Default head-up display: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:40, 15 January 2018

Note The HUD system will one day be replaced by a Canvas HUD system.

The Head-up display (HUD) is an important instrument in modern, mostly military, cockpits. FlightGear provides a XML-based system to relatively easily create HUDs for aircraft such as the F-14B and F-16.

However, this article's focus is on FlightGear's default head-up displays. Those are available for any craft which does not include its own set. Have a look at Further Information if you're planning to create a HUD.

Activate the HUD with h. Pressing it repeatedly moves through the configured colours and turns it off again. To change the brightness, press ⇧ Shift+h. Press ⇧ Shift+i to go through the available HUDs. Press i to switch back to the first one at any time. Have in mind that some aircraft do assign one or more of those keys differently and therefore one or more function/s is/are missing on them.

Some of the head-up display's options can be altered in the menu: View → Adjust HUD Properties

Huds/default.xml

Huds/minimal.xml

Huds/NTPS.xml

Features

Control inputs

Aileron: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the aileron's axis. Attached along the upper side is the indicator for the trim input on that axis.; Properties: /controls/flight/aileron and /controls/flight/aileron-trim

Elevator: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the elevator's axis. Attached to the left the trim on this axis.; Properties: /controls/flight/elevator and /controls/flight/elevator-trim

Rudder: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the rudder's axis. Attached to the bottom the trim input.; Properties: /controls/flight/rudder and /controls/flight/rudder-trim

Throttle: Monitors the throttle input axis.; Property: /controls/engines/engine/throttle

Instruments

AMSL (Height above mean sea level): Current altitude relative to sea level in feet (ft) (1 ft = 30.48 cm).; Property: /position/altitude-ft

g-load: The G-force appealing to the pilot - to avoid black-/redout.; Property: /accelerations/pilot/z-accel-fps_sec with factor -0.03108095

Gyrocompass: This is an ideal version of a gyrocompass without the drawbacks of a real one. It shows heading of the aircraft relative to the geographical North Pole (true north) in degree (360 degree scale).; Property: /orientation/heading-deg

KIAS (Knots Indicated Airspeed): Current speed relating to the ambient air in knot/knots (kt/kts) (1 kt = 1.151 mph = 1.852 km/h).; Property: /velocities/airspeed-kt

Latitude / Longitude: Current location according to the geographic coordinate system .; To change the format of the displayed coordinates, go to Autopilot --> Set Lat/Lon-format.; Properties: /position/latitude-string and /position/longitude-string

Pitch ladder: Displays the aircraft's pitch and roll relative to the ground's level/horizontal in degree. It's used as an artificial horizon (Attitude indicator).; Properties: /orientation/roll-deg and /orientation/pitch-deg

Radio altimeter: Shows current altitude above ground level (AGL) in feet. Relating to the location of the aircraft's radio altimeter, it's not zero if the aircraft is on the ground.; Property: /position/altitude-agl-ft

Turn-bank-indicator: Turn Coordinator; Properties: /orientation/roll-deg and /orientation/side-slip-deg

HUD autopilot

Autopilot

If the autopilot is active the HUD displays its settings. For each active function (heading, altitude and speed) a box will appear below the gyrocompass containing information on its mode and, if existent, the associated value.

Heading control: Whether it is active or not and on which mode it operates is determined by the content of the /autopilot/locks/heading property.; The values are taken from /autopilot/settings/heading-bug-deg and /autopilot/settings/true-heading-deg.

Altitude control: Active mode: /autopilot/locks/altitude; Their values: /autopilot/settings/target-altitude-ft, /autopilot/settings/vertical-speed-fpm and /autopilot/settings/target-agl-ft.

Speed control: Active mode: /autopilot/locks/speed; Their values: /autopilot/settings/target-speed-kt and /autopilot/settings/target-speed-mach

HUD GPS

GPS

The upper left hand corner shows the most important information on the actual state of the GPS. Namely these are (line by line):

the mode the GPS operates in and the active waypoint's identifier.

the distance "D" (in nautical miles, nm) and the calculated time to this waypoint "TTW".

the bearing "BRG" to the active waypoint and the course deviation "XTR" based on the leg from the previous waypoint.

the current speed relative to the ground "GS".

Big fat arrow

Remains of a going to be useful instrument.

To get rid of it, remove or comment "runway.xml" from/in $FG_ROOT/Huds/default.xml.

To make it point to the airport selected by menu item "Tower Position", apply patches as shown here.

Further Information

HUDs may be replaced or added by changing or adding their paths in preferences.xml or by setting the paths as command line options. To change the order of the existing ones the options would be: --prop:/sim/hud/path[1]=Huds/minimal.xml --prop:/sim/hud/path[2]=Huds/default.xml

If you consider to create your own HUD have a look at Canvas HUD first.

The basic settings regarding to any HUD are set in $FG_ROOT/preferences.xml. Search the file for the <hud>-tag and you will find a list of properties.

The setup of the default HUD is defined at $FG_ROOT/Huds/default.xml and documentation can be found at $FG_ROOT/Docs/README.hud.

Additional HUDs

Generic helicopter HUD: This is a generic HUD for helicopters, inspired by MIL-STD 1295A and the AH-64A IHADSS symbology. Download

HeliHUD: Designed to fly helicopters in Helicopter View it is also handy for any craft with a not yet finished cockpit. It also contains a minimalistic HUD only showing some navigational information such as compass and GPS. The download contains instructions and specs.

V(MX)-22 Osprey HUD: Download

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{stub}}
+{{Note|The HUD system will one day be replaced by a [[Canvas HUD]] system.}}
-This is a short description of [[FlightGear]]s default '''Head-up display''' ('''HUD'''), it can be (de)activated with the <tt>[h]</tt>-key. To change the brightness, press <tt>[shift]</tt>+<tt>[h]</tt>.
+The {{Wikipedia|Head-up display|'''Head-up display'''}} (HUD) is an important instrument in modern, mostly military, cockpits. FlightGear provides a XML-based system to relatively easily create HUDs for aircraft such as the [[F-14B]] and [[F-16]].
-There are also two so called 'minimal' HUDs available which are accessible with <tt>[shift]</tt>+<tt>[i]</tt>, to return to default HUD press <tt>[i]</tt>.
+However, this article's focus is on FlightGear's default head-up displays. Those are available for any craft which does not include its own set. Have a look at [[#Further Information|Further Information]] if you're planning to create a HUD.
-Some of the HUDs options can be altered in the menu: <tt>View --> Adjust HUD Properties</tt>
+Activate the HUD with {{key press|h}}. Pressing it repeatedly moves through the configured colours and turns it off again. To change the brightness, press {{key press|Shift|h}}. Press {{key press|Shift|i}} to go through the available HUDs. Press {{key press|i}} to switch back to the first one at any time. Have in mind that some aircraft do assign one or more of those keys differently and therefore one or more function/s is/are missing on them.
-= Features =
+Some of the head-up display's options can be altered in the menu: <code>View → Adjust HUD Properties</code>
-[[Image:HUD_default_overview.png|thumb|200px|HUD overview]]
-== Aileron ==
+[[File:HUD_default_overview.png|thumb|420px|Huds/default.xml]]
-[[Image:HUD_aileron.jpg|thumb|200px|Aileron]]
+[[File:HUD_minimal_overview.png|thumb|420px|Huds/minimal.xml]]
-:[[Aileron]]
+[[File:HUD_NTPS_overview.png|thumb|420px|Huds/NTPS.xml]]
-== Airspeed ==
+== Features ==
-[[Image:HUD_speed.jpg|thumb|200px|Airspeed]]
+=== Control inputs ===
-Current speed relating to the ambient air in knot/knots (kt/kts) (1 kt = 1.852 km/h).
+; [[Aileron]]
+: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the aileron's axis. Attached along the upper side is the indicator for the trim input on that axis.
+: Properties: <code>/controls/flight/aileron</code> and <code>/controls/flight/aileron-trim</code>
-== Altitude ==
+; [[Elevator]]
-[[Image:HUD_altitude.jpg|thumb|200px|Altitude]]
+: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the elevator's axis. Attached to the left the trim on this axis.
-Current altitude relating to sea-level in feet (ft) (1 ft = 30.48 cm).
+: Properties: <code>/controls/flight/elevator</code> and <code>/controls/flight/elevator-trim</code>
-== Autopilot ==
+; [[Rudder]]
-[[Image:HUD_default_autopilot.jpg|thumb|200px|HUD autopilot]]
+: Monitors the bearing of the control input on the rudder's axis. Attached to the bottom the trim input.
-If autopilot is activ the direction of the next waypoint is displayed as well as the next two and the last waypoint of the <tt>Autopilot --> Route manager</tt> list.
+: Properties: <code>/controls/flight/rudder</code> and <code>/controls/flight/rudder-trim</code>
-:[[Autopilot]]
-== Elevation ==
+; Throttle
-Current altitude above ground in feet. Relating to the location of the aircrafts radio altimeter therefore it's not zero if the aircraft is on the ground.
+: Monitors the throttle input axis.
+: Property: <code>/controls/engines/engine/throttle</code>
-== Elevator ==
+=== Instruments ===
-[[Image:HUD_elevator.jpg|thumb|200px|Elevator]]
+; [[AMSL]] (Height <u>a</u>bove <u>m</u>ean <u>s</u>ea <u>l</u>evel)
-:[[Elevator]]
+: Current altitude relative to sea level in feet (ft) (1 ft = 30.48 cm).
+: Property: <code>/position/altitude-ft</code>
-== G-load ==
+; g-load
-Displays the g-force to the pilot in g - to avoid black-/redout.
+: The {{Wikipedia|G-force}} appealing to the pilot - to avoid black-/redout.
-:The value riding on top of the [[#Airspeed|Airspeed]] indicator.
+: Property: <code>/accelerations/pilot/z-accel-fps_sec</code> with factor <tt>-0.03108095</tt>
-== Heading ==
+; [[Avionics and Instruments#DirectionalGyro|Gyrocompass]]
-[[Image:HUD_heading.jpg|thumb|200px|Heading]]
+: This is an ideal version of a gyrocompass without the drawbacks of a real one. It shows heading of the aircraft relative to the geographical North Pole (true north) in degree (360 degree scale).
-Direction of the aircraft relating to the geographical North pole in degree (360 degree scale).
+: Property: <code>/orientation/heading-deg</code>
-:[[Avionics_and_Instruments#Compass|Compass]]
-== Location ==
+; [[KIAS]] ('''K'''nots '''I'''ndicated '''A'''ir'''s'''peed)
-[[Image:HUD_location.jpg|thumb|200px|Location]]
+: Current speed relating to the ambient air in knot/knots (kt/kts) (1 kt = 1.151 mph = 1.852 km/h).
-To change the coordinates-system, go to <tt>Autopilot --> Set Lat/Lon-format</tt>.
+: Property: <code>/velocities/airspeed-kt</code>
-== Pitch ==
+; Latitude / Longitude
-Like set with <tt>[Home]</tt>/<tt>[End]</tt>.
+: Current location according to the {{Wikipedia|geographic coordinate system}}.
-:It's the left marker of the [[#Elevator|Elevator]] indicator.
+: To change the format of the displayed coordinates, go to <tt>Autopilot</tt> --> <tt>Set Lat/Lon-format</tt>.
+: Properties: <code>/position/latitude-string</code> and <code>/position/longitude-string</code>
-== Pitch ladder ==
+; Pitch ladder
-Displays the aircrafts pitch relating to the grounds level/horizontal in degree. It's used as an artificial horizon.
+: Displays the aircraft's pitch and roll relative to the ground's level/horizontal in degree. It's used as an artificial horizon ([[Avionics and Instruments#Attitude Indicator|Attitude indicator]]).
-:The big ladder like looking indicator at the HUDs centre.
+: Properties: <code>/orientation/roll-deg</code> and <code>/orientation/pitch-deg</code>
-:[[Avionics_and_Instruments#Attitude_Indicator|Attitude indicator]]
-== Rudder ==
+; Radio altimeter
-[[Image:HUD_rudder.jpg|thumb|200px|Rudder]]
+: Shows current altitude [[above ground level]] (AGL) in feet. Relating to the location of the aircraft's radio altimeter, it's not zero if the aircraft is on the ground.
-:[[Rudder]]
+: Property: <code>/position/altitude-agl-ft</code>
-== Thrust ==
+; Turn-bank-indicator
-[[Image:HUD_thrust.jpg|thumb|200px|Thrust]]
+: [[Avionics and Instruments#Turn Coordinator|Turn Coordinator]]
+: Properties: <code>/orientation/roll-deg</code> and <code>/orientation/side-slip-deg</code>
-== Turn-bank-indicator ==
-:[[Avionics_and_Instruments#Turn_Coordinator|Turn Coordinator]]
+[[File:HUD_default_autopilot.jpg|thumb|420px|HUD autopilot]]
+=== [[Autopilot]] ===
+If the autopilot is active the HUD displays its settings. For each active function (heading, altitude and speed) a box will appear below the gyrocompass containing information on its mode and, if existent, the associated value.
+; Heading control
+: Whether it is active or not and on which mode it operates is determined by the content of the  <code>/autopilot/locks/heading</code> property.
+: The values are taken from <code>/autopilot/settings/heading-bug-deg</code> and <code>/autopilot/settings/true-heading-deg</code>.
-= Further Information =
+; Altitude control
+: Active mode:	<code>/autopilot/locks/altitude</code>
+: Their values: <code>/autopilot/settings/target-altitude-ft</code>, <code>/autopilot/settings/vertical-speed-fpm</code> and <code>/autopilot/settings/target-agl-ft</code>.
-The basic setup of the above described default HUD is defined at
+; Speed control
-:<tt>$FG_ROOT/Huds/Default/default.xml</tt>
+: Active mode: <code>/autopilot/locks/speed</code>
-There is also a 'Runway projection' available which is, because of some issues, disabled by default.
+: Their values: <code>/autopilot/settings/target-speed-kt</code> and <code>/autopilot/settings/target-speed-mach</code>
-Documentation can be found at
-:<tt>$FG_ROOT/Docs/README.xmlhud</tt>
-Since FlightGear 0.9.10 there is ''also'' a newer and more flexibly HUD-system available. An example can be found at
+[[File:HUD_default_gps.jpg|thumb|420px|HUD GPS]]
-:<tt>$FG_ROOT/Huds/default.xml</tt> and documentation at
+=== [[GPS]] ===
-:<tt>$FG_ROOT/Docs/README.hud</tt>.
+The upper left hand corner shows the most important information on the actual state of the GPS. Namely these are (line by line):
-Also have a look at <tt>$FG_ROOT/Huds/README</tt>.
+: the mode the GPS operates in and the active waypoint's identifier.
+: the distance "D" (in nautical miles, nm) and the calculated time to this waypoint "TTW".
+: the bearing "BRG" to the active waypoint and the course deviation "XTR" based on the leg from the previous waypoint.
+: the current speed relative to the ground "GS".
-== preferences.xml ==
-== Property tree ==
+=== Big fat arrow ===
-More information about FlightGears property tree and how to access it can be found at its page: [[Property_Tree|Property Tree]].
+Remains of a going to be useful instrument.
- /sim/hud
+: To get rid of it, remove or comment "runway.xml" from/in <tt>$FG_ROOT/Huds/[http://mapserver.flightgear.org/git/?p=fgdata;a=blob_plain;f=Huds/default.xml;hb=HEAD default.xml]</tt>.
-   current-color   (0|1|2...)    One out of /sim/hud/palette
+: To make it point to the airport selected by menu item "Tower Position", apply patches as shown [http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/message.php?msg_id=30422572 here].
-   enable3d        (false|true)  hud n=0 3D off|on
-   enable3d[n]     (false|true)  hud n=n 3D off|on
-   frame-stat-type (tris)
+== Further Information ==
-   path            ()            Path to hud n=0
+HUDs may be replaced or added by changing or adding their paths in <tt>preferences.xml</tt> or by setting the paths as command line options. To change the order of the existing ones the options would be: <code>--prop:/sim/hud/path[1]=Huds/minimal.xml</code> <code>--prop:/sim/hud/path[2]=Huds/default.xml</code>
-   path[n]         ()            Path to hud n=n
-   visibility      (false|true)  hud n=0 hidden|visible
+If you consider to create your own HUD have a look at [[Canvas HUD]] first.
-   visibility[1]   (false|true)  hud n=n hidden|visible
- /sim/hud/color/
+The basic settings regarding to any HUD are set in <tt>$FG_ROOT/[http://mapserver.flightgear.org/git/?p=fgdata;a=blob_plain;f=preferences.xml;hb=HEAD preferences.xml]</tt>. Search the file for the <tt><hud></tt>-tag and you will find a list of properties.
-     alpha         (0...1)       0=invisible, 1=nontransparent
-     alpha-clamp   ()
+The setup of the default HUD is defined at <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Huds/[http://mapserver.flightgear.org/git/?p=fgdata;a=blob_plain;f=Huds/default.xml;hb=HEAD default.xml]</tt> and documentation can be found at <tt>$FG_ROOT/Docs/[https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/fgdata/ci/next/tree/Docs/README.hud README.hud]</tt>.
-     antialiased   (false|true)  Antialiasing off|on
-     blue          (0...1)
-     brightness    (0...1)       0=dark/black
+== Additional HUDs ==
-     green         (0...1)
+; Generic helicopter HUD
-     red           (0...1)
+: This is a generic HUD for helicopters, inspired by MIL-STD 1295A and the AH-64A IHADSS symbology. [http://stefan.gofferje.net/downloads/flightgear/file/6-generic-helicopter-hud Download]
-     transparent   (false|true)  Transparency off|on
- /sim/hud/font/
+; HeliHUD
-     name (Helvetica.txf)
+: Designed to fly helicopters in Helicopter View it is also handy for any craft with a not yet finished cockpit. It also contains a minimalistic HUD only showing some navigational information such as compass and GPS. The [http://beggabaur.rocks/fgfs/helihud_0.3.tar.bz2 download] contains instructions and specs.
-     size (8)
- /sim/hud/palette/
+; V(MX)-22 Osprey HUD
- /sim/hud/palette/color/         Settings of predefined colors, nearly
+: [http://stefan.gofferje.net/downloads/flightgear/file/1-hud-for-vmx-22-osprey Download]
- /sim/hud/palette/color[n]/         the same as in /sim/hud/color.
+[[Category:FlightGear feature]]
+[[Category:Menubar]]