NASA Ames Research Center's SimLabs facilities (the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), the Crew-Vehicle Systems Research Facility (CVSRF), FutureFlight Central (FFC)), and the air traffic control simulation laboratories, supported numerous Aeronautics experiments as well as studies for outside customers investigating a diverse array of human-piloted vehicles and systems.
Left, Apollo Lunar Exploration Module (LEM); Right, Head Down Display showing LEM with respect to landing site two overlaid on topographical map with yellow fuel contour reference lines
Studies on the Supervisory Control of a Lunar Lander (SCoLL) experiment continued into FY 2013 with the third and final experiment phase that used an Apollo-like Lunar Lander to measure the landing performance of participants under various levels of automation. The research goals were to evaluate pilots' supervisory control performance of landing on the lunar surface as they adapt to spacecraft failures, secondary tasks, and different spacecraft control modes. The simulation ran for two weeks in February 2013 and eleven participants performed 777 maneuvers. The initial results from the previous experiments shows the level of automation can significantly reduce pilot workload resulting in faster pilot response times. This final experiment explored how workload affects the pilot's ability to detect various failures. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Draper Laboratory and MIT.
Simulator cockpit view
The VMS also hosted seventeen test pilots over four weeks in June 2013, in an experiment investigating the effects of control system augmentation on handling qualities and task performance in different visual environments for small helicopters. The main objective of the Good Visual Environments/Degraded Visual Environments (GVE/DVE) Handling Qualities (HQ) Simulation was to assess and quantify the benefits of increased control augmentation on a partial authority flight control architecture with a focus on civil medical evacuation missions in DVE. The test pilots performed 1466 maneuvers in this collaborative study between the NASA Rotary Wing Project and the US Army.
Quiet and Efficient Flight Operations Experiment used both the Boeing 747-400 and 737-800W simulators at the NASA Ames Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility (CVSRF)
In support of the Aviation Safety Program (System-wide Safety Assurance and Technologies (SSAT) Project) in February 2013, the CVSRF hosted researchers from the Boeing Company working with NASA Ames Research Center in a collaborative evaluation of Quiet and Efficient Flight Operation. This series of experiments, utilizing the Boeing 747-400 cab and the Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator’s Boeing 737-800W simulation model, supports Boeing’s efforts to validate and improve flight performance predictions for arrivals and departures, which are at the heart of the process to assess community noise impact, emissions, and terminal area capacity. Highly qualified airline pilots participated in the study to maximize the realism. The value of the acquired data will be multiplied through further analysis by researchers at NASA's System-wide Safety Assurance and Technologies (SSAT) Project, who will use both nominal and off-nominal flight scenarios to enhance NASA data mining capabilities for anomaly detection, and to also validate fuel consumption models for transport aircraft.
FFC refocused development activities to support testing the Spot and Runway Departure Advisor (SARDA), a significant component of airport surface scheduling research under the Airspace Systems Program, to investigate the applicability of this technology for operations at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) in collaboration with US Airways. Significant development is required to incorporate Ramp area operations in the simulation software and develop a realistic and detailed visual scene of the CLT airport. Initial testing of this capability is expected in the first quarter of FY14 with formal simulations in the second quarter.
In July 2013, NASA Ames Research Center and the State of Alaska, along with the University of Alaska, the Canadian airship association ISO Polar, and the Airship Association co-sponsored the Third Cargo Airships for Northern Operations Workshop at the University of Alaska, Anchorage campus. SimLabs personnel collaborated with the Alaska Department of Transportation to organize the workshop. The 2013 workshop focused on specific actions needed to create strong business incentives for cargo airship companies to develop and deploy airships that meet the needs of airship service customers in Alaska and other Northern areas. The Keynote speaker, Alaska Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell, observed that the challenge of Alaska is affordable access for its scattered population and remote resources. Dr. Alan Weston, NASA Ames Director of Programs provided introductory remarks via video presentation. NASA Ames Research Center's Mr. Bimal Aponso, Chief of SimLabs Branch and Dr. John Melton of the Systems Analysis Branch outlined the dynamic and control issues with large airships and highlighted the computer modeling capabilities of NASA Ames Research Center for airship designs and operations. Speakers from Native American Corporations and the rural energy development industry described their transportation challenges and how they would utilize cargo airships in their businesses. Leading cargo airship developers provided an update on their commercial airship designs and operational details for ships they are currently developing. Representatives from the non-governmental investment organizations detailed the extent to which they would be able to provide financing for cargo airship purchases by operators, and also for construction of airship infrastructures such as maintenance hangars. The 2013 cargo airship workshop initiated follow-up discussions to identify concrete actions by local organizations that would create incentives for investors to fund airship development and infrastructure creation in Alaska.
NASA booth
Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell
Conference organizers Ron Hochstettler (SAIC) and Mary Livingston (NASA)
State Senator Hon. Lesil McGuire
Once again, SimLabs performed an outstanding outreach service for the entire Agency, conducting 325 tours for over 3000 total visitors over its major simulation facilities and participating in Center and community outreach events.
SimLabs staff from the Aerospace Simulation Branch (code AFS) staffed a booth at the “Celebrate Ames” Barbeque picnic on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. The technical staff from AFS spoke to visitors and showcased videos demonstrating the SimLabs flight simulation facilities – the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), the Crew-Vehicle Systems Research Facility (CVSRF) and FutureFlight Central (FFC).
