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Combined Vision System (CVS)

Combines the capabilities of EVS and TSVS to improve pilot safety and operational efficiency

New Technologies Offer Enhanced Situational Awareness

Technological advances have allowed today’s pilots to fly in poor weather conditions with greater confidence than ever before. Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) use aircraft-based sensors such as Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), or millimeter wave radar to provide images of the external terrain in limited visibility environments.

ENSCO’s Tactical Synthetic Vision System (TSVS) processes information databases to display terrain and bathymetry data, Tactical Data Link (TDL) information and information such as urban feature data, obstacles, controlled airspace, special use airspace and threat envelopes. It synthesizes it into a single 3-D computer-generated image, allowing the air crew to observe tactical information in a format that is easily interpreted and intuitive to use.

However, both EVS and TSVS have limitations. For example, infrared sensors cannot see through clouds or fog, and all EVS sensors have a limited field of view that restricts the image to a small area. In addition, because it is driven by stored databases, TSVS may not display the latest changes in terrain, obstacles and urban feature data.

ENSCO’s Combined Vision System

To address the limitations of traditional EVS and TSVS, ENSCO developed the Combined Vision System (CVS). This system processes the image from an EVS and combines it with a TSVS image. CVS extracts information from both TSVS and EVS images and fuses it into a single image.

Combined Vision System (CVS)

In the fused image, CVS provides operators with the best information available from both the EVS and the TSVS in a single image. Information that is currently displayed on multiple displays or on paper charts is now available in a single image on a single display. In addition, ENSCO’s CVS allows users to optimize the information display to show critical information needed to perform the current task. For example, users can use the CVS controls to select the level of fusion between the EVS and TSVS images or select just the EVS image for display if that is needed.

The Flexibility to Utilize Existing Equipment

ENSCO designed the CVS to integrate with existing hardware and software to help customers minimize costly system modifications. This inherent flexibility allows CVS to be as useful and effective on a P-3 Orion flying in hostile battlespace as it is on a commercial helicopter operating in a Degraded Visual Environment. The system also utilizes an intuitive user interface to reduce the time required for operators and maintenance crews to familiarize themselves with CVS. Finally, the system is built to be independent of the EVS—it is able to process information from a variety of sensor types, from an equally diverse set of manufacturers.

Civilian Flight Operations

The commonality between many phases of military flight operations and civilian flight operations (e.g., surface operations, takeoff, departure, arrival, approach and landing) makes CVS ideal for civilian flight operations.

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