Barco extends avionics offering with new generation Head-Up Display from Saab

Avionics display provider Barco has entered into an agreement with Saab, Stockholm, Sweden, to expand its avionics offering with the new generation RIGS Head Up Display from Saab.

Under this agreement, Barco can offer its customers an even wider range of avionics-grade display solutions for the cockpit environment.

RIGS is a new generation Head Up Display (HUD) providing helicopters and small aircraft with an ‘out-of-the-window’ display solution that is more cost-efficient than existing HUD solutions. The RIGS system makes use of Saab’s digital video display technology to project the picture into the aircrew’s field of view. The required software is hosted on Barco’s PU-2000 processing unit with open MOSArt architecture. This open system architecture allows customers to tailor applications to their specific needs and to upgrade the system capabilities solely through software upgrades, thus ensuring a low lifecycle cost of the product.

The RIGS HUD can be deployed for a wide spectrum of applications, including the rendition of flight, navigation and sighting data with aiming point and target reticule. In addition, RIGS can offer all-weather capabilities by presenting instrument landing system information and images from enhanced vision sensors. Connected to RIGS, these enhanced vision sensors enable pilots to see through darkness, smog, smoke and various levels of snow, rain and fog. As such, RIGS enhances safety via early detection of runway incursions and improved situational awareness during night and day operations, as well as through the prevention of Controlled Flight Into Terrain or white-/brown-out accidents.

The open architecture of the RIGS system allows for easy installation on both new and retrofitted helicopters and smaller aircraft. The system can be installed as a stand-alone or integrated with the avionics system. One or two optical units can be fitted into the cockpit to suit the number of crew members onboard the aircraft.