Visual Simulation

Flight Simulation

Advances in computer, visual display, motion and force cueing and other technologies in the past two decades have had a dramatic effect on the design and use of simulation technology in aviation and other fields. The effective use of technology in training, safety investigation, engineering and scientific research requires an understanding of its capabilities and limitations. As the technology has as its primary goal the creation of virtual environments for human users, knowledge of human sensory, perceptual, and cognitive functioning is also needed. This book provides a review and analysis of the relevant engineering and science supporting the design and use of advanced flight simulation technologies. It includes chapters reviewing key simulation areas such as visual scene, motion, and sound simulation and a chapter analyzing the role of recreating the pilot's task environment in the overall effectiveness of simulators. The design and use of flight simulation are addressed in chapters on the effectiveness of flight simulators in training and on the role of physical and psychological fidelity in simulator design. The problems inherent in the ground-based simulation of flight are also reviewed as are promising developments in flight simulation technology and the important role flight simulators play in advanced aviation research. The readership includes: flight simulation engineers and designers, human factors researchers and practitioners, aviation safety investigators, flight training management and instructors, training and instructional technologists, virtual environment design community, and regulatory authorities.

Flight Simulation

Although the complexity and capability of flight simulators have matched the growth of aerospace technology, there has until now been no textbook dealing specifically with the design and construction of flight simulators. This is a primary purpose of Flight Simulation. Written in collaboration with a number of internationally known specialists, the book considers the subject in three sections. Firstly it introduces the concept of simulation in order to identify the essential elements which make up the modern flight simulator. The development of these elements is also traced through the historical evolution of flight simulation. The main section of the book commences with an exposition of the mathematical models into dynamic physical devices capable of representing the response of a specific aircraft and its systems. The simulation of the flight environment is also covered in relation to cockpit motion systems and methods of representing the external visual scene. Another important aspect of simulation, the design of instructor and operating stations, is given separate attention. The final section considers the application of flight simulation to research and training and concludes with an appraisal of future prospects and developments.

Flight Simulators