A Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) is any set of conditions that significantly reduces situational awareness for a pilot or a ground vehicle crew. DVE is commonly associated with blinding clouds of dust thrown up by a landing helicopter, but it also includes visibility impacts from severe rain or snow, dense fog, heavy smoke, and blowing sand.

Helicopters are especially vulnerable to DVE-related disasters, as pilots who lose visual cues during takeoff or landing can inadvertently roll, striking the ground with rotors. At low altitudes, both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft can strike uneven terrain or objects hidden by DVE. For ground vehicles, operating in DVE conditions during combat affects both survivability and lethality.

Solutions that allow aircraft crews to navigate in DVE are a critical need and a key area of interest for military and commercial applications. This whitepaper examines common DVE challenges and some promising solutions.

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