You’d think that after guiding a giant, metal bullet through the air, then safely landing it on a freeway-width strip of land, sometimes surrounded by a maze of tall buildings, pilots could catch a break. Not likely. Getting a plane safely on the ground is only half the battle. Next task: navigate the runway system. A difficult task on a clear day, but what about when a thick pea-soupy fog engulfs the plane? Turns out fog is a big problem for pilots on the runway, and as Digital Trends reports: “NASA has been working on producing a pair of augmented reality glasses which would allow pilots to see a virtual representation of the airstrip and taxiing routes.
The headset, which weighs less than a quarter of a pound (113g), incorporates a lens that fits over one eye, providing the pilot with a variety of information, as well as a virtual view of the surroundings. It’s even designed to track head movements, quickly providing an accurate and realistic virtual image for the pilot.” The glasses would give the pilots instant access to maps, runway routes, and other information needed to keep the plane on track and your luggage safe.
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