USING AUGMENTED REALITY TO ENHANCE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR AIRCRAFT TOWING

According to FY2014–FY2019 USN Web-Enabled Safety System data, 35 mishaps and 24 hazardous incidents (i.e., HAZREPS) occurred because of aircraft towing collisions, resulting in a monetary impact in excess of $14.4 million. This thesis explored the concept of using augmented reality (AR) as an operational tool to aid a tow crew director during the towing process. Feasibility testing of the AR system was conducted by creating a Unity-based, virtual reality (VR) program called aircraft towing enhanced with AR (ATEAR). ATEAR simulated an AR system in VR, and was designed to enhance a tow crew director’s understanding of an aircraft’s edges relative to surrounding objects on a flight line during the towing process. The 2020 COVID-19 outbreak prevented the research team from conducting the experiment using qualified aircraft maintenance personnel. However, pilot testing results from Naval Postgraduate School students indicated that the AR system could increase a tow crew director’s situational awareness and, in turn, decrease the likelihood of future towing incidents. This thesis showcases the proof of concept gleaned from pilot testing and describes a method of implementing such a device in the real world for use by aircraft tow crews in the Navy and Marine Corps.Commander of Naval Air ForcesOffice of Naval Research Code 34Captain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite