Pilots using conventional instrumentation can suffer spatial disorientation (SD) when unexpectedly forced to transition from visual flight to instrument flight during roll maneuvers. This simulator study was conducted to see if a 3-D perspective display could prevent this form of spatial disorientation by eliciting the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), an instinctive postural response that humans use to maintain awareness of their spatial orientation. The current research found evidence of the OKCR in pilots viewing both a 3-D perspective display and an electronic attitude indicator. Pilots viewing a standard moving-horizon attitude indicator produced little or no OKCR response. However, pilots still showed some indication of SD during transitions from visual flight to instrument flight while using the 3-D perspective display.
","abstract_html":"<p>Pilots using conventional instrumentation can suffer spatial disorientation (SD) when unexpectedly forced to transition from visual flight to instrument flight during roll maneuvers. This simulator study was conducted to see if a 3-D perspective display could prevent this form of spatial disorientation by eliciting the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), an instinctive postural response that humans use to maintain awareness of their spatial orientation. The current research found evidence of the OKCR in pilots viewing both a 3-D perspective display and an electronic attitude indicator. Pilots viewing a standard moving-horizon attitude indicator produced little or no OKCR response. However, pilots still showed some indication of SD during transitions from visual flight to instrument flight while using the 3-D perspective display.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Faust, John Carl"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Human Factors and Systems","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Shawn Michael Doherty","Christina M. Frederick","Ken Stackpoole"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2003,"date_issued":"2003-10-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2003-10-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:25:29Z","subjects":["opto-kinetic","cervical reflex","reduced roll","pilots","3-D display","Aviation","Ergonomics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/58","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Shawn Michael Doherty","Christina M. Frederick","Ken Stackpoole"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Faust, John Carl"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Factors and Systems"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["opto-kinetic","cervical reflex","reduced roll","pilots","3-D display","Aviation","Ergonomics"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/58"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Pilots using conventional instrumentation can suffer spatial disorientation (SD) when unexpectedly forced to transition from visual flight to instrument flight during roll maneuvers. This simulator study was conducted to see if a 3-D perspective display could prevent this form of spatial disorientation by eliciting the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), an instinctive postural response that humans use to maintain awareness of their spatial orientation. The current research found evidence of the OKCR in pilots viewing both a 3-D perspective display and an electronic attitude indicator. Pilots viewing a standard moving-horizon attitude indicator produced little or no OKCR response. However, pilots still showed some indication of SD during transitions from visual flight to instrument flight while using the 3-D perspective display.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Search for the Opto-Kinetic Cervical Reflex and Reduced Roll Reversals in Pilots Viewing a 3-D Perspective Display"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Shawn Michael Doherty","Christina M. Frederick","Ken Stackpoole"],"dc:creator":["Faust, John Carl"],"dc:description.abstract":["Pilots using conventional instrumentation can suffer spatial disorientation (SD) when unexpectedly forced to transition from visual flight to instrument flight during roll maneuvers. This simulator study was conducted to see if a 3-D perspective display could prevent this form of spatial disorientation by eliciting the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), an instinctive postural response that humans use to maintain awareness of their spatial orientation. The current research found evidence of the OKCR in pilots viewing both a 3-D perspective display and an electronic attitude indicator. Pilots viewing a standard moving-horizon attitude indicator produced little or no OKCR response. However, pilots still showed some indication of SD during transitions from visual flight to instrument flight while using the 3-D perspective display.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/58"],"dc:subject":["opto-kinetic","cervical reflex","reduced roll","pilots","3-D display","Aviation","Ergonomics"],"dc:title":["The Search for the Opto-Kinetic Cervical Reflex and Reduced Roll Reversals in Pilots Viewing a 3-D Perspective Display"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Factors and Systems"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:25:29Z"}