Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit Spacesuit Heads-Up Display

To address NASA’s need for an augmented reality (AR) display system for extravehicular activity (EVA), Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) in Phase II proposes to continue the development of a new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) Spacesuit Heads-Up Display (xHUD), proven feasible in Phase I. The system is based on innovative integration of laser projectors and waveguide pupil expander combiner (WPEC) optics. This approach incorporates miniature full-color light sources and low-profile, 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 brightness adaption response. The xHUD is equivalent to a display panel with a diagonal field of view of 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 demonstrated the feasibility of the xHUD system by building and testing a preliminary prototype during Phase I. In Phase II, Intellisense plans to develop a fully functional prototype that mitigates thermal and radiation issues to demonstrate sunlight readability and high-definition resolution. During Phase II, 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 xHUD technology will provide new capabilities for astronauts during EVA with a see-through display system that allows them to monitor the conditions around them while being provided visual instructions and direction in a hands-free format. This will allow astronauts to be more productive and take on less risk and eventually translate to boresighted overlays for augmented-reality-based information. Applications include space walks on the International Space Station, where the structure can be navigated with maps and repairs completed with heads-up manuals. xHUD can also facilitate harsh-environment training by providing assistance and navigation for improved safety, such as when dealing with Martian dust storms and facilitating asteroid landings for future human space explorations. The successful development of xHUD will offer NASA the capability to perform EVAs with an AR heads-up display (HUD) internal to the helmet to improve crew safety and comfort and prevent misalignment of the display. The following NASA programs can benefit from xHUD: Artemis Lunar, Commercial Crew, Low Earth Orbit Economy, and the Moon to Mars Program Office. Military applications of the xHUD system will include HUDs for pilots of high-altitude supersonic aircraft. The xHUD can also be used by the Air Force or the Navy and others aboard the current Apache helicopter and the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter under development, offering numerous benefits. One area of benefit is new large-area windshield HUDs with large eye boxes where near-eye head-mounted displays (HMDs) may not be practical or cost-effective for large fleets. Another area of potential benefit for the military is window HUDs for flight control towers for improved visual management of air/ground traffic and simulation and training applications where virtual content can be overlaid onto the real world to reduce training exercise costs. Additionally, the technology can be applied to distributed mission training, pilot and combat vehicle crew HMDs, thermal weapon sights, the Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble, and logistics. We anticipate widespread appeal of the xHUD technology for such applications as gaming HUDs, gaming flight simulators, and other immersive and augmented display systems, including medical and computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering 3D image displays and virtual reality displays for endoscopy/laparoscopy and for environmentally hazardous professions such as bomb disposal and hazardous materials clean up. Another potential commercial application for the xHUD system will be for the pilots of future private-sector space tourism spacecraft. Additionally, next-generation commercial aircraft and next-generation automobiles can be fitted with windshield HUDs for improved situational awareness.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.