Development of a Solution for OLED Display Smartphones for Pilot Training in Low-Visibility Flight Scenarios

Visual illusions and spatial disorientation are common causes of air accidents and incidents, especially during low-visibility flight conditions in small aircraft. It is therefore essential that pilots receive training regarding adaptation of the visual and vestibular systems to the aerospace environment. This project aimed to develop a device capable of simulating different visual illusions and aspects related to central and peripheral vision (colour and visual acuity), through the use of smartphones with OLED display technology (model: Galaxy S5 SM-G900M, screen: 5.1 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution, 432 pixels per inch). The phone was coupled with augmented reality glasses (model: ColorCross 3D Virtual Reality) with a 70 mm focal length lens, supporting devices of 4 to 6 inches. The smartphone is attached to the front of the glasses, giving an impression of three-dimensionality, and the visual tests are either transmitted from a computer or saved on the device itself. The images and videos selected, such as the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test and Cambridge Colour Test, are commonly used in pilot training and are validated for use in clinical ophthalmology. Technical adaptations were necessary so these tests functioned adequately on the smartphone. Both tests are designed exclusively for use on a computing platform and, therefore, the Trinus VR application was first used to convert the computer image to 3D, before making it available on the smartphone screen. This solution for training pilots in visual illusions during low-visibility flight scenarios using smartphones with OLED displays is easy to implement, user-friendly and low-cost. Mobile technology adaptation for use in aviation training is of great value, as it can have a positive influence on the reduction of human errors that can result from alterations in human physiology secondary to exposure to the aerospace environment, thereby reducing the occurrence of air accidents and incidents