Results of a Simulator Investigation of Control System and Display Variations for an Attack Helicopter Mission
Results of a Simulator Investigation of Control System and Display Variations for an Attack Helicopter Mission

Author: Edwin W. Aiken

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 25

ISBN-13:

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A piloted simulator experiment designed to assess the effects on overall system performance and pilot workload of variations in control system characteristics and display format and logic for a nighttime attack helicopter mission is described. The simulation facility provided a representation of a helmet-mounted display image consisting of flight-control and fire-control symbology superimposed on the background video from a simulated forward-looking infrared sensor. Control systems ranging from the baseline stability and control augmentation system to various hover augmentation schemes were investigated together with variations in the format and logic of the superimposed symbology. Selected control system and display failures were also simulated. The results of the experiment indicate that the baseline control/display system is unsatisfactory without improvement for the evaluation task which included a hovering target search and acquisition. Significant improvements in pilot rating were achieved by both control system and display variations.

The Effects of Control System and Display Variations for an Attack Helicopter Mission Through Piloted Simulation
The Effects of Control System and Display Variations for an Attack Helicopter Mission Through Piloted Simulation

Author: Edwin W. Aiken

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13:

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Research into methods by which highly maneuverable advanced helicopters can be made to function - with reasonable pilot workload levels - as stable platforms for target designation and/or weapon delivery at night and in adverse weather is a major interest of the U.S. Army Aeromechanics Laboratory. Two candidate techniques under investigation are: (1) helicopters control system modifications that alter the aircraft's response to pilot control inputs and to external inputs such as turbulence and (2) variations in the methods of which critical information is displayed to the pilot in an attempt to reduce the effort required to interpret and respond to a given situation while still maintaining a satisfactory level of system performance. In support of this research, a piloted simulator experiment was designed and conducted to assess the effects on overall system performance and pilot workload of variations in control system characteristics and display format and logic for a nighttime attack helicopter mission. This paper describes the experiment and presents major results and conclusions. (Author).

A Mathematical Representation of an Advanced Helicopter for Piloted Simulator Investigations of Control System and Display Variations
A Mathematical Representation of an Advanced Helicopter for Piloted Simulator Investigations of Control System and Display Variations

Author: Edwin A. Aiken

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 51

ISBN-13:

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This report documents a mathematical model of an advanced helicopter; the model is suitable for use in control/display research involving piloted simulation. The general design approach for the six-degree-of-freedom equations of motion is to use the full set of nonlinear gravitational and inertial terms of the equations and to express the aerodynamic forces and moments as the reference values and first-order terms of a Taylor series expansion about a reference trajectory defined as a function of longitudinal airspeed. Provisions for several different specific and generic flight control systems are included in the model. The logic required to drive various flight control and weapon delivery symbols on a pilot's electronic display is also provided. Finally, the model includes a simplified representation of low-altitude wind and turbulence effects. This model has been used in a piloted simulator investigation, recently conducted at Ames Research Center, of the effects of control-system and display variations for an attack helicopter mission. (Author).