Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Kurt I Jaeger

Brandon E Wilson

Christopher M Boggs

William T Kirchner

Gavin P Haentjens

A system and method for high integrity head pose estimation receives a 2D image including medium-density fiducials and low-density fiducials. The system then detects the medium-density fiducials and compares them with a 3D constellation to form an initial head pose estimate. The initial head pose estimate is then checked for possible alternative correspondences. A selection from a set of candidate initial head pose estimates is made to determine. The selected head pose estimate then has search areas established for the medium-density fiducials and low-density fiducials. The system then determines whether or not the head pose is valid and accurate based on whether or not the fiducials appear in their respective search areas.

High-confidence optical head pose correspondence mapping with multiple lower-density markers for high-integrity headtracking on a headworn display (HWD)

A system and method for conformal alignment of an aircraft-based head worn display (HWD) system defines far-field features in view of the HWD display, each far-field feature having a 3D truth position in a navigational reference frame. The aircraft GPS/IRS determines pointing vectors to each feature in the aircraft reference frame. The HWD user estimates a nominal head pose for orienting the far-field features in the HWD display, and the HWD system renders the far-field features based on the nominal head pose and pointing vectors. The rendered far-field features are aligned to their real-world 3D truth positions (either manually or with the assistance of witness cameras) and a latched pose of the HWD headtracker system determined based on a successful alignment within accuracy bounds. Based on the latched headtracker pose, the HWD headtracker alignment and the alignment of the HWD display reference frame to the aircraft reference frame are updated.

Growing community of inventors

Catlett, VA, United States of America

Kurt I Jaeger