The illustrative embodiments provide for a method a training system. The training system includes a physical sensor system connected to a physical vehicle. The physical sensor system is configured to obtain real atmospheric obscuration data of a real atmospheric obscuration. The training system also includes a data processing system comprising a processor and a tangible memory. The data processing system is configured to receive the real atmospheric obscuration data, and determine based on the real atmospheric obscuration data whether a target is visible to the physical vehicle in a simulation training environment generated by the data processing system. The simulation training environment at least including a virtual representation of the physical vehicle and a virtual representation of the real atmospheric obscuration.

Method and apparatus for testing visual acuity of a night vision imaging system using a visual target. A fixture arranges a mirror a first distance from the night vision imaging system and arranges the visual target a second distance from the mirror. A sum of the first distance and the second distance equals a target distance between the night vision imaging system and the visual target. The fixture includes a starlight generator that can illuminate the visual target with simulated starlight and/or moonlight that stimulates the night vision imaging system.

A night vision goggles aided flight simulator system (100) and method for simulating night flight operations. The system comprises a computer (5) programmed with flight simulator software to calculate a flight simulator image (A1,A2); a projection screen (1) configured to receive the flight simulator image (A1,A2); a light projector (2) configured to project the flight simulator image (A1,A2) onto the projection screen (1); and a view tracking device (3) configured to measure a viewing vector (V) of a night vision device (4). The system (100) is configured to mask the projected flight simulator image (A1,A2) as a function of the measured viewing vector (V).

A night vision goggles aided flight simulator system (100) and method for simulating night flight operations. The system comprises a computer (5) programmed with flight simulator software to calculate a flight simulator image (A1,A2); a projection screen (1) configured to receive the flight simulator image (A1,A2); a light projector (2) configured to project the flight simulator image (A1,A2) onto the projection screen (1); and a view tracking device (3) configured to measure a viewing vector (V) of a night vision device (4). The system (100) is configured to mask the projected flight simulator image (A1,A2) as a function of the measured viewing vector (V).

A system and method for training a pilot to operate an aircraft in sudden-onset reduced-visibility conditions is disclosed. The system includes electrooptic material having an optical transmittance that varies with an electrical signal applied to the material and a power supply to provide the electrical signal to the material. The electrooptic material is disposed to restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft when the electrooptic material is in a low-optical-transmittance state. The system further includes a flight-safety sensor that sets the output of the power supply to correspond to an optical transmittance state of the electrooptic material that does not substantially restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft when flight conditions are deemed unsafe. The method includes reducing the optical transmittance of the material to restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft in a manner unexpected to the pilot at the time of the transmittance reduction.

A system and method for training a pilot to operate an aircraft in sudden-onset reduced-visibility conditions is disclosed. The system includes electrooptic material having an optical transmittance that varies with an electrical signal applied to the material and a power supply to provide the electrical signal to the material. The electrooptic material is disposed to restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft when the electrooptic material is in a low-optical-transmittance state. The system further includes a flight-safety sensor that sets the output of the power supply to correspond to an optical transmittance state of the electrooptic material that does not substantially restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft when flight conditions are deemed unsafe. The method includes reducing the optical transmittance of the material to restrict the pilot's visibility outside the aircraft in a manner unexpected to the pilot at the time of the transmittance reduction.

A device, system and method of cross-talk reduction in visual sensor systems is provided. A display device is configured to provide first images viewable by a first visual sensor system, and second images, viewable by a second visual sensor system. The first images and the second images have common features which align when the first images and the second images are provided concurrently. The first images comprise wavelengths viewable by the second visual sensor system. A controller determines a second visual sensor system intensity component of the first images using a response curve of the second visual sensor system. The controller reduces intensity of the second images provided at the display device by the second visual sensor system intensity component of the first images, at least when the first images and the second images are concurrently provided.