Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Pilot”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

A queueing model of pilot decision making in a multi-task flight management situation

Allocation of decision making responsibility between pilot and computer is considered and a flight management task, designed for the study of pilot-computer interaction, is discussed. A queueing theory model of pilot decision making in this multi-task, control and monitoring situation is presented. An experimental investigation of pilot decision making and the resulting model parameters are discussed.

Walden, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Solar Power Satellite (SPS) pilot beam and communication link subsystem investigation study, phase 1

A preliminary engineering model of ionospheric interactions with the pilot beam was established and used to demonstrate that the dual frequency baseline pilot beam system might not be viable in the presence of an unstable transmission path. Alternate approaches to remove this difficulty are described. Although ionospheric fluctuations will not significantly degrade beam pointing or raise the sidelobe levels, they will reduce transmission efficiency by upwards of 25%. Mitigating strategies to substantially reduce this effect are proposed. Based on the Klystron noise spectrum, the pilot beam transmitter power was determined as a function of frequency offset from the power beam carrier frequency. The RFI from the pilot beam, on the ground and at geosynchronous orbit is shown. Noise levels on the earth's surface due to the SPS are presented as a function of frequency and the number of SPS systems. Analysis of the communication subsystem indicates that a standard telemetry line of 1.544 MB/s would satisfy both voice and data link requirements. Additional links would be required for TV and radio transmissions.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1979

A structural model of the adaptive human pilot

A compensatory tracking model of the human pilot is offered which attempts to provide a more realistic representation of the human's signal processing structure than that which is exhibited by pilot models currently in use. Two features of the model distinguish it from other representations of the human pilot. First, proprioceptive information from the control stick or manipulator constitutes one of the major feedback paths in the model, providing feedback of vehicle output rate due to control activity. Implicit in this feedback loop is a model of the vehicle dynamics which is valid in and beyond the region of crossover. Second, error-rate information is continuously derived and independently but intermittently controlled. An output injected remnant model is offered and qualitatively justified on the basis of providing a measure of the effect of inaccuracies such as time variations in the pilot's internal model of the controlled element dynamics. The data from experimental tracking tasks involving five different controlled element dynamics and one nonideal viewing condition were matched with model generated describing functions and remnant power spectral densities.

Hess, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Pilot control through the TAFCOS automatic flight control system

The set of flight control logic used in a recently completed flight test program to evaluate the total automatic flight control system (TAFCOS) with the controller operating in a fully automatic mode, was used to perform an unmanned simulation on an IBM 360 computer in which the TAFCOS concept was extended to provide a multilevel pilot interface. A pilot TAFCOS interface for direct pilot control by use of a velocity-control-wheel-steering mode was defined as well as a means for calling up conventional autopilot modes. It is concluded that the TAFCOS structure is easily adaptable to the addition of a pilot control through a stick-wheel-throttle control similar to conventional airplane controls. Conventional autopilot modes, such as airspeed-hold, altitude-hold, heading-hold, and flight path angle-hold, can also be included.

Wehrend, W. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A model-based technique for predicting pilot opinion ratings for large commercial transports

A model-based technique for predicting pilot opinion ratings is described. Features of this procedure, which is based on the optimal-control model for pilot/vehicle systems, include (1) capability to treat 'unconventional' aircraft dynamics, (2) a relatively free-form pilot model, (3) a simple scalar metric for attentional workload, and (4) a straightforward manner of proceeding from descriptions of the flight task environment and requirements to a prediction of pilot opinion rating. The method is able to provide a good match to a set of pilot opinion ratings obtained in a manned simulation study of large commercial aircraft in landing approach.

Levison, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Simulator study of conventional general aviation instrument displays in path-following tasks with emphasis on pilot-induced oscillations

A study of the use of conventional general aviation instruments by general aviation pilots in a six degree of freedom, fixed base simulator was conducted. The tasks performed were tracking a VOR radial and making an ILS approach to landing. A special feature of the tests was that the sensitivity of the displacement indicating instruments (the RMI, CDI, and HSI) was kept constant at values corresponding to 5 n. mi. and 1.25 n. mi. from the station. Both statistical and pilot model analyses of the data were made. The results show that performance in path following improved with increases in display sensitivity up to the highest sensitivity tested. At this maximum test sensitivity, which corresponds to the sensitivity existing at 1.25 n. mi. for the ILS glide slope transmitter, tracking accuracy was no better than it was at 5 n. mi. from the station and the pilot aircraft system exhibited a marked reduction in damping. In some cases, a pilot induced, long period unstable oscillation occurred.

Adams, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The use of total simulator training in transitioning air-carrier pilots: A field evaluation

A field study was conducted in which the performance of air carrier transitioning pilots who had landing training in a landing maneuver approved simulator was compared with the performance of pilots who had landing training in the aircraft. Forty-eight trainees transitioning to the B-727 aircraft and eighty-seven trainees transitioning to the DC-10 were included in the study. The study results in terms of both objectively measured performance indicants and observer and check-pilot ratings did not demonstrate a clear distinction between the two training groups. The results suggest that, for these highly skilled transitioning pilots, a separate training module in the aircraft may be of dubious value.

Randle, R. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A pilot's subjective analysis of a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI)

Both the advent of electronic displays for cockpit applications and the availability of high-capacity data transmission systems, linking aicraft with ATC ground computers, offer the opportunity of expanding the pilots' role in the distributive management process. A critical element in this process is believed to be the presentation to the pilot of his traffic situation. A representative cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) system is presented as viewed from the pilot in the cockpit, and the research results from flight tests presented. The use of advanced controls and displays allows for presentation to the pilot, large quantities of information that he has not had before. The real challenge in the design of an operational CDTI system will be the satisfaction of needs for information and the presentation of all necessary information, only in a useable format in order to avoid clutter. Even though a reasonably large display was utilized in these tests, display clutter was the primary problem from the standpoint of information assimilation.

Keyser, G. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

How a pilot looks at altitude

Commerical pilot eye scanning data previously collected were reanalyzed to evaluate how pilot used the drum pointer altimeter. The results of these tests showed that the pilots seldom used the drum window apparently because it was difficult to read as indicated by average drum window dwell times of .6 seconds. It is suggested that pilot scanning data be collected for other type of altimeters in order to find those with good scanning characteristics.

Spady, A. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

How a pilot looks at altitude

Commercial pilot eye scanning data previously collected were reanalyzed to evaluate how pilots used the drum pointer altimeter. The results of these tests showed that the pilots seldom used the drum window apparently because it was difficult to read as indicated by average drum window dwell times of 0.6 sec. It is suggested that pilot scanning data be collected for other types of altimeters in order to find those with good scanning characteristics.

Spady, A. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Pilot-optimal multivariable control synthesis by output feedback

A control system design approach for optimal stability augmentation, systems, using limited state feedback theory with the specific inclusion of the human pilot in the loop is presented. The methodology is especially suitable for application to flight vehicles exhibiting nonconventional dynamic characteristics and for which quantitative handling qualities specifications are not available. The design is based on a correlation between pilot ratings and objective function of the optimal control model of the human pilot. Simultaneous optimization for augmentation and pilot gains are required.

Schmidt, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An analytical pilot rating method for highly elastic aircraft

An analytical method was developed to predict pilot ratings for highly elastic aircraft subject to severe mode interactions between rigid body and elastic dynamics. An extension of the standard optimal control model of pilot response was made to include the hypothesis that the pilot controls the system with an internal model consisting of the slowly varying part of the aircraft dynamics. This modified optimal control model was analytically evaluated for a longitudinal pitch tracking task on a large flexible aircraft. Parametric variations in the undamped natural frequencies of two symmetric elastic modes were made to induce varying amounts of mode interaction. The model proved successful in discriminating when the pilot can or cannot visually separate rigid from elastic pitch response in the turbulence excited tracking task. This method shows considerable promise in making it possible to investigate such mode interaction effects on handling qualities in the preliminary design stage of new aircraft.

Swaim, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Pilot estimates of glidepath and aim point during simulated landing approaches

Pilot perceptions of glidepath angle and aim point were measured during simulated landings. A fixed-base cockpit simulator was used with video recordings of simulated landing approaches shown on a video projector. Pilots estimated the magnitudes of approach errors during observation without attempting to make corrections. Pilots estimated glidepath angular errors well, but had difficulty estimating aim-point errors. The data make plausible the hypothesis that pilots are little concerned with aim point during most of an approach, concentrating instead on keeping close to the nominal glidepath and trusting this technique to guide them to the proper touchdown point.

Acree, C. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An investigation into pilot and system response to critical in-flight events, volume 1

The scope of a critical in-flight event (CIFE) with emphasis on pilot management of available resources is described. Detailed scenarios for both full mission simulation and written testing of pilot responses to CIFE's, and statistical relationships among pilot characteristics and observed responses are developed. A model developed to described pilot response to CIFE and an analysis of professional fight crews compliance with specified operating procedures and the relationships with in-flight errors are included.

Rockwell, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A comparison of landing maneuver piloting technique based on measurements made in an airline training simulator and in actual flight

An emphasis is placed on developing a mathematical model in order to identify useful metrics, quantify piloting technique, and define simulator fidelity. On the basis of DC-10 flight measurements recorded for 32 pilots, 13 flight-trained and the remainder simulator trained, a revised model of the landing flare is hypothesized which accounts for reduction of sink rate and perference for touchdown point along the runway. The flare maneuver and touchdown point adjustment can be described by a pitch attitude command pilot guidance law consisting of altitude and vertical velocity feedbacks. In flight pilots exhibit a significant vertical velocity feedback which is essential for well controlled sink rate reduction at the desired level of response (bandwidth). In the simulator, however, the vertical velocity feedback appears ineffectual and leads to substantially inferior landing performance.

Heffley, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An analytical approach for predicting pilot induced oscillations

The optimal control model (OCM) of the human pilot is applied to the study of aircraft handling qualities. Attention is focused primarily on longitudinal tasks. The modeling technique differs from previous applications of the OCM in that considerable effort is expended in simplifying the pilot/vehicle analysis. After briefly reviewing the OCM, a technique for modeling the pilot controlling higher order systems is introduced. Following this, a simple criterion or determining the susceptability of an aircraft to pilot induced oscillations (PIO) is formulated. Finally, a model-based metric for pilot rating prediction is discussed. The resulting modeling procedure provides a relatively simple, yet unified approach to the study of a variety of handling qualities problems.

Hess, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Influence of display and control compatibility on pilot-induced oscillations

The differences in techniques used by seven pilots to acquire information from an advanced display for instrument approaches to and landings on a runway were investigated. A fixed base simulator programmed with dynamics resembling the terminal configured vehicle (TCV) was studied. It is shown that the seven pilots can be divided into two groups which used the display with distinctly different strategies for controlling the airplane. A related pattern of performance differences resulted. It is found that pilots who primarily use raw flight path information experience longitudinal oscillations while pilots using attitude information did not.

Waller, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Prediction of aircraft handling qualities using analytical models of the human pilot

The optimal control model (OCM) of the human pilot is applied to the study of aircraft handling qualities. Attention is focused primarily on longitudinal tasks. The modeling technique differs from previous applications of the OCM in that considerable effort is expended in simplifying the pilot/vehicle analysis. After briefly reviewing the OCM, a technique for modeling the pilot controlling higher order systems is introduced. Following this, a simple criterion for determining the susceptibility of an aircraft to pilot induced oscillations is formulated. Finally, a model based metric for pilot rating prediction is discussed. The resulting modeling procedure provides a relatively simple, yet unified approach to the study of a variety of handling qualities problems.

Hess, R. A.↗