

2. Author team OPTIS : Optics & Software development • Jacques Delacour (President) • Pascal Martinez (Vice-President) • Laurent Fournier & Eric Humbert (Physicist & Software Dvt) • Gunther Hasna (Benchmark Group Manager) NEMOPTIC : LCD manufacturer • Jean-François LEGAY (Engineer) IMNSSA : Military Medical Department • Jean-Pierre MENU (Specialist in vision in aeronautics – co-author of « Operational Colour Vision in The Modern Aviation Environment)

3. Light is everywhere!

4. OPTIS Solutions Optics Photometry & Colorimetry Environment lighting Physics based Photo-realism

5. The Needs we address • More and more information are displayed in a cockpit. Harnessing color and light environment is the key to : • Improve detection • Avoid tiredness • For safety reasons, these information must be clear and readable • What level of light? Which color? • How uniform ? How big ? Which resolution? • And to answer what if : • The sun was in a given direction? • I use Head-Up displays, Night Vision Devices

6. A380 Cockpit A380 cockpit – Courtesy of Airbus Industry

7. Goal of this development • Simulate the lighting environment of a cockpit • Evaluate the light level and color for displayed information • Determine the effect of the ambient light • Simulate the effect of the sun / landing lights • Simulate the physiological human vision • Simulate the eye response to light/color • Simulate the eye perception • Analyze a detectable/non detectable signal

8. Software Environment • CAD/CAM software compatible via native format files and STEP, IGES • Integrated in CATIA V5 environment • Based on our SPEOS photometry simulation software (used by Dassault Aviation / BAE / EADS / Lear…) • Based on Nemoptic and CNRS research center for LCD modules simulation • Using OPTIS Extended optical library of materials, surface qualities and sources

9. Problem definition There are many issues to solve during the development process of a cockpit : • the choice of display technology CRT, LCD. • the use of ISO visual standards related to the use of color on displays. • the position of the displays and information • the problem of contrast reduction due to reflected ambient light • the problem of contrast reduction due to direct light and background • the detection of information • Night Vision Devices

10. Light Source HiFi spectral Luminance Map Eye Model Sensors Light Propagation Results Standards Algorithm Instruments 3D SCENE (CAD/CAM) + optical properties

11. OPTIS Photometric simulation • More than 10 years R&D in simulation of : • Light emission (incandescent, discharge, LED, sun, Black bodies, LCD) • Optical propagation (spectral absorbing and diffusing material : air, fog, …) • Photons/Matter interaction (diffusion, BRDF, BTDF, color, …) • Based on an optimized Monte-Carlo approach • Fully spectral approach from UV to IR

12. Source emission Light propagation Luminance results Spectral behaviour Photometric simulation

13. Colorimetry & Visual standards • Results are compared to International standards • ISO : part 8 of ISO 9241 • Military standards MIL-S-22885 • Specifications compliance

14. Simulation Result CRT & LCD display models First model for CRT & LCD Integrators • Emittance = spectral BMP • 3D Intensity distribution (IES format file) • Glass material and coating • Total emitted flux

15. CRT & LCD display models (2) For display system designer : Backlighting (+ LCD) • Handling of light guide’s complex geometry coming from CAD/CAM software, adding thousands of evolutive 3D patterns for the backlighting

16. CRT & LCD display models (3) For display system designer : (Backlighting +) LCD • LCD simulation (Optis+Nemoptic) handling • the physical behavior of the liquid crystal • Polarization effects • Transmitted and reflected light effects

17. Color washout • SPEOS computes the multiple light reflection into the 3D system, coming from all the sources • After hitting the window of the display, light will be partly diffused onto the direction of the pilote • This additionnal light will impact the contrast of the displayed information

18. Contrast evaluation Color Washout (results)

19. Eye model : Response to light • High range of dynamic : 10-6 to 108 cd/m² • Two kind of photoreceptors : • Cones (Color cells) red, green and blue sensitive type in central vision • Luminosity cells in peripheral vision Day vision 0.35 cd/m² 5.10-2 cd/m² 0.7 cd/m²

20. Eye model : Detection Ambient light generates • Contrast reduction of the display (seen) • Loss of sensitivity : adaptation of the eye High level of luminance scene Photometric response before applying eye model Eye model : the grey cross is not detected

21. Cockpit Simulation : Day Sun effect on the retinae Left part: Ambient light

22. Cockpit Simulation : Night Night vision on the retinae Left part: Ambient light

23. NIGHT DAY Photopic Vision Mesopic Vision Scotopic Vision Eye Model : spatial response • It is the angular response of the eye, depending on : • The distance to the fovea • The level of light

24. Loss of resolution Cockpit Simulation - Night Original result

25. Focus on the foreground Focus on the background Eye Model : focusing • In a 3D scene, when looking at a precise spot, the eye is making a focus adaptation on this point. Other part are becoming flou

26. Validation • Photometric models have been fully validated on industrial applications • Easy to isolate Photometric/Physiologic points • Physiological models are based on experiments litterature • Difficult to isolate Eye process / Brain process • Possible to take into account vision defects, age, presence of goggles

27. Conclusion • OPTIS now introduces the first Visual Ergonomics Simulation Software which is the meeting point of : • Simulation • CAD/CAM • Ergonomics • Solution based on a unique 12 years R&D program on photometric simulation • Available now as a standalone package • Integrated in Catia V5 in the next 6 months for CATIA and MSC.Software users • OPTIS / Visual Ergonomics will provide aeronautics engineers with a communication tool with pilots and focus groups of passengers

28. OPTIS / Visual Ergonomics Thanks for your attention… www.optis-world.com