Augmented reality in the cockpit: projections in the sky

In a critical situation, every second counts on an airplane – and retrieving the most important information quickly can be crucial. Pilots have to maintain an overview at all times: of visible obstacles such as airplanes, weather or terrain and, if possible, of invisible elements hidden behind clouds. This is where ZEISS comes in with technologies such as multifunctional smart glass. Thanks to augmented reality, important information is projected directly into the field of view. The result: a safer and more comfortable flying experience that redefines the future of aviation.

Get onboard, take off and leave everything behind: Linda Kotzur experiences this feeling of freedom time and time again. Nevertheless, as a passionate pilot, she also knows that flying comes with great responsibility. After all, every mistake, no matter how small, may have particularly serious consequences. Vision plays a key role. Private pilots are heavily dependent on good visibility when flying according to visual flight rules. You are responsible for the distance to clouds and other aircraft. "Your eyes are constantly moving back and forth between the cockpit instruments and your surroundings – a particular challenge, especially when landing," she explains.

"HUDs have been in use in commercial aviation for years, but are not yet fully established," explains Tino Janke. "Our industry is eagerly awaiting a new generation of this technology," he adds. After all, previous systems stood out primarily due to their sheer size in the cockpit.

Tino Janke has been very much involved in giving training in emergency procedures for years. He thinks HUDs will be introduced universally in general aviation in the distant future too. "Particularly when there is only one pilot in the cockpit, there is a lack of redundancy and a helping hand to reach for the right checklist." Incorrectly completed checklists or ones that have not been completed at all are still often the cause of accidents in aviation."HUDs can already make a major contribution to overcoming these challenges," emphasizes the aviation expert.

The HUD from ZEISS, he believes, will set new standards: "Thanks to its high optical quality, the system overcomes the weaknesses of previous models. Contrast, glare, visibility and operation are significantly improved. We expect not only the simple mirroring of instrument displays, but the entire range of modern display options," he adds.

After years of intensive development work, the ZEISS solution is currently in the test phase and should be ready for the market and for use in business jets and passenger aircraft in around three years' time. "Our vision is to make this technology accessible to all pilots from commercial pilots to private pilots. In this way, we want to take the pressure off them and provide them with a safe flying experience under all visual conditions – from take-off to landing," emphasizes Lehr.

Linda Kotzur is already looking forward to testing the new HUD technology: "I love the technology on the airplane," says the 34-year-old. She sees ZEISS' technology not only as an increase in safety, but also as a relief in the cockpit. "I can hardly wait until HUD systems find their way into small airplanes."