A virtual engineering approach to the ship-helicopter dynamic interface – a decade of modelling and simulation research at the University of Liverpool

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (1246) ◽  
pp. 1833-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Owen ◽  
M. D. White ◽  
G. D. Padfield ◽  
S. J. Hodge
Keyword(s):  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Simulation Research ◽  
Handling Qualities ◽  
Virtual Engineering ◽  
Engineering Approach ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Operating Limits ◽  
Technology Research Group ◽  
Operational Envelope ◽  
The University

ABSTRACTThis paper reviews some of the research that has been carried out at the University of Liverpool where the Flight Science and Technology Research Group has developed its Heliflight-R full-motion research simulator to create a simulation environment for the launch and recovery of maritime helicopters to ships. HELIFLIGHT-R has been used to conduct flight trials to produce simulated Ship-Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOLs). This virtual engineering approach has led to a much greater understanding of how the dynamic interface between the ship and the helicopter contributes to the pilot's workload and the aircraft's handling qualities and will inform the conduct of future real-world SHOL trials. The paper also describes how modelling and simulation has been applied to the design of a ship's superstructure to improve the aerodynamic flow field in which the helicopter has to operate. The superstructure aerodynamics also affects the placement of the ship's anemometers and the dispersion of the ship's hot exhaust gases, both of which affect the operational envelope of the helicopter, and both of which can be investigated through simulation.

Insight into the factors affecting the safety of take-off and landing of the ship-borne helicopter

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441002110504
Author(s):  
Yihua Cao ◽  
Yihao Qin
Keyword(s):  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Handling Qualities ◽  
Flying Qualities ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Systematical Review ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Despite the important role and highly frequent appearance of the helicopter in modern ship operations, the flight mission with take-off and landing of helicopters to ships, especially ships with small-sized decks, could be very challenging and potentially hazardous. Many researches on ship-helicopter dynamic interface (DI) have been conducted, and significant progress has been made. In this paper, a comprehensive and systematical review of the factors affecting the flying qualities of ship-borne helicopter and pilot workload during taking off and landing is derived from these efforts to date. The factors from two aspects, including the ship environment and the pilot-helicopter interface, are covered to address how these factors affect the helicopter handling qualities and pilot workload, primarily focusing on aerodynamic issues. The insight into these factors is not only of great significance for conducting take-off and landing tasks safely but also helpful to establish suitable fidelity criteria and guidelines for the modelling and simulation of the ship-helicopter DI environment.

Simulating the environment at the helicopter-ship dynamic interface: research, development and application

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (1185) ◽  
pp. 1155-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Hodge ◽  
J. S. Forrest ◽  
G. D. Padfield ◽  
I. Owen
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Research Development ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Research Environment ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The University

Abstract This paper presents highlights from research conducted at the University of Liverpool to determine suitable fidelity criteria and guidelines for the modelling and simulation of the helicopter-ship dynamic interface environment. The paper begins by describing the characteristics of the helicopter-ship dynamic interface, explaining the motivation behind the research and reviewing the state-of-the-art in dynamic interface simulation. The development of a dynamic interface research environment based on an existing research simulator operated by the University of Liverpool is then described, before key results from a number of piloted simulation experiments are presented. These experiments were specifically designed to address fidelity sensitivity issues, such as, are unsteady airwake models necessary, or can a steady airwake model induce appropriate levels of pilot workload? What influence does the modelled ship geometry, or choice of atmospheric wind conditions have on the airwake model and on pilot workload? Finally, the paper concludes by briefly describing the relevance of these research findings to current and future industry programmes.

Quantification and Prediction of Pilot Workload in the Helicopter/Ship Dynamic Interface

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bradley ◽  
C A Macdonald ◽  
T W Buggy
Keyword(s):  
Design Stage ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Handling Qualities ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Operating Limits ◽  
Aircraft System

The evaluation, early in the design cycle, of the limits for operating aircraft from ships in a wide range of sea states and atmospheric conditions has become an important issue for two main reasons. First, the simultaneous entry into service of new helicopter types and new naval platforms has generated an enormous task in the development of appropriate Ship Helicopter Operating Limits for in-service operations. Second, it has become clear that such operational factors need to be addressed at the design stage - which of necessity involves developing a predictive capacity in all of the areas which influence operational capability. These considerations need to take place in the context of technological advances which seek to assist the pilot in operations from ships. Improved radar for ship approaches and enhanced cueing, located around hangars and landing spots, are both areas which are being continually developed in association with upgraded aircraft systems for guidance, control, and stability augmentation. Ultimately, however, the situation comes down to the pilot's assessment of the workload involved in any task and the handling qualities of the vehicle being controlled. For this reason there has been a growing interest in two related areas: (i) the development of metrics to provide a consistent indicator of pilot workload and (ii) the enhancement of existing pilot models to generate authentic control activity in the aircraft/ship dynamic interface. This article describes recent techniques for extracting workload metrics from control activity and indicates the extent to which acceptably accurate workload predictions can be made. Some advances in pilot modelling are also described and examples are given to demonstrate the capability and limitations of currently available methods. Finally, the present state of integration of the two aspects into a robust tool for ship and aircraft system design is discussed. The focus of this article is, of necessity, on helicopter operations because that is where most of the current work has been centred.

Capturing requirements for tiltrotor handling qualities – case studies in virtual engineering

2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (1134) ◽  
pp. 433-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Padfield
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Iterative Process ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Handling Qualities ◽  
Virtual Engineering ◽  
Engineering Approach ◽  
Aircraft System ◽  
Tiltrotor Aircraft

Handling qualities are expressed as requirements at the interface of the pilot and the machine. In this way, the key functionality questions facing the design engineer are seen from the perspective of the interaction of the human pilot with the aircraft system and the environment in which it operates. In this paper, the author takes a ‘virtual engineering’ approach to handling qualities, emphasising the importance of conducting ‘requirements capture’ and preliminary design as an iterative process. When stretched capabilities are required, this approach minimises the risk to finding appropriate technology solutions, through developing explicit relationships between capability and design parameters, thus facilitating fully informed trade studies and predictions. Case studies from the development of a civil tiltrotor aircraft are presented that show how the difficult challenges facing the designer first need to be structured in terms of HQ predictions and assignments. This then provides the basis on which handling qualities improvements can be constructed within the multidisciplinary context of rotorcraft engineering.

Evaluating control activity as a measure of workload in flight test

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
S. Jennings ◽  
G. Craig ◽  
Stephan Carignan ◽  
Kris Ellis ◽  
D. Thorndycraft Qinetiq
Keyword(s):  
Flight Test ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Handling Qualities ◽  
Subjective Workload ◽  
Workload Measurement ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Interface Modeling ◽  
Short Test ◽  
Cyclic Control

This paper describes an investigation of a workload measurement technique based on pilot control movements. The Dynamic Interface Modeling and Simulation System Product Metric (DIMSS PM) assumes that pilot control activity can be used to evaluate pilot workload. Three qualified test pilots flew the fly-bywire NRC Bell 205 helicopter in a short test program that compared the DIMSS PM with subjective workload ratings and handling qualities ratings. The pilots performed a variation of an ADS-33E bob-up with varying levels of simulated turbulence and modified cyclic control characteristics. Good agreement was found for most in-flight test conditions between DIMSS Workload Metric scores and subjective workload ratings from the Bedford Workload Scale and Cooper-Harper handling qualities ratings. While, the DIMSS Workload Metric did not accurately reflect workload increases due to variations in the cyclic stick characteristics, the metric shows promise as an objective measurement tool of pilot workload in well-defined tests.

On Aerodynamic Modelling and Simulation of the Dynamic Interface

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (5) ◽  
pp. 393-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Zan
Keyword(s):  
Flight Simulation ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Flight Tests ◽  
Simulation Fidelity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Lighting Conditions ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Flight Envelope ◽  
Initial Work ◽  
Aerodynamic Modelling

The past decade has seen significant advancements in modelling and simulation of the dynamic interface. The goal of the initial work in this area was to reduce the costs associated with first-of-class flight trials, and to deal with the backlog of aircraft-ship combinations for which flight-clearance envelopes were minimal or non-existent. A decade ago, piloted simulation of the dynamic interface appeared to be the obvious way to overcome these deficiencies. Validated models of fixed-wing and rotorcraft were in existence, and work began to combine these models with prescribed weather/lighting conditions (wind, rain, snow, fog, night, etc.), ship visuals, and motion. It had been envisioned that through the use of high-fidelity flight simulation, a test pilot could rapidly and safely determine the flight envelope boundaries without resorting to, or at least minimizing, flight trials. During the past decade, significant advancements in simulation fidelity did transpire due to increased computational power, an improved understanding of airwakes, and enhanced simulation capabilities. The article describes some of the fundamental and applied research that contributed to the improved fidelity, much of it gained in a collaborative fashion. To date, modelling and simulation technologies have not advanced to the state where they can replace flight tests to derive flight-clearance envelopes, but they have approached the point where they can augment flight tests and serve in a training capacity. The accrual of a training benefit has recently emerged and is a significant, though unplanned, dividend from the efforts directed towards flight-envelope prediction. This article sets out to examine some of the strengths and deficiencies of the current capabilities, and provides a discussion of the way forward. Modelling and simulation of the dynamic interface are discussed in a broad context, wherein they are defined to include non-piloted, non-real-time activities. The article will provide a critical review of many of these efforts to date, focusing primarily on aerodynamic issues. The article also discusses the challenges which are present for rotary-wing operations, for both small and large ships. It compares the environment in both cases and how that impacts the simulation requirements.

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