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Mission statement header
The primary objective of the OBVA program is to correlate clinical vision standards to aircrew operational performance using a high fidelity synthetic environment to simulate operational visual tasks.
Highlights Header
Sept 25, 2007 - Interim Technical Meeting on the Operational Based Vision Assessment (OBVA) Program
 
Jan 7, 2009 - Development of a part-task flight simulator for the USAF/NASA Operational Based Vision Assessment (OBVA) project
 
Feb 2009 - NASA uses simulation technology to evaluate fighter pilot performance
 
March 2009 – Based upon successful demonstrations, USAF extends the OBVA effort to continue the important OBVA research for USAF warfighters
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  Factsheets Header
Part-task flight simulator
Limited field-of-view high resolution image system that will be used to develop simulation scenarios and experiments that demonstrate the correlation between Air Force Pilot clinical vision tests/standards and operational performance.
 
Download OBVA Publication PDF Operational Based Vision Assessment Program

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OBVA Overview header
Objective:

The primary objective of the OBVA program is to correlate clinical vision standards to aircrew operational performance using a high fidelity synthetic environment to simulate operational visual tasks. This will enable more accurate assessments of the potential operational risk associated with vision standards and lead to decisions on standards that incorporate an acceptable risk. OBVA will ensure that airmen have visual performance capabilities that meet or exceed the performance requirements for the visual components of operational tasks. This work is sponsored by the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) with support from the plans and programs office, and is being funded by the Modernization Directorate (AF/SGR). 711 HPW/RHA is providing scientific and technical support in collaboration with NASA Ames Research Center.

Impact:

This research will improve and expand upon the current understanding of the visual capabilities of Air Force personnel by documenting performance in a simulation environment under a wide variety of visual environments and operational tasks. We will also characterize the visual capability of pilots using current and potentially new clinical visual tests (standards tests). The quantitative relationship between operational tasks and standards test will be used to update the visual standards used to ensure that personnel have the necessary visual skills to succeed in the modern aviation environment.
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Curator: Phil So
NASA Official: Barbara Sweet
Last Updated: August 15, 2019