Visual Performance Evaluation of Helicopter Pilots in Vibrating Cockpit

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aykut Tamer ◽  
Andrea Zanoni ◽  
Alessandro Cocco ◽  
Pierangelo Masarati
Keyword(s):  
Reading Performance ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Instrument Panel ◽  
Multibody Model ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Seat Cushion ◽  
Vibratory Load ◽  
Helicopter Pilots ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Modular Analysis

Abstract Rotorcraft are known to suffer from relatively high levels of vibration as compared to their fixed-wing counterpart, due to exposure to significant vibratory load levels. Pilots usually operate in a vibrating cockpit, and hence can suffer from degradation of their instrument reading performance. Therefore, the expected level of degradation in visual performance should be estimated when there is room for design changes. The present work demonstrates the evaluation of visual vibration degradation of helicopter pilots using a modular analysis environment. Core elements are an aeroelastic helicopter model, a seat-cushion model, a detailed human biodynamics multibody model, and a simplified model of ocular dynamics, which are assembled into an overall model. The contribution of each component is examined using a figure of merit that includes both eye and instrument panel vibration.

scholarly journals A numerical study of vibration-induced instrument reading capability degradation in helicopter pilots

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aykut Tamer ◽  
Andrea Zanoni ◽  
Alessandro Cocco ◽  
Pierangelo Masarati
Keyword(s):  
Reading Ability ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Instrument Panel ◽  
Human Machine Interaction ◽  
Multibody Model ◽  
Instrument Reading ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Helicopter Pilots ◽  
Core Elements

AbstractRotorcraft suffer from relatively high vibratory levels, due to exposure to significant vibratory load levels originating from rotors. As a result, pilots are typically exposed to vibrations, which have non-negligible consequences. Among those, one important issue is the degradation of instrument reading, which is a result of complex human-machine interaction. Both involuntary acceleration of the eyes as a result of biodynamics and vibration of the instrument panel contribute to a likely reduction in instrument reading capability, affecting flight safety. Therefore, being able to estimate the expected level of degradation in visual performance may give substantial benefits during vehicle design, allowing to make necessary adjustments while there is room for design changes or when retrofitting an existing aircraft to ensure the modifications do not adversely affect visual acuity and instrument reading ability. For this purpose, simulation is a very valuable tool as a proper model helps to understand the aircraft characteristics before conducting flight tests. This work presents the assessment of vibration-induced visual degradation of helicopter pilots under vibration exposure using a modular analysis environment. Core elements of the suggested analysis framework are an aeroelastic model of the helicopter, a model of the seat-cushion subsystem, a detailed multibody model of the human biodynamics, and a simplified model of ocular dynamics. These elements are combined into a comprehensive, fully coupled model. The contribution of each element to instrument reading degradation is examined, after defining an appropriate figure of merit that includes both eye and instrument panel vibration, in application to a numerical model representative of a medium-weight helicopter.

Rotorcraft Pilot Impedance From Inverse Dynamics-Based Biomechanical Model

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Zanoni ◽  
Giuseppe Quaranta ◽  
Pierangelo Masarati
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Dynamics ◽  
Biomechanical Model ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Joint Torques ◽  
Multibody Model ◽  
Equivalent Impedance ◽  
Helicopter Pilots ◽  
Machine Interface ◽  
Muscular Activation

The involuntary interaction of the pilot with a vehicle is often an undesired consequence of the biomechanical properties of the human body and its relation with the layout of the man-machine interface. This work discusses how muscular activation patterns affect the variability of the equivalent impedance of helicopter pilots. A multibody model is used to compute the joint torques associated to a prescribed pilot task, which are then transformed into corresponding ‘optimal’ muscular activation patterns. Equivalent pilot impedance is obtained by consistently linearizing the constitutive model of the muscles about the reference activation. The effect on equivalent impedance of non-optimal activation, resulting from the addition of Torque-Less Activation Modes to the optimal activation, is evaluated and discussed.

Plasticity of fixation in patients with central vision loss

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 487-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUMINITA TARITA-NISTOR ◽  
ESTHER G. GONZÁLEZ ◽  
SAMUEL N. MARKOWITZ ◽  
MARTIN J. STEINBACH
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Biofeedback Training ◽  
Ocular Motor ◽  
Central Vision ◽  
Central Vision Loss ◽  
Fixation Stability ◽  
Ocular Motor Control

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore the plasticity of fixation in patients with central vision loss. Most of these patients use preferred retinal loci (PRLs) in the healthy eccentric part of the retina to fixate, but fixation stability and retinal location are not always optimal for best visual performance. This study examined whether fixation stability and a new PRL location can be trained and whether these changes in ocular motor control transfer into better reading performance. Six patients with age-related macular degeneration participated in the study. Fixation stability measurements, microperimetry, and auditory biofeedback training were performed with the MP-1 microperimeter. The auditory biofeedback was used during five 1-h long training sessions to improve fixation and relocate the PRL. Fixation location and stability were recorded while viewing four different targets: a cross, a letter, a word, and a nine-cycle radial grating. Visual acuity was assessed with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart and reading performance with the MNRead test. The results showed that all patients developed a new PRL in an optimal location for reading, and they were able to use it consistently while viewing different targets. Fixation stability improved 53% after training. Learning transferred to the old PRL even though fixation stability at this location was not trained. All these improvements in ocular motor control translated into better reading performance: reading speed improved 38% and reading acuity and critical print size gained two lines. We conclude that the ability of the ocular motor system to fixate is flexible in patients with central vision loss: a new PRL can be trained, fixation stability can be improved, and learning transfers to an untrained location. These gains in ocular motor control result in better visual performance. This property can be successfully used to optimize the residual vision of patients with central vision loss.

Effects of Instrument Panel Luminance and Chromaticity on Reading Performance and Preference in Simulated Driving

1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Imbeau ◽  
Walter W. Wierwille ◽  
Laurie D. Wolf ◽  
Gail A. Chun
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
Instrument Panel ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Reliable Effect ◽  
Character Size ◽  
Subjective Preference ◽  
Significant Performance ◽  
Per Se

Twenty-four subjects (men and women from three age groups) read aloud words presented on two displays emulating written legends on automobile instrument panels while driving a simulated vehicle in nighttime conditions. The words were presented in eight different chromaticities, two brightness levels, four character sizes, and two levels of word complexity. The results indicate that color of illumination per se had little effect on reading and driving performance but did have a reliable effect on subjective preference. Brightness had an effect on performance only for the two smaller character sizes. Character size had marked effects on both performance and subjective preferences. The two smaller character sizes yielded significant performance decrements for older drivers.

Methodological Considerations of Visual Workloads of Helicopter Pilots

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald R. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Accurate Data ◽  
Corneal Reflection ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Helicopter Pilots ◽  
Methodological Considerations ◽  
The U.S

This report was initiated to review the techniques and modifications developed by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory for assessing visual performance/workload of pilots during helicopter operations. Although the corneal reflection technique for gathering eye movement data is not new, innovative modifications had to be developed to permit accurate data collection in this flight environment. This study reports on these techniques, modifications, and applications.

Screen Color and Reading Performance on Closed–Circuit Television

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 569-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Low Vision ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Closed Circuit ◽  
Closed Circuit Television ◽  
Subjective Preference

To investigate whether screen color is an important variable in the prescription of CCTV systems, the author measured the visual performance of CCTV users on white, green, and amber screens. When the screen luminance and contrast were equated for each CCTV, the users’ reading performance was unaffected by the screen color. Although some individuals expressed a clear subjective preference or dislike for one color or another, there was no obvious link between the cause of low vision and preference for or aversion to that color.

Discriminant Validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP) for Identifying Children at Risk of Reading Difficulties

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padeliadu Susana ◽  
Georgios D. Sideridis
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Elementary School Students ◽  
Reading Difficulties ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Low Achievers ◽  
Children At Risk ◽  
School Students ◽  
Students At Risk ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean

Abstract This study investigated the discriminant validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP), a new scale designed to evaluate the reading performance of elementary-school students. The sample consisted of 181 elementary-school students drawn from public elementary schools in northern Greece using stratified random procedures. The TORP was hypothesized to measure six constructs, namely: “letter knowledge,” “phoneme blending,” “word identification,” “syntax,” “morphology,” and “passage comprehension.” Using standard deviations (SD) from the mean, three groups of students were formed as follows: A group of low achievers in reading (N = 9) including students who scored between -1 and -1.5 SD from the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored between -1.5 and -2 SDs below the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of serious reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored -2 or more SDs below the mean of the group. The rest of the students (no risk, N = 122) comprised the fourth group. Using discriminant analyses it was evaluated how well the linear combination of the 15 variables that comprised the TORP could discriminate students of different reading ability. Results indicated that correct classification rates for low achievers, those at risk for reading problems, those at risk of serious reading problems, and the no-risk group were 89%, 100%, 83%, and 97%, respectively. Evidence for partial validation of the TORP was provided through the use of confirmatory factor analysis and indices of sensitivity and specificity. It is concluded that the TORP can be ut ilized for the identification of children at risk for low achievement in reading. Analysis of the misclassified cases indicated that increased variability might have been responsible for the existing misclassification. More research is needed to determine the discriminant validation of TORP with samples of children with specific reading disabilities.

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