Boundary Avoidance Tracking: Consequences of Imposed Boundaries on Pilot-Aircraft Performance

By Ryan D. Blake

This thesis presents the results of research into the Boundary Avoidance Tracking (BAT) theory, which states that often pilots control an aircraft not in an attempt to maintain some condition, but to avoid some real or perceived boundaries. This pilot modeling concept was studied using over 30 pilots in simulator and flight tests. The pilot-aircraft system was evaluated with 3 different lateral-directional control models. Pilots were given a roll angle tracking task in the presence of shrinking boundaries. Pilots were also given a secondary task in some of the profiles in order to measure workload. Approximately 42 hours of simulation and 10 test flights were accomplished. The simulations were conducted in the Infinity Cube simulator and the Large Amplitude Multi-mode Aerospace Research Simulator (LAMARS) at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Flight test sorties were flown on the NF-16D Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA). The mathematical BAT model was compared to the flight test data in order to confirm the theory and validate the model. In addition, a correlation between pilot performance during these tasks and pilot opinion of the aircraft was studied.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1288398166
• ISBN13: 9781288398164
• Release Date: December 2012
• Publisher: Biblioscholar
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.4" x 9.7"