Investigations on the Workload-Buildup Flight Test Technique: Dynamics, Displays and Task Variations

Kurzfassung

The investigation of aircraft handling qualities is one of the most important fields of research to ensure a safe flight under all conditions. In this context, a new flight test technique is currently under investigation by Mrs. Ina Niewind at the German aerospace center (DLR). This technique is called workload build-up flight test technique and is based on a recent theory, which was first introduced in 2004 by Mr. Gray, an instructor of the USAFTPS. The flight test technique is a method which adds limitations on a conventional point tracking task. These limitations must not be exceeded. As a consequence, two different tasks have to be considered. The pilot was introduced to track the point tracking task properly and stay within the limits. The test point is terminated when the pilot exceeds a boundary. Regarding this flight test technique, a first simulation campaign in 2010 was realized by Mrs. Niewind (DLR). One of the lessons learned from this study was the fact that the combination of aircraft dynamics and tracking task leaves room for improvement. In addition, an investigation of different display designs appeared to be beneficial. The campaign also shows that the workload build-up flight test technique has potential for variations. This Master Thesis seized on these suggestions and investigated different aspects of aircraft dynamics, tracking tasks, display designs and modifications of the WLB FTT. In this context, a set of four agile and four sluggish aircraft dynamics was considered. To evaluate suitable dynamics for further pilot-in-the-loop research, a simulation campaign with five test pilots of the German air force was performed. In order to find a suitable target movement, a set of four different sum of sines tracking tasks was developed and evaluated within the same simulation campaign. Furthermore, an investigation on different display designs was performed and their effects on pilot tracking performance were conducted. In the frame of a third simulator study different variations of the workload build-up flight test technique were investigated and their potential for further research was evaluated. These variations include different boundary visualizations, different task variations and boundary exceedance warnings.