Rotorcraft Handling Qualities meet Simulation Fidelity

旋翼机操作质量好坏的要求和标准已经发展到新的设计和升级可以在非常低的风险下投入使用，因为飞行特性的缺陷会对飞行安全或执行预定任务的能力造成任何限制。该研究基地是在二十多年的飞行和地面模拟测试中建立起来的，由建模和仿真支持，并由多国工程师和飞行员团队承担。在这些努力的同时，飞行模拟器的技术一直在发展，但缺乏基础研究基础的好处。现行标准中的度量和公差来自固定翼标准，在许多重要方面显示出不足。EPSRC资助的利物浦研究项目《提升标准》（2008-11）利用处理质量方法，为量化模拟保真度建立了更合理的基础。利物浦的研究以6自由度运动模拟器HELIFLIGHT-R为特色，并与飞行研究实验室（NRC，渥太华）密切合作。预测保真度和捕获飞行员感知保真度的度量已被导出并用于开发新的统一的资格认证方法。该方法的核心是需要理解和量化飞行员从模拟器过渡到飞行时所应用的适应水平。超过一定程度的适应，由此产生的负面训练意味着安全性和操作能力可能会受到损害。策略适应的概念是控制补偿的程度，因此处理质量和保真度之间的联系加强。突出的问题涉及预测和感知保真度指标的可接受公差，即模拟器“适合用途”；什么构成了一级保真度，对这个问题的处理质量有多重要，这些都是持续研究的问题。这些问题构成了2011年5月在弗吉尼亚海滩举行的美国直升机协会（AHS）模拟保真度研讨会的背景。由提案人主持的研讨会有70多名代表参加，并为研究实验室和工业界之间的进一步合作播下了种子，以发展所需的证据基础；对最佳实践的发展有一个历史的观点，需要将其纳入持续的研究中。很多文献记录都很差。在这个简短的研究项目中，申请人将把这些主题结合在一起。该研究项目的一项核心活动将是编写著名的AHS Nikolsky论文和讲座，并在美国各中心传播，借此机会加强合作。帕德菲尔德将回顾自70年前实用直升机诞生以来操作质量标准的发展。将确定和描述使该行业突破制定和采用质量标准障碍的关键创新。关键的飞行控制技术也将被审查，并继续发展赋予超级处理分析和推测。旋翼机操纵质量的提高一方面对安全性和操作能力产生巨大影响，另一方面对模拟器的技术要求和训练效果产生巨大影响。作者将借此机会加强处理质量和模拟保真度方面的合作，为2012年沃斯堡保真度研讨会奠定基础，并将继续合作到2013年

The requirements and criteria for what constitute good and bad rotorcraft handling qualities have developed to the point that new designs and upgrades can be brought to service with a very low risk that any limitations on flight safety or on the capability to perform intended missions will result from deficiencies in flying characteristics. The research base that has elevated the discipline was created over more than two decades of flight and ground-based simulation testing, supported by modelling and simulation, and undertaken by multi-national teams of engineers and pilots.Alongside these endeavours, the technologies for flight simulators have been developing, but have lacked the benefit of an underpinning research base. The metrics and tolerances in current standards are derived from fixed-wing criteria and shown to be lacking in a number of important aspects. The EPSRC funded research at Liverpool, Lifting Standards (2008-11), has developed a more rational basis for quantifying simulation fidelity, using a handling qualities approach. The research at Liverpool features the 6 degree of freedom motion simulator, HELIFLIGHT-R, alongside close collaboration with the Flight Research Laboratory (NRC, Ottawa). Metrics for predicting fidelity and capturing pilot perceptual fidelity have been derived and used in the development of a new unified approach to qualification. Central to the approach is the need to understand and quantify the level of adaptation that pilots apply as they transition from the simulator to flight. Beyond a certain level of adaptation, the resulting negative training means that safety and operational capability may be compromised. Within the concept of strategy adaptation is the degree of control compensation and hence the link between handling quality and fidelity strengthens. Outstanding questions concern the acceptable tolerances on predicted and perceptual fidelity metrics that a simulator is 'fit for purpose'; what constitutes Level 1 fidelity, and how critical are the handling qualities to this question are continuing research questions. These questions formed the backdrop to the American Helicopter Society (AHS) workshop on Simulation Fidelity held in Virginia Beach, May 2011. The workshop, chaired by the proposer, was attended by more than 70 delegates and seeds were sown for further collaboration between research laboratories and industry to develop the required evidence base; there is a historical perspective to the development of best practice that needs to be brought into the continuing research. Much has been left poorly documented. In this short research project, the proposer will bring these themes together.A core activity of the research project will be the preparation of the prestigious AHS Nikolsky paper and lecture, and dissemination at various US Centres, where the opportunity will be taken to reinforce collaboration. Padfield will review the developments of handling qualities criteria since the birth of the practical helicopter 70 years ago. The key innovations that have allowed the industry to break through the barriers to formulating and adopting quality criteria will be identified and described. The critical enabling flight control technologies will also be reviewed and the continuing developments that confer super handling analysed and conjectured. The improvements in rotorcraft handling qualities should have a massive impact on safety and operational capability on the one hand and the technical requirements and training effectiveness of simulators on the other. The author will take the opportunity to strengthen the collaboration on handling qualities and simulation fidelity, setting the stage for the 2012 fidelity workshop in Fort Worth and continuing collaboration into 2013