Pilot Spatial Orientation Research Articles

СЕНСОРНАЯ И ИНТЕРСЕНСОРНАЯ МОДЕЛЬ СИСТЕМЫ ПИЛОТ – ВОЗДУШНОЕ СУДНО

The paper provides an overview of the components of the pilot model used to design the flight control system which focuses on the physiological aspects and aspects of manual control. The structure of a multi-element system is used which allows the authors to reveal the totality of interaction between the pilot and the aircraft during the implementation of manual control. Manual control is the most difficult process when performing an aircraft flight and requires a lot of experience and high pilot skills. The sensory and intersensory models of the pilot–aircraft system are considered. The application of these models requires knowledge of the mechanisms and processes that are directly involved in the development of the pilot's spatial orientation when controlling the aircraft manually. The development of a method and a mathematical model for the formation of spatial orientation skills is an urgent task of scientific research.

Spatial Disorientation Impact on the Precise Approach in Simulated Flight.

BACKGROUND: The risks posed by flight illusions impacting pilot spatial orientation have been determined as a safety concern from numerous past aviation accident investigations. Early demonstration of the adverse effects of flight illusions on spatial orientation would be desirable for all pilots, especially at the early training stages to deeply embed good practices for onset detection, flight correction, and response mitigation.METHOD: Simulated flights on a disorientation demonstrator were performed by 19 pilots for 3 conditions: no illusion, somatogyral illusion, and Coriolis illusion. An objective approach for assessing pilot performance degradation due to flight illusions can be done by using a defined flight profile: instrument landing system (ILS) flight trajectory during final instrument approach. Deviations to the standard ILS profile were recorded to measure and evaluate the influence of the demonstrated flight illusion on pilot performance.RESULTS: The results show the expectation that the smallest deviations from the ideal trajectory are caused by pilot tracking error (no illusion), and the greatest deviations are caused by the Coriolis illusion. Results demonstrated a statistically significant effect of illusions on performance. According to statements from pilots, training for flight illusion response is essential to complement training in aircraft regulations and aerodynamics.DISCUSSION: Measuring the influence of vestibular illusions on flight profile with a simulator allows assessment of individual differences and improvement of pilot performance under the conditions of no illusion, the somatogyral illusion, and the Coriolis illusion.Boril J, Smrz V, Blasch E, Lone M. Spatial disorientation impact on the precise approach in simulated flight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):767775.

Selective Auditory Attention and Spatial Disorientation Cues Effect on Flight Performance.

INTRODUCTION: The auditory system is not as heavily involved in the pilot's spatial orientation as the visual and vestibular systems; however, it plays a significant role in the cockpit for communication and warning information. The aim of this research was to investigate the combined effect of selective auditory attention and simulator-induced spatial disorientation (SD) cues on pilots' flight performance. We hypothesized that the flight performance in both disoriented and oriented flight profiles would be impaired by selective auditory attention.METHODS: Using an SD simulator, 40 male military pilots (M = 31.9; SD = 7.41) were exposed to 12 flight sequences, where 6 contained a SD-conflict, 3 with motion illusions and 3 with visual illusions. The pilots performed a duration discrimination task (DDT) involving sound stimuli while completing these profiles under SD-conflict and nonconflict conditions.RESULTS: In five flight profiles tested, the DDT and SD cues increased the pilots' cognitive workload, adversely affecting their flight performance. In the approach and landing profiles involving visual illusions, significant differences between the control and DDT groups were found for both nonconflict and SD-conflict flight sequences, whereas differences were only significant between nonconflict and SD-conflict flights for the two vestibular SD profiles.DISCUSSION: The results obtained partially support our hypothesis that performing the DDT, even in the absence of SD-conflict, significantly affects pilots' flight performance. In some cases, despite the large increase in cognitive workload, pilots did not activate the "posture first" principle. Pilots should be trained not to respond to auditory stimuli until they have recovered their spatial orientation.Lewkowicz R, Stróżak P, Bałaj B, Francuz P, Augustynowicz P. Selective auditory attention and spatial disorientation cues effect on flight performance. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(11):976-984.

Spatial orientation of pilot using a cockpit exterior surveillance system

Spatial orientation of pilots using a cockpit exterior surveillance system was tested in real nighttime helicopter flights. Major factors complicating adequate spatial orientation and provoking visual illusions in pilots are lack of information for spatial depth (relation) perception in two-dimensional TV images altering their position along the horizontal and vertical lines of trajectory and simultaneous piloting and target search-identification operations. Reliability of pilot's spatial orientation could be improved by displaying on the exterior imaging screen also relevant flight navigation parameters.

Toward a Visual Flow Integrated Display Format to Combat Pilot Spatial Disorientation

Aiming to ascertain basic display guidelines for improved support of pilot spatial orientation (SO), the visual resonance with the perceptual mechanism for SO was explored in 2 experiments. Postural responses indicated the efficiency of visual cues to control proprioception and equilibrium sense. A display design is suggested that integrates the results with the concepts for an operational head-up display symbology. By means of improved perception of integrated pitch, roll, and yaw information and resonance of synthetic visual flow with the SO mechanism, the design may in the future contribute to combatting pilot spatial disorientation.

Influence of Alcoholic Beverages on the Vestibulo-Ocular Responses to Coriolis Stimulation

A pilot's spatial orientation may be compromised following an evening of drinking alcoholic beverages. Hangover effects induced a potentially hazardous condition for flying, in that skilled pilots showed a regression in their vestibular nystagmic responses to Coriolis accelerations.