Development of a New Simulation Software for Visual

Ergonomy of a Cockpit

Pascal MARTINEZ

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)

Light is everywhere!

OPTIS Solutions

Optics Photometry & Colorimetry

Environment lighting Physics based Photo-realism

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

A380 Cockpit

A380 cockpit – Courtesy of Airbus Industry

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

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

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

Algorithm

3D SCENE (CAD/CAM) + optical properties

Instruments

Light Source

HiFispectral

LuminanceMap

Sensors

ResultsStandards

Eye Model

LightPropagation

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

Photometric simulationSource emission Light propagation

Spectral behaviour Luminance results

Colorimetry & Visual standards

• Results are compared to International standards– ISO : part 8 of ISO 9241– Military standards

MIL-S-22885

• Specifications compliance

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

SimulationResult

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

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

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

Color Washout (results)

Contrast evaluation

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 5.10-2 cd/m²0.35 cd/m²0.7 cd/m²

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

Cockpit Simulation : Day

Left part: Ambient

light

Sun effect on

the retinae

Cockpit Simulation : Night

Left part: Ambient

light

Night vision on the retinae

Eye Model : spatial response

• It is the angular response of the eye, depending on :– The distance to the fovea– The level of light

Mesopic VisionPhotopic Vision

DAY

Scotopic Vision

NIGHT

Cockpit Simulation - Night

Loss of resolutionOriginal result

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

Focus on the foreground Focus on the background

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

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

OPTIS / Visual Ergonomics

Thanks for your attention…

www.optis-world.com