Modeling human pilot cue utilization with applications to simulator fidelity assessment

Area of Science:

• Human Factors Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Pilots rely on visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular cues for flight control.
• Accurate simulation of these cues is crucial for effective pilot training.
• Determining flight simulator fidelity requirements is an ongoing research challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model pilot perception and utilization of sensory cues in a ground-based flight simulator.
• To investigate changes in simulator fidelity by varying motion system characteristics.
• To assess the effectiveness of analytical and fuzzy-inference methods in identifying fidelity changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a NASA Ames Research Center vertical motion simulator study.
• Employed a closed-loop pilot/simulator system model, excluding visual scene effects.
• Applied pilot/vehicle analysis and fuzzy-inference identification to analyze pilot data across five motion system configurations.

Main Results:

• Both pilot/vehicle analysis and fuzzy-inference identification demonstrated capability in detecting fidelity shifts.
• The methods were effective in identifying changes in simulator fidelity for the specific rotorcraft maneuver studied.
• Analysis focused on data from three out of five participating pilots.

Conclusions:

• Analytical pilot/vehicle analysis and fuzzy-inference identification are viable tools for assessing simulator fidelity.
• These methods can help refine methodologies for establishing flight simulator fidelity requirements.
• The findings contribute to improving the realism and effectiveness of flight simulation.