Raytheon Advanced Distributed Aperture System (ADAS)

A new wearable technology for helicopter pilots developed by Raytheon is able to increase pilot situational awareness by giving them the ability to see through dust, smoke and even the floor of an aircraft.

The modular Advanced Distributed Aperture System (ADAS) puts maps and videos in a helmet mounted display (HMD). The technology integrates sound into the system, giving pilots the ability to determine where hostile fire is coming from through audio in their helmets.

“Imagine flying inside a glass ball where you can see anywhere you want to see,” says Trevor Bushell, ADAS engineer for Raytheon. “That’s what the concept of distributed aperture is.”

Bushell points out a helicopter pilot needs high visual acuity, and ADAS adds very high-resolution images to let pilots look through the airframe for 360-degree awareness. Currently the six sensors mounted around the exterior of the helicopter send data and images to only the pilot and copilot’s monochrome display visors, but Bushell notes ADAS is able to display on six helmets.

In addition to the HMD, ADAS also can send data and images to devices that are part of Raytheon’s Aviation Warrior program — a monocle in front of a pilot’s eye and a wearable computer with a wrist-mounted screen that allows pilots to see radar images, surveillance video and maps, even when they are on the ground. Pilots also can communicate with built-in radio or by text.

Bushell says the ADAS has been flown in testing at the U.S. Army’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate labs at Fort Belvoir, Va. Thus far, the system hasn’t been taken on by any military program, he notes, but

ADAS could go into production within 18 months of a program acceptance.

“There are attributes of this system that would work well in all kinds of degraded environments,” Bushell says. “Much of the technology can be used for rotary environments, fast jets or even ground based vehicles, where the sensors could give full circle ground coverage and display information on either helmet displays or flat panels for looking at large areas. Put ADAS on a ship and a captain wearing a HMD could look around the ship simply by moving his head.”

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MH-47/MH-60 Avionics/Sensors. (1) Develops and qualifies a “next generation” Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR). New FLIRs will provide significantly increased performance, weight savings, and improved reliability/maintainability. Develops and qualifies a multiple sensor night vision system (Distributed Aperture System) that incorporates and blends the best attributes of image intensification, infrared, and low light level camera.

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