Evaluation and Estimation of Handling Qualities via Statistical Modeling of PilotResponse Data

摘要

This report describes a research project which measured pilot response to sevencontrol systems simulating different handling qualities, quantitatively evaluated and compared the systems based on these measurements, and compared the quantitative system evaluation based on measured pilot performance with a qualitative evaluation using the Cooper-Harper technique. The objective of the project is implementation of a methodology for system evaluation via pilot performance to complement the current evaluation technique based on subjective ratings by test pilots. Pilot performance is determined through analysis of objective dynamic measurements of pilot response typical of flight test environments. In short, the methodology specifies a general approach for condensing the typically huge mound of measured test data accumulated during flight simulation experiments into meaningful quantities for system evaluation. The key element in the methodology is statistical modeling of a law for pilot control. Statistical modeling of pilot control provides an assessment of pilot performance in terms of standard statistical estimation parameters. The methodology requires that this control model be used to compute control input in a closed loop tracking task; the accuracy of the control model in performing this task is an important measure of pilot performance relevant to system evaluation. In addition, these parameters computed from the dynamic measurements of pilot performance are shown to enhance understanding of the aspects of the handling qualities underlying subjective rating techniques such as Cooper-Harper. Cooper-Harper, Flight Display Evaluation, Flight Simulation, Flight Test, Handling Qualities, Pilot Modeling, Pilot Performance, Pilot Response.