Honeywell and FedEx Break New Ground with LCD EVS
HUD
FedEx and Honeywell may be starting an avionics revolution
with the news that the two have teamed to develop a brand new
HUD (head-up display) system that uses liquid crystal display
projection technology. By stepping away from traditional CRT-based
HUDs Honeywell will be developing a system that should be much
smaller and lighter than any of its peers. The other key feature
of this system is the integration of an enhanced vision system
(EVS) that will use infrared sensors to cut through darkness and
bad weather conditions. The Honeywell HUD will combine flight
symbology with this EVS imagery and project it onto a display
that will be fitted to all FedEx widebodies.
By supporting (and presumably funding) this LCD technology FedEx
will acquire an important new system that will make a major difference
to its round-the-clock time-critical flight operations. The development
of the LCD EVS HUD also underlines FedEx's credentials as an innovator
in this area-one of the first commercial EVS concepts was drawn
up during the 1980s by FedEx (Federal Express as was) under its
"Magic Window" program.
