GRT Announces Synthetic Vision for the HX Series

[Kevin Horton]

Originally Posted by todds

The New Horizon HX Synthetic vision has been big hit at the show.

We will get more information on our website when we get back.

Todd Stehouwer
Grand Rapids Technologies, Inc.
www.grtavionics.com

The synthetic vision display looks to be higher resolution than some other systems I have seen. What is the resolution of the terrain data? Does the resolution vary depending on location, or is it the same everywhere? What is the source of the terrain data? Which parts of the world do not have terrain data? Does your database include obstacles? If so, how often will the obstacle database be updated?

[flyvans.com]

@todds

cool, progress is great, terrain looks pretty cool :-)
now, that you have the better screen, any plans for antialiasing? the "pixel"-style look is still pretty evident...

other updates to what development direction you're headed?

regards,
bernie

[Kahuna]

They also show me approach plates on it.
Pretty cool.
Plates functionality coming in "Summer."
They remember me as the guy that "found our nasty gps approach lockup"
Its been the only bug in 3 years. No complaints about that.
I ordered the new unit and will figure out how to fit it later.
Fun at SnF. Wx great today.
Best,

[todds]

Originally Posted by rmcgann

I have a three screen Horizon 1 setup in my -10 and I'm just drooling over these HX displays.

Anyone know if the HX terrain data for Australia is as detailed as the USA?

cheers,
Ron
-10 almost there!

The terrain data for the US is 3 arc-second. That works out to a data point every 90 meters.

Australia and New Zealand is also 3 arc-second data.

Data is available from +60/-60 deg latitude.

Todd Stehouwer
Grand Rapids Technologies, Inc.

[Mike S]

Todd, for those of us with the old units-------

1. Will the software for the syn vis work on our units??? I realize that the graphics will suffer, but if I can update to the S/V, it sure would be nice.

2. If the above wont work, any "trade in/upgrade" program----think TruTrack---
available for the new geewizz system??

Thanks in advance,

[todds]

Originally Posted by Kevin Horton

The synthetic vision display looks to be higher resolution than some other systems I have seen. What is the resolution of the terrain data? Does the resolution vary depending on location, or is it the same everywhere? What is the source of the terrain data? Which parts of the world do not have terrain data? Does your database include obstacles? If so, how often will the obstacle database be updated?

We use the NASA's SRTM 3 arc-second data and the synthetic terrain is shown 30 miles out.

http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/p_status.htm

There is a small area in the US that was filled in with 30 arc-second data, I forgot where this was. I will have to find that again.

The obstacle data is from our current map data and is available to download updates from our website. The FAA releases the data on a 28 day cycle.

Todd Stehouwer
Grand Rapids Technologies, Inc.

[todds]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Todd, for those of us with the old units-------

1. Will the software for the syn vis work on our units??? I realize that the graphics will suffer, but if I can update to the S/V, it sure would be nice.

2. If the above wont work, any "trade in/upgrade" program----think TruTrack---
available for the new geewizz system??

Thanks in advance,

1) The new HX display has a processor that is 10 times faster than the Sport HS/WS or Horizon HS/WS displays. The HX also has graphics processor. It is not possible.

2) Good news is we have always had a great upgrade policy.
Sport S200 upgrade to Horizon HX is $7000 - $2800 for trade in.
Sport S100 upgrade to Horizon HX is $4000 - $1800 for trade in.
You are converting a Sport system to a Horizon system.

Just a note, Sport displays do not inter-display link with Horizon displays.

Horizon HS/WS to Horizon HX is $2400.

You do not have to upgrade all your displays with the Horizon series.

Todd Stehouwer
Grand Rapids Technologies, inc.

[Kevin Horton]

Originally Posted by todds

We use the NASA's SRTM 3 arc-second data and the synthetic terrain is shown 30 miles out.

3 arc-second - that's very impressive. Huge database. I've flown an approved system on a Part 25 aircraft that only had 30 arc-second resolution - it looked very crude compared to the pictures of your system.

Do you render 3 arc-second data all the way out to 30 miles, or do you back off on the resolution as the range to the object increases? What is the update rate of your display?

What is the field of view of the synthetic vision display? I.e, how many degrees left or right of the nose is the terrain that is at the very edge of the display? Is the terrain display conformal with the pitch ladder.

If you get too close to terrain, are there any terrain alerts? If so, is the alert aural, visual, or both? If visual, does the terrain of interest change colour to amber or red, or is the visual display simply an on-screen message?

For the top down view, it would be useful to somehow highlight the portion of the terrain that is visible in the PFD view. That would help the pilot better understand how far off to the side of the nose he is seeing in the PFD. The highlight could be via shading or it could be an outline.

[Mike S]

Todd, thanks for the info--------I think what I have is called Horizon 1, most surely not Sport.

I bought a partially built project, and they were included.

Photo here http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/...89179535771172

If I read your message correctly, I could upgrade one of my units for $2400??

[todds]

Originally Posted by Kevin Horton

3 arc-second - that's very impressive. Huge database. I've flown an approved system on a Part 25 aircraft that only had 30 arc-second resolution - it looked very crude compared to the pictures of your system.

Do you render 3 arc-second data all the way out to 30 miles, or do you back off on the resolution as the range to the object increases? What is the update rate of your display?

What is the field of view of the synthetic vision display? I.e, how many degrees left or right of the nose is the terrain that is at the very edge of the display? Is the terrain display conformal with the pitch ladder.

If you get too close to terrain, are there any terrain alerts? If so, is the alert aural, visual, or both? If visual, does the terrain of interest change colour to amber or red, or is the visual display simply an on-screen message?

For the top down view, it would be useful to somehow highlight the portion of the terrain that is visible in the PFD view. That would help the pilot better understand how far off to the side of the nose he is seeing in the PFD. The highlight could be via shading or it could be an outline.

The data is 3 arc-seconds all the way out.

The update rate is throttled to 20 fps right now, at full speed it is over 50 fps.

There will be 2 methods of terrain warnings, the first will just color the terrain based on elevation, red is above you yellow is warning.

The second is predictive based on flight path projected over a time interval and collision with ground will give an alarm.

The pitch ladder is conformal to the terrain. Not sure what the field of view is, I will have to ask Jeff. I will look into your suggestion. It looks like it could be easily done.

Todd Stehouwer
Grand Rapids Technologies, Inc.