Engineering Commons^™

The Use Of Virtual Reality Training Environments For Procedural Training In Fourth-Generation Airliners, Mark Edgar Mccullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study examined the effectiveness of using virtual reality training environments for procedural training in fourth-generation airliners. Its goal was to assess whether the training outcomes from a recurrent training course for FAA certificated Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technicians, which used a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) to deliver and assess training, differed from the same training delivered using a Virtual Reality (VR) device.

The study used an experimental design with three groups and two within-group measures of training effectiveness. The control group followed the current training program and was assessed in the FFS, while the second group was trained using …

Foundations For Finite-State Modelling Of A Two-Dimensional Airfoil That Reverses Direction, Jake Michael Oscar Welsh

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Current 3-D finite-state wake models are incapable of simulating a maneuver in which the sign of the free-stream velocity changes direction and the rotor enters its own wake -- as might occur in the case of a helicopter which ascends and then descends. It is the purpose of this work to create a 2-D finite-state wake model which is capable of handling changes in free-stream direction as a precursor to development of a 3-D model that can do the same.

The 2-D finite-state model used for reentry modifications is an existing model created by Peters, Johnson, and Karunamoorthy. By the …

Modeling And Simulation Technology Of Flight Maneuver For Large Scale Battlefield, Chu Yang, Liu Zhi, Lintao Dou

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to meet the requirements of the system simulation acceleration ability of the intelligent countermeasure game system, analyzes the large-scale battlefield space large-scale air force simulation modeling method is analyzed. Combined with the requirements of the system countermeasure for the fidelity, real-time and accuracy of the air vehicle modeling, based on the original air vehicle motion model, by reducing variables, simplifying parameters, equivalent calculation and other methods, a fast flight maneuver simulation modeling method is derived, which can realize the correct modeling of the trajectory and attitude of the aircraft, conform to the general flight physical laws, meet …

Flight Simulation Modeling Method Based On Improved Euler Angle Formula, Lishan Jia, Li Ang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the singularity problem of common full flight motion equation, a modeling method based on improved Euler angle formula is proposed. On the basis of the modified small perturbation modeling equation, this method increases the influence of aircraft maneuvering surface on the aircraft Euler angle and a variable step solution algorithm is used. The model can overcome the singularity problem of common Euler equation, and the accuracy of model calculation is higher than other flight simulation models which overcome the singularity of Euler equation. Compared with the flight simulation model using the conventional Euler angle formula, the proposed …

Integrating The First Person View And The Third Person View Using A Connected Vr-Mr System For Pilot Training, Chang-Geun Oh, Kwanghee Lee, Myunghoon Oh

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Virtual reality (VR)-based flight simulator provides pilots the enhanced reality from the first-person view. Mixed reality (MR) technology generates effective 3D graphics. The users who wear the MR headset can walk around the 3D graphics to see all its 360 degrees of vertical and horizontal aspects maintaining the consciousness of real space. A VR flight simulator and an MR application were connected to create the capability of both first-person view and third-person view for a comprehensive pilot training system. This system provided users the capability to monitor the aircraft progress along the planned path from the third-person view as well …

3d Flight Simulation System Visualization And Study Of Google Earth, Junyu Wang, Bin Cheng, Chuan Wang, Ren Jian

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Through the secondary development of Google Earth, flight training simulation system for visualization of realization, the system used B/S structure, the client browser using Google Earth, all the development on the server side. Mathematical model of aircraft was constructed; 3D modeling software SketchUp was used to establish a realistic fighter jets, missiles, high and low speed flame and other 3D model; the established 3D models was imported into Google Earth; by Microsoft VC ++ 6.0, the secondary development on Digital Earth was achieved, and the control of aircraft and other 3D models was realized; Matlab was used to verify …

Airborne Weather Radar Visual Simulation Based-On Dynamic Satellite Cloud Image, Zhang Jun

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A real-time simulation algorithm was proposed to generate a wide range of the common aviation weather condition for the flight simulator based-on a set of dynamic satellite cloud images. With this efficient weather simulation algorithm, a fast radar echo visual simulating method was proposed. The proposed method used the 2D simplified Navier-Stokes and microphysics equations to implement the essential numerical simulation of the aviation weather condition. By this way, the complex problem of large-scale cloud resolving and particle-backscattering computing could be viewed as a simple 2D multi-resolution image processing. Real application on the flight simulator shows that the …

Research And Implementation Of Simulation For Aircraft Crossing The Low-Level Wind Shear Area, Zhigang Su, Chen Qi, Jingtang Hao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Low-level wind shear seriously affects the safety of approach and departure of flights, the flight simulation system is utilized for analyzing low-level wind shear influences on aircraft take-off and landing, which is of great significance for seeking the safety circumvention strategy of aircraft crossing the core of the storm. With software, Fluent, the system simulated the regional wind field of low-level wind shear, and utilized the open source flight simulator, FlightGear, as the aircraft simulation platform. The system sent the wind speed data as the input of system via UDP(User Datagram Protocol) interface and the influences on aircraft flight …

Integrating The 1st Person View And The 3rd Person View Using A Connected Vr-Mr System For Pilot Training, Chang-Geun Oh Ph.D., Myunghoon Oh Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Many virtual reality (VR)-based flight simulation programs provide pilots the enhanced reality from the 1^st person-view to make themselves immersed in the cockpit. Using the VR simulations, pilots can take flight training in many challenging situations that are hard to create in real environments due to its natural entropy and safety concerns such as severe crosswind or engine fire. Mixed reality (MR) technology provides three-dimensional graphics so that users can effectively see all 360 degree-vertical and horizontal aspects of an object while they freely move around to see the graphics maintaining the consciousness of real space. Flight instructors may …

Modular Design Method Of Integrated Avionics Simulation System, Mingbo Zhao, Pan Long, Longwei Jiang, Wang Gang, Guangxing Zhao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In the past, there were some problems in the software design for the flight simulation avionics system such as the decentralized structure and the low degree of modularization. Aiming at these problems, a hierarchical, modular integrated avionics system is constructed. The logic part dispersed in each function module is independent to form the integrated logic module. Each task function module and its sub module are responsible for the calculation of the relevant task function algorithm. Modular design is carried out in a deeper level. By dataflow analysis, each module in this design has strong cohesion and weak coupling and …

Visualized Parameter-Tuned Algorithm For Control Loading System, Xie Chen, Shuchu Zhang, Zhenyu Sun

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To improve the fidelity of flight simulators, a control loading system is introduced in this paper which has the most direct effect on the pilot's intuitive perception. The overall design, hardware construction and digital simulation results of the system are given. In the process of system realization, the visual displacement-force loading configuration scheme is adopted to solve such problems as requirement changes or parameter excursions in hardware. The algorithm of output waveform curve adjustment based on cubic spline interpolation is proposed and the parameters are adjusted according to demand through graphical operation interface by maintenance personnel. The traditional method …

Flight Simulation – What You Need To Know, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

FAA Safety Seminar (GL1587585) held at Minnesota State University, Mankato Wiecking Center Auditorium at 18:30 CST on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

A Study Of Flight Simulation Training Time, Aircraft Training Time, And Pilot Competence As Measured By The Naval Standard Score, Aaron D. Judy

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between US Navy T-45C flight simulation training time, actual aircraft training time, and intermediate and advanced jet pilot competence as measured by the Naval Standard Score (NSS). Examining the relationships between US Navy T-45C flight simulation time and actual aircraft flight time may provide further information on flight simulation training versus actual aircraft training to aviation authorities, flight instructors, the military aviation community, the commercial aviation community, and academia. The study was non-experimental, correlational, causal-comparative with an emphasis upon the establishment of mathematic and predictive relationships using archival data from …

Flight Testing In A Simulation Based Environment, David W. Babka

Aerospace Engineering

Over the past two decades performance flight testing of full scale aircraft has transferred some of the testing workload to simulation based systems. Flight testing full scale aircraft in the real world environment has always been expensive, especially now with the rise in aviation fuel costs. Additionally, new emerging technologies require extensive testing and doing so in the full scale environment is cost prohibitive. A cheaper alternative is to test systems in a simulation based environment. Not only can aircraft be simulated via a computer, but all the aircrafts systems can be modeled in the simulation. Furthermore, most of the …

Seasonal Adaptation Of Vegetation Color In Satellite Images For Flight Simulations, Yuzhong Shen, Jiang Li, Vamsi Mantena, Srinivas Jakkula

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Automatic vegetation identification plays an important role in many applications including remote sensing and high performance flight simulations. This paper proposes a novel method that identifies vegetative areas in satellite images and then alters vegetation color to simulate seasonal changes based on training image pairs. The proposed method first generates a vegetation map for pixels corresponding to vegetative areas, using ISODATA clustering and vegetation classification. The ISODATA algorithm determines the number of clusters automatically. We then apply morphological operations to the clustered images to smooth the boundaries between clusters and to fill holes inside clusters. Six features are then computed …

Seasonal Adaptation Of Vegetation Color In Satellite Images, Srinivas Jakkula, Vamsi K.R. Mantena, Ramu Pedada, Yuzhong Shen, Jiang Li, Hamid R. Arabnia (Ed.)

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Remote sensing techniques like NDVI (Normal Difference vegetative Index) when applied to phenological variations in aerial images, ascertained the seasonal rise and decline of photosynthetic activity in different seasons, resulting in different color tones of vegetation. The rise and fall of NDVI values decide the biological response, either the green up or brown down [1]. Vegetation in green up period appears with more vegetative vigor and during brown down period it has a dry appearance. This paper proposes a novel method that identifies vegetative patterns in satellite images and then alters vegetation color to simulate seasonal changes based on training …

Solving An Inverse Control Problem Using Predictive Methods, Chad J. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Model Predictive Control is the class of control methods that optimizes a specified performance index in order to minimize the weighted future output deviations from a setpoint trajectory. This thesis applies MPC in the inverse sense -- known aircraft outputs are applied in the performance index as setpoints in an attempt to determine what control histories caused those outputs. Using this method, aircraft mishap investigators could then have a means of determining what the control surface deflections were throughout an incident since Flight Data Recorder data does not include control surface deflections. The actual Flight Data Recorder data from aircraft …

Sensitivity Analysis Of Brawler Pilot Skill Levels, Daniel C. Buschor

Theses and Dissertations

BRAWLER is a high resolution air to air combat simulation model used for engagement level analyses of few on few air combat. It uses a value driven decision logic to help simulate pilot behavior. In order to account for varied pilot skill levels, BRAWLER has defined three skill levels; Rookie, Pilot, and Ace. A Rookie can track up to three aircraft in its mental model, the Pilot, up to five aircraft, while an Ace has no limit. Further, each skill level varies the amount of time before a known aircraft, which has not been recently observed, is purged from the …

Architecture, Design, And Implementation Of A Rapidly Prototyped Virtual Environment For A Military Spaceplane, Scott A. Rothermel

Theses and Dissertations

The new Global Engagement vision places increased emphasis on the Air Force's ability to control and exploit space. A military spaceplane combining reliable access to space, high operational tempos, and multi-mission capabilities is in conceptual stages of development. Virtual environment technology provides an opportunity to investigate system requirements and unconventional interface paradigms for this unique vehicle. A virtual environment architecture and design based on support for a rapid prototyping development process, separation of concerns, and user interface development is presented. The rapid prototyping process allowed management of changing requirements via an evolutionary approach to implementation. Separation of the activities performed …

The Use Of Videotape During Post-Flight Debriefing Of Simulator Flights To Improve Student Learning And Reduce Instructional Time, Stanley Paul Rowe

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to determine if videotaping students during simulator flights and using the results as a teaching tool would improve student learning and require less instructional time. Thirty subjects were randomly selected from students enrolled in an instrument rating flight course at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A Frasca 141 simulator and a Panasonic video camera were used as the data gathering instruments. The treatment group reviewed the instructional lessons on videotape during their post-flight debriefing. At the end of the experiment, both groups received a posttest. The results of the posttest and the amount of instructional hours …

Effect Of Joystick Versus Control Yoke Use On Personal Computer (Pc) Flight Training: A Comparative Analysis, Gregory Alan Fontaine

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to provide a comparative performance analysis of a generic control yoke device and a generic joystick device. The comparison provided data needed for further evaluation of personal computer (PC) aircrew training device (ATD) potential. Both devices were used in support of the same PC flight simulation software program, and were evaluated using the experimental research method. Objective and subjective data were obtained during controlled testing, and subsequently analyzed using basic summation and t-test methods. The results tested the research hypothesis that there is no significant difference in personal computer ATD operator performance using a …