Human Orientation Model for Spatial Disorientation Countermeasures

The goal of this effort is to model human perceptual orientation in a way that it can, as part of the flight control system, alert pilots to various spatial disorientation (SD) conditions. NTI will survey existing models and develop a recommendeduniversal model of how the human perceive motion in the maneuvering environment. The model will then be embedded into an advanced desktop flight simulator (the Flight-Performance Assessment Simulation System -- F-PASS), which simulates the F-16 aircraftwith exceptional fidelity. Because F-PASS provides accurate data on the aircraft position and state, it will enable us to generate flight conditions in the simulator, and integrate these with the human model. This will permit simultaneous display of: 1)the position of the aircraft in space, and 2) the human's modeled perception of the aircraft. Pilots will be able to view SD conditions repeatedly, and fly into known SD situations to see the discrepancy between their expected perceptions and actualconditions. PhaseII will propose final development of the system, as well as ultimate installation in the centrifuge, allowing the pilot to actually experience and graphically see the disorientation. Ultimately, the system will provide the basis forinstallation in actual aircraft.The system to be developed here will serve as a training, research, and operational countermeasure to SD. As such, it has applicability far beyond the obvious fighter aircraft community. SD accounts for nearly 35% ofprivate and commercial aircraft accidents. Therefore, the product will be of considerable interest to the FAA, airlines, light aircraft manufacturers, and to foreign governments.