Evaluation of the LATHOS database using a biomechanical pilot model

Abstract

Translatory and rotatory accelerations resulting from aircraft motions or structural vibrations of the airframe exert inertial forces on the pilot's limbs and the inceptor. These inertial forces can influence the pilot's control behavior and lead to roll ratcheting. This aircraft-pilot coupling phenomenon is typified by rapid neutrally damped or unstable roll oscillations. An aircraft-pilo t loop which consists of a biomechanical pilot model and a model of the augmented aircraft can be utilized to investigate roll ratcheting numerically by analyzing the stability of this control loop. In previous studies promising biomechanical pilot models were developed for this purpose. With the intention to select the pilot model best suited for the roll ratcheting prediction these pilot models are assessed on the basis of the LATHOS database in this paper. The resulting consistency between the pilot comments and the numerical roll ratcheting prediction is shown. Finally the "best" pilot model is applied to find out the cause of the roll ratcheting phenomenon.