Description: To address NASA's need for an augmented reality (AR) display system for extravehicular activity (EVA), Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to develop a new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) Spacesuit Heads-up Display (xHUD) based on innovative integration of laser projectors and waveguide pupil expander combiner (WPEC) optics. This approach incorporates miniature full-color laser light sources and low-profile, narrowband, reflective, see-through, toroid-shaped WPEC optics, which enable us to meet NASA xEMU spacesuit requirements for an AR display that is completely decoupled from the user's head and provides full sunlight readability with automated rapid ambient light response. The xHUD is equivalent to a display panel with a diagonal field of view of at least 30° and it can render complex graphics, including high-definition video, at a frame rate of at least 60 fps. xHUD offers full-color, high-resolution, collimated images with a large eye box, and it is highly suited to the space and weight constraints inside an astronaut's xEMU spacesuit helmet. Intellisense plans to demonstrate the feasibility of the xHUD system by building and testing a preliminary prototype to technology readiness level 4 by the end of Phase I. Intellisense plans to develop in Phase II a fully functional prototype that mitigates thermal and radiation issues to demonstrate sunlight readability and HD resolution. When developing this deliverable proof-of-concept prototype, Intellisense will consider scalability and integration with other display components such as video processing electronics. The prototype will also be used to analyze ignition safety due to a 100% oxygen operating environment and vacuum and extreme temperature storage environments. The successful development of xHUD will offer NASA the capability to perform EVAs with an AR HUD internal to the helmet to improve crew safety and comfort and prevent misalignment of the display.

Benefits: The xHUD technology is relevant to human spaceflight programs in the development and planning phases, including Gateway, Human Landing System (HLS), Orion, Exploration Extravehicular Activity System (xEVAS), and Pressurized Rover, and to lunar and Martian surface habitation systems. It will provide new capabilities for astronauts during EVA with a see-through AR display system that allows them to monitor the conditions around them while being provided visual instructions and directions in a hands-free format. This xHUD will be at the center of any spacecraft's crew interface architecture and will increase productivity and reduce risks, and eventually translate to boresighted overlays for AR-based information. Applications include space walks on the International Space Station where navigating the structure can be enhanced with maps and repairs can be completed with heads-up manuals. The xHUD can also be used during harsh-environment training to provide assistance and navigation for improved safety, such as dealing with Martian dust storms and facilitating asteroid landings.We anticipate widespread appeal of the xHUD technology for such entertainment industry applications as gaming HUDs, gaming flight simulators, and other immersive and augmented display systems, including medical and CAD/CAE 3D image displays, virtual-reality displays for endoscopy/laparoscopy, and displays for environmentally hazardous professions such as bomb disposal and clean up. The DoD has a significant need for HUD technology, including for Distributed Mission Training, pilot and combat vehicle crew HMDs, Soldier's Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE), and logistics and training. HMD technology advances made possible by the successful development of the proposed xHUD system will lead to cost-effective commercialization. In particular, this new HUD system will find numerous real-time 3D AR applications. Medicine, avionics, education, law enforcement, firefighting, space exploration, and video games represent major markets for compact, low-cost, lightweight HMDs in the private sector.