Sidestick Controllers Research Articles

Redundant architecture design and Human-machine system analysis of active side stick control system

This paper describes the advantages and disadvantages and principle of passive side stick and active side stick respectively. A redundant architecture of active side stick control system is proposed according to top-level function and safety requirements. The control unit with active-standby control channels, which has dissimilar command-monitoring hardware, can significantly improve the safety performance. Finally, the high angle of attack protection and high-speed protection of active side stick control system has been tested on one civil aircraft simulation platform, and it proves that the active side stick control system can effectively realize the tactile and warning function of envelope protection.

Design and Research of a Model of a Pair Active Aircraft Control Sidesticks Operation in MATLAB

Development of an aircraft active sidestick control is an actual direction in modern flight control systems which allows to increase safety, to improve cabin ergonomics and to reduce the mass and weight of control levers. The article devoted to simulation modeling of a pair active sidesticks based on electromechanical actuators coupled by a frameless kinematic scheme, providing identical dynamic characteristics for the pitch and roll channels. MATLAB, Simulink, Simscape, with SimMechanics and SimPowerSystems libraries was used to create the mathematical model. Parameters such as moments of inertia was count based on the 3D model of the active sidestick. The complex model includes two active sidesticks units, three blocks as the input source ("Autopilot", blocks of the 1st and 2nd pilots), a block that compute a loading characteristic for the manual control mode and a block with logic for switching from automatic to manual mode. The model of each active sidestick unit consists of three main blocks: a regulator, an electric motor with a control system, and a block of mechanics. The regulator block includes a PID regulator and a PWM modulator. The electric motor unit includes a power source, a three-phase bridge inverter, a model of a brushless three-phase electric motor from the SimPowerSystems library and a power switch control unit. The mechanics block includes a planetary gearbox, hinge mechanism, handle, moments of inertia, a position sensor, a torsion rod equal to tension springs which are used in device, a nonlinear speed damper and a torque source unit, depending on the force applied by the pilot. Developed model makes it possible to get static and dynamic characteristics of the actuators, to check control algorithms to simulate operating modes in automatic and manual control, including piloting by both pilots at the same time and the interruption in automatic control mode. Including in model a " hold position block" allowed to simulate situation when in manual control mode the 1st pilot tries to hold the handle in a position that he considers correct, despite the intervention of the 2nd pilot. The simulation results showed that developed device meets specified requirements for the aircraft active sidesticks.

Fuzzy-PID side-stick force control for flight simulation

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we present a new force-feedback side-stick which has been developed and integrated into a research flight simulator. The developed 2 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) force-feedback joystick, as a kind of haptic device, provides two-way communication in both position and force, and allows users to interact with the simulation system. It has been designed by considering the main factors in designing a general use force-feedback device. Thus, the design must allow the restitution of aerodynamic forces onto the hand of the pilot. This is an important feature, which gives the pilot the ‘natural feel’ of traditional mechanical aircraft control. In order to provide the force feedback to enhance the realism of the simulation, we added the necessary software using Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) solutions (Microsoft Flight Simulator Software (MSFS)) and built-in data structure and methods. Thus, the main contribution of this paper concerns the design and implementation of an automatic controller based on fuzzy logic systems. It is not simply designing a force-feedback stick for flight simulation: we proposed a novel control principles and more importantly completely new approach to compute in real-time force feedback on the stick based on pilot knowledge that avoids the use of complex aerodynamics equations with unknown parameters. To our best knowledge, this work is the first to propose the integration of fuzzy logic force controller in flight simulation for creating force feedback. Results using the overall simulation are presented and evaluated and interesting sensations have been recorded.

A methodology for the model-based development of mechanical systems: application to the CSeriesside stick controller

This paper introduces a methodology for the model-based development of mechanical systems at the aircraft manufacturer level. The presented methodology is applied to the CSeries side stick controll...

Above-Real-Time Training (ARTT) Improves Transfer to a Simulated Flight Control Task

The aim of this study was to measure the effects of above-real-time-training (ARTT) speed and screen resolution on a simulated flight control task. ARTT has been shown to improve transfer to the criterion task in some military simulation experiments. We tested training speed and screen resolution in a project, sponsored by Defence Research and Development Canada, to develop components for prototype air mission simulators. For this study, 54 participants used a single-screen PC-based flight simulation program to learn to chase and catch an F-18A fighter jet with another F-18A while controlling the chase aircraft with a throttle and side-stick controller. Screen resolution was varied between participants, and training speed was varied factorially across two sessions within participants. Pretest and posttest trials were at high resolution and criterion (900 knots) speed. Posttest performance was best with high screen resolution training and when one ARTT training session was followed by a session of criterion speed training. ARTT followed by criterion training improves performance on a visual-motor coordination task. We think that ARTT influences known facilitators of transfer, including similarity to the criterion task and contextual interference. Use high-screen resolution, start with ARTT, and finish with criterion speed training when preparing a mission simulation.

Effect of Video-Game Experience and Position of Flight Stick Controller on Simulated-Flight Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of video-game experience and flight-stick position on flying performance. The study divided participants into 2 groups; center- and side-stick groups, which were further divided into high and low level of video-game experience subgroups. The experiment consisted of 7 sessions of simulated flying, and in the last session, the flight stick controller was switched to the other position. Flight performance was measured in terms of the deviation of heading, altitude, and airspeed from their respective requirements. Participants with high experience in video games performed significantly better (p < .001) than the low-experienced group. Also, participants performed significantly better (p < .001) with the center-stick than the side-stick. When the side-stick controller was switched to the center-stick position, performance scores continued to increase (0.78 %). However, after switching from a center- to a side-stick controller, performance scores decreased (4.8%).

A Fanciful Look at Air Carrier Operations in the Year 2050

Captain Lance Boyle smiled as he felt the smooth rippling thunk of the landing gear tires meeting the runway. Now that was how aircraft should land, not this vertical takeoff and landing nonsense employed by the newest "planes," still called that even though they didn't have wings at all. He eased forward on the side-stick controller slightly. The nose gear touched down and the strut compressed gently to give him a better view of the runway here at Los Angeles Air and Space Port. Captain Boyle continued the roll-out, pleased that his last landing in the "real world" had been a good one. Regretfully, there was no one else in the cockpit to congratulate him, since the Boeing-Bus 370, like all of the transport aircraft of its era, was a single pilot machine. Now the airplane, and the pilot as well, was being phased out, victims of the laws of economics and advancements in technology.

Evaluation of Hand-Dominance on Manual Control of Aircraft

In the transport aircraft community the non-dominant hand control of aircraft is the norm. This historical precedence may be biasing the cockpit designs of the newer fly-by-wire aircraft which utilize a small sidestick controller rather than a wheel-column. Very little data are available to determine what effect non-dominant hand control using small throw controllers has on the pilot operator. To provide such data, a part-task simulation study was undertaken. Three different compensatory tracking tasks were performed with both left and right hand-controllers. Six right-hand dominant and three left-hand dominant subjects performed all three tasks, with both controllers. The results indicate that performance degraded and workload increased when the pilots were forced to use their non-dominant hand.

Features of active sidestick controllers

This paper discusses the advantages of incorporating active sidesticks into a modern aircraft cockpit. Active sidestick controllers for manual pilot inputs in pitch and roll are examined for commercial transport aircraft. Options and requirements for sidesticks are reviewed. The recommendation of an active sidestick controller is developed providing both cross-cockpit coupling and autopilot backdrive capability. These characteristics provide pilot cues identical to traditional cable-linked column/yoke configurations.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

On the design of side-stick controllers in fly-by-wire aircraft

This paper presents the problem of designing the functional behaviour of the interaction between two side-stick controllers, an autopilot, and a flight control computer in a fly-by-wire aircraft. Two models are developed using the ISO formal description technique LOTOS, and analysed using rigorous abstract testing techniques.

Advanced flight control technology achievements at Boeing Helicopters

Over the last two decades, flight control system requirements have been in a state of transition. Rotary wing missions have become more demanding, requiring vehicle management systems capable of conducting highly aggressive missions under night/adverse-weather conditions in severe electromagnetic environments. The digital, fly-by-wire/optics control system technologies developed at Boeing Defense and Space Group, Helicopters Divison to meet these air vehicle requirements are covered. These technologies, which integrate digital multimode control laws and sidestick controllers within redundant-reconfigurable architectures, provide the rotorcraft capabilities required for the 21st century. The advances in flight control design, as developed during various technology demonstrator programmes, and applied in production of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor and the RAH-66 Comanche scout/attack helicopter, are summarized.

Analysis and design of sidestick controller systems for general aviation aircraft

A method to design sidestick controllers for general aviation aircraft with reversible flight controls is proposed. The use of a sidestick in this type of flight vehicle generally increases the stick forces required for maneuvering; this is due to a reduction in the moment arm of application of the force. In the present study, the reduction of stick forces is achieved by incorporating geared tabs in the control-surface design. A complete analysis using the rigid-body aircraft longitudinal equations of motion and stick-force equation in coupled form is carried out. Lateral stick forces are predicted by solving the single-degree-of-freedom roll approximation and aileron stick-force equations. Data are presented for configurations with various tab areas and a wide range of gearing ratios. The results indicate that the method can be used successfully for geared-tab design and stick-force prediction. It is shown that gearing-ratio selection is critical but that tab area does not have a significant impact on the magnitude of stick forces and stick force to stick deflection gradients.

A Review of the Effects of Side-Stick Controllers on Rotorcraft Handling Qualities

A Review of the Effects of Side-Stick Controllers on Rotorcraft Handling Qualities

Sidestick Control Evaluation Completed for Tilt‐Rotor Aircraft

THE NASA/Army XV‐15 Tilt‐Rotor Research Aircraft, with a sidestick controller installed, has been flown successfully with the aircraft's stability control system both operative and inoperative. The 9‐day flight evaluation took place at NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.

Simulator Investigations of Side‐Stick Controller/Stability and Control Augmentation Systems for Night Nap‐of‐Earth Flight

Several night nap-of-the-earth mission tasks were evaluated using a helmet-mounted display which provided a limited field-of-view image with superimposed flight control symbology. A wide range of stability and control augmentation designs was investigated. Variations in controller force-deflection characteristics and the number of axes controlled through an integrated side-stick controller were studied. In general, a small displacement controller is preferred over a stiffstick controller particularly for maneuvering flight. Higher levels of stability augmentation were required for IMC tasks to provide handling qualities comparable to those achieved for the same tasks conducted under simulated visual flight conditions. Previously announced in STAR as N82-23216