Distance estimation with night vision goggles: A little feedback goes a long way

Immediate feedback was given to correct observers' estimates of distance in an experiment in which those estimates were made outdoors at night while o bservers wore night vision goggles (NVGs). Initially observers made unguide d estimates of distances between marked positions in an open field. Those d istances ranged from 7.6 m (25 ft) to 64 m (210 ft). Later the same observe rs made more estimates. After each of these they were told the measured dis tance between the positions. During this training, the observers' height fr om the ground plane was either at a standing position or at an elevated pos ition raised 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) from standing position. After the training - either immediately after, a week later, or at both times - observers made unguided estimates of distance for a second time. These latter estimates of ground distance made with the NVGs were improved. Average improvement of t he observers' estimates persisted for at least one week after training. Thi s training can be applied to improve clearance estimates and estimates of h over height for pilots of rotary-wing aircraft.