Helicopter Flight Evaluation of Kinesthetic-Tactual Displays

摘要

The kinesthetic-tactual (KT) display concept employs moveable elements incorporated in a pilot's flight control handgraps. A series of laboratory and simulator studies conducted since 1976 has shown that this touch-based display approach can substitute for visual dispalys or augment them in useful ways. This report describes the first helicopter flight evaluation and demonstration of KT displays. Flight performance data were collected to compare the conventional visual display condition to KT conditions. Performance results as well as pilot opinion comments are discussed along with conclusions and implications for further KT system development. This is an interim report because in-depth analysis of the flight data is still underway. The most promising potential benefits in mission applications of KT displays are for conditions where visual task demands are high; for example, helicopter terrain flight requiring continuous visual attention outside the cockpit, and where use of conventional visual displays is complicated by night vision devices. Keywords: Human performance; Pilot workload.