Human Factors Affecting Pilot Performance in Vertical and Translational Instrument Flight

摘要

This report is a review of a program to apply the best aircraft control and display ideas and principles generated since World War II to an integrated, computer-based system for vertical and translational instrument flight. A generic thrust-borne aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and six degrees of maneuvering freedom was simulated, as were a forward-looking contact analog display and a downward-looking horizontal situation display. Features incorporated in these displays included command guidance symbology, directionally compatible frequency-separated quasi-pursuit flight path predictors with vernier-deviation indications and uniquely integrated presentations of altitude and vertical speed in the horizontal situation display. Features of the simulated control system included automatic stabilization of position and velocity vector against air mass movements and reduced orders of maneuvering performance control. A holistic experimental approach was applied to screen critical dynamic design variables, optimize their response surfaces, and investigate direction of display motion relationships, all leading to multiple-regression models of pilot performance in vertical and translational instrument flight.