A Validation Process to a Force Feed-Back Model for a PCATD

Rose G. Davies Ph.D., Lecturer, Massey University, New Zealand
Savern Reweti, Massey University, New Zealand

Presented during Session 8: Technology in Aviation

Abstract

Low-cost PCATDs are usually used in procedural flight training. Apart from visual effects, a PCATD does not provide trainee pilots with the same physical experience as the physical feeling they receive in actual flights, for example the forces on the controls arising during flight manoeuvres. To improve the fidelity in flight control of PCATD for our Diamond DA-40 trainer aircraft, a force feed-back system is proposed for the flight control system. The first element of this proposed system is a mathematical model to simulate the resultant forces on the control column when a manoeuvre is performed. This model is two dimensional only, pitching and rolling, which are performed by the control column in the cockpit. Before the model is applied to a PCATD to calculate the force against the hand of an operator, the model should be validated by a series of actual forces detected on the control column of an aircraft. A special aircraft test regime with visual analysis of movement and force sensing techniques is developed for this purpose. This test regime requires the recording the movement of the control column in an aircraft cockpit under a wide range of light intensity, and a special force detecting system that must not be installed in the control column assembly mechanically, and should not affect the in-flight operation of the control column. Several sensing methods to detect the movement of the control column in a cockpit have been investigated, and an imaging analysis system has been chosen. A removable force sensing system has been developed the force measurement on the control.

The measurements of force and the movement of the control in an aircraft have been carried out on the ground and in-flight. The data of the measurements were used in the model calculation, and comparison of the force measured and the force calculated was analysed. The results from the comparison are encouraging.

 
Aug 15th, 9:30 AM Aug 15th, 10:45 AM

A Validation Process to a Force Feed-Back Model for a PCATD

Jim W. Henderson Administration & Welcome Center (Bldg. #602)

Low-cost PCATDs are usually used in procedural flight training. Apart from visual effects, a PCATD does not provide trainee pilots with the same physical experience as the physical feeling they receive in actual flights, for example the forces on the controls arising during flight manoeuvres. To improve the fidelity in flight control of PCATD for our Diamond DA-40 trainer aircraft, a force feed-back system is proposed for the flight control system. The first element of this proposed system is a mathematical model to simulate the resultant forces on the control column when a manoeuvre is performed. This model is two dimensional only, pitching and rolling, which are performed by the control column in the cockpit. Before the model is applied to a PCATD to calculate the force against the hand of an operator, the model should be validated by a series of actual forces detected on the control column of an aircraft. A special aircraft test regime with visual analysis of movement and force sensing techniques is developed for this purpose. This test regime requires the recording the movement of the control column in an aircraft cockpit under a wide range of light intensity, and a special force detecting system that must not be installed in the control column assembly mechanically, and should not affect the in-flight operation of the control column. Several sensing methods to detect the movement of the control column in a cockpit have been investigated, and an imaging analysis system has been chosen. A removable force sensing system has been developed the force measurement on the control.

The measurements of force and the movement of the control in an aircraft have been carried out on the ground and in-flight. The data of the measurements were used in the model calculation, and comparison of the force measured and the force calculated was analysed. The results from the comparison are encouraging.