A Virtual HUD (Heads Up Display) developed by Bill Steele was awarded the Roy LoPresti Innovation in Aviation Award on opening day of AirVenture.
The low-cost HUD projects critical information on an aircraft’s propeller, putting the images “right in front of the pilot’s eyes,” said Steele, who also has developed the Wingman, a portable display that is a complete EFIS.
Steele (left) explained he had a “Eureka” moment while playing with a laser pointer at his father’s house during a Thanksgiving visit. When he shone the laser on the ceiling fan, he realized that he could use his airplane’s propeller to project information. It took him 18 months of “trial and error” to develop the HUD, which features full-color displays.
Virtual HUD is the third winner of the LoPresti award, which was designed by the late Roy LoPresti. Previous winners include DeltaHawk’s diesel engine and Bede Corp’s retractable wheel pants. Winners must meet three criteria, according to Rj Siegel, LoPresti CEO (pictured right): It must be innovative; it must be practical; and it must offer a user experience is that “seamless.”
“Bill Steele’s Virtual HUD passes all these tests with flying colors,” Siegel said.
For more information: VirtualHUD.com or LoPrestiAviation.com
