Manama: Coinciding with the 2015 Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, visitors to the British Embassy’s GREAT Advanced Engineering & Innovation event at the Ritz Carlton in Manama on Sunday were able to see a new eye-tracking technology demonstrated by BAE Systems, to be shown for the first time in Bahrain.
HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador while addressing the event applauded Bahrain-UK ties and said both sides have been working hard not to sustain these ties but also to take them to the new heights of excellence.
Designed to keep the Eurofighter Typhoon at the cutting-edge for decades to come and with potential applications in a Formula One cockpit, the technology demonstrated by BAE Systems reads human eye movements to help pilots perform actions quickly, efficiently and safely It measures naturally and subconsciously-occurring Saccadic eye movements to help perform a task, such as selecting a displayed cockpit entity based on a pilot’s or driver’s gaze.
Maureen McCue, Head of Research and Technology, BAE Systems Military Air and Information, briefed delegates on the world-leading technology being developed for a number of cutting edge products, including the Eurofighter Typhoon helmet and BAE Systems’ wider effort to deliver the future of cockpit and aviation technology in partnership with universities.
“The next evolution of the cockpit – whether in the world’s most advanced combat jet or Formula One racer – means more information and more pressure to make more decisions in less time,” she said. “In addition to enhancing the capability of Typhoon, our aim is to always stay ahead – investing in technologies that aid intelligent decision making. Eye tracking technology itself isn’t new, but in this instance we are applying it in a different environment, moving it into aerospace applications. We are proud to demonstrate this technology for the first time in Bahrain in the presence of such a strong alliance of partners.”
BAE Systems provides cutting-edge cockpit technologies for both military and commercial aviation platforms. Its display systems, for instance, offer fast-jet pilots a real-world view of terrain along with all obstacles within their flight path, allowing them to see and avoid, even when visibility outside the aircraft is limited. The company’s vast industry experience, solid partner commitment, and world-class solutions are relied upon by leading air forces around the globe.