Abstract

This work describes a study of perception of light signals used in aeronautics. Devices known as “obstruction light” (L-810 type, according to the Organization of International Civil Aviation OACI and the Federal Aviation Administration FAA) with LED technology were fed with square pulses of voltage, attaining flashes with imperceptible rise times. The lights were presented to observers, simulating the habitual vision conditions for these devices.

With this diagram, perceptive comparisons for different flash frequencies were carried out, exploring especially the transition zone between flickering and steady vision of light. The test showed that an important number of people experienced a perceptive increase in such transition zone. The phenomenon, which can be related with to Broca-Sulzer effect, could be used in order to improve the signal visibility.

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