Virtual Reality for Training Hazardous Helicopter Tasks

Virtual Reality for Training Hazardous Helicopter Tasks

Lochlan Magee & Franklin Lue

DRDC Toronto

Defence Research andDevelopment Canada

Recherche et développementpour la défense Canada Canada

Defence R&D Canada • R & D pour la défense Canada

Deck Landing


Objectives

• Find an effective, affordable solution for training helicopter deck-landing skills

• Establish simulations and technologies applicable to other helicopters and demanding flight tasks

• Transition technology to CF & Canadian Industry


Exploratory Developments

Two models

• State-of-the-art components

• Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components


State-of-the-art approach

Developed for DRDC Toronto by theUniversity of Toronto Institutefor Aerospace Studies (UTIAS)


Component technologies

• High resolution, stereo FOHMD• MaxView IG• Hydrostatic, 6 dof

motion base• McFadden control

loaders


Video Presentation


Reverse transfer of training

Methods• 24 CF helicopter pilots (12 Sea King)• 50 deck landings each• Ship-helicopter operational limits• No quiescent period• No aids, no instruction• Limited feedback


Predictions

• On first exposure, Sea King pilots should land the helicopter in the trap more frequently than non-Sea King pilots

• Non-Sea King pilots should improve with practice while Sea King pilots do not


Results

• Both groups performed poorly at first, but

• Sea King pilots rapidly adapted to the simulator and showed no improvement with practice

• non-Sea King pilots steadily improved with practice


COTS approach

Developed at DRDC Toronto


Component technologies

• Low cost HMD

• General purpose image generator

• Electric, 6 dof motion base

• Seat vibrators

• Springs for control loading


Video Presentation


Inter-simulator transfer of training

Methods• 12 CF helicopter pilots

(not Sea King)• 40 deck landings at DRDC

Toronto• 40 deck landings at UTIAS• all other experimental conditions identical


Predictions

• the pilots should steadily improve with practice

• they should do better than the prior group of non-Sea King pilots when they first fly the SOA simulator


Results

• the pilots steadily improved with practice using the COTS simulator

• their learning curve was unbroken when they transferred to the SOA simulator

• they performed better than both prior groups (Sea King and non-Sea King) on their first encounter with the SOA simulator


Findings of laboratory-based testing

• The SOA simulator allowed Sea King pilots to demonstrate skills they had acquired at sea

• Both simulators provided opportunity for inexperienced pilots to learn

• The COTS approach affords a viable alternative for providing the sensory cues needed to perform the task


Helicopter Deck Landing Simulator (HDLS)

• Advanced development model

• Instructional features

• Full control of the scenario

• Day & night

• Free-deck & haul-down landings

• Networked simulation


LSO Simulator


Technology Transfer

• CFB Shearwater

• Atlantis Systems International HVT

• Jet Ranger


Jet Ranger Simulator

Testing

• Multi-use

• Two seat operation

• Generality of results• Auto-rotations


Video Presentation

Documents

Virtual Reality for Training Hazardous Helicopter Tasks