Flight Simulator’s Energy Consumption Depending on the Conditions of the Air Operation

Protection of the natural environment is a key activity driving development in the transport discipline today. The use of simulators to train civil aviation pilots provides an excellent opportunity to maintain the balance between efficiency and limit the negative impact of transport on the environment. Therefore, we decided to determine the impact of selected simulations of air operations on energy consumption. The aim of the research was to determine the energy consumption of the flight simulator depending on the type of flight operation and configuration used. We also decided to compare the obtained result with the energy consumption of an aircraft of a similar class, performing a similar aviation operation and other means of transport. In order to obtain the results, a research plan was proposed consisting of 12 scenarios differing in the simulated aircraft model, weather conditions and the use of the simulator motion platform. In each of the scenarios, energy consumption was measured, taking into account the individual components of the simulator. The research showed that the use of a flight simulator has a much smaller negative impact on the natural environment than flying in a traditional plane. Use of a motion platform indicated a change in energy consumption of approximately 40% (in general, flight simulator configuration can change energy consumption by up to 50%). The deterioration of weather conditions during the simulation caused an increase in energy consumption of 14% when motion was disabled and 18% when motion was enabled. Energy consumption in the initial stages of pilot training can be reduced by 97% by using flight simulators compared to aircraft training.

Benchmarking cEEGrid and Solid Gel-Based Electrodes to Classify Inattentional Deafness in a Flight Simulator

Transfer from experiments in the laboratory to real-life tasks is challenging due notably to the inability to reproduce the complexity of multitasking dynamic everyday life situations in a standardized lab condition and to the bulkiness and invasiveness of recording systems preventing participants from moving freely and disturbing the environment. In this study, we used a motion flight simulator to induce inattentional deafness to auditory alarms, a cognitive difficulty arising in complex environments. In addition, we assessed the possibility of two low-density EEG systems a solid gel-based electrode Enobio (Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) and a gel-based cEEGrid (TMSi, Oldenzaal, Netherlands) to record and classify brain activity associated with inattentional deafness (misses vs. hits to odd sounds) with a small pool of expert participants. In addition to inducing inattentional deafness (missing auditory alarms) at much higher rates than with usual lab tasks (34.7% compared to the usual 5%), we observed typical inattentional deafness-related activity in the time domain but also in the frequency and time-frequency domains with both systems. Finally, a classifier based on Riemannian Geometry principles allowed us to obtain more than 70% of single-trial classification accuracy for both mobile EEG, and up to 71.5% for the cEEGrid (TMSi, Oldenzaal, Netherlands). These results open promising avenues toward detecting cognitive failures in real-life situations, such as real flight.

Verification in Relevant Environment of a Physics-Based Synthetic Sensor for Flow Angle Estimation

In the area of synthetic sensors for flow angle estimation, the present work aims to describe the verification in a relevant environment of a physics-based approach using a dedicated technological demonstrator. The flow angle synthetic solution is based on a model-free, or physics-based, scheme and, therefore, it is applicable to any flying body. The demonstrator also encompasses physical sensors that provide all the necessary inputs to the synthetic sensors to estimate the angle-of-attack and the angle-of-sideslip. The uncertainty budgets of the physical sensors are evaluated to corrupt the flight simulator data with the aim of reproducing a realistic scenario to verify the synthetic sensors. The proposed approach for the flow angle estimation is suitable for modern and future aircraft, such as drones and urban mobility air vehicles. The results presented in this work show that the proposed approach can be effective in relevant scenarios even though some limitations can arise.

Creation and analysis of a flight attendant platform

Flight simulators have been used for a long time to train pilots of any type of aircraft. This type of training is more economical. The flight simulator improves control skills in extreme situations with minimal risks for the future pilot. Training on a flight simulator makes it possible to reproduce adverse weather conditions at any time. The pilot is on the ground in a special cockpit, which is mounted on a movable platform. This system is needed to ensure flight conditions as close to real as possible. The subject of the research in the article is an aviation simulator on the Stewart platform. The aim is to create and analyze an flight simulator platform using software. The paper presents the already existing flight simulator and its characteristics. Taking into account its dimensions and weight, the platform is modeled in SolidWorks. The kinematic diagram of the type design (6-6) is selected and presented. The basic equation of dynamics for calculating platform motion law for given values of the control forces is given. Also using this equation it is possible to find the controlling forces knowing the law of motion. The developed 3D model consists of two platforms, a movable and a stationary one. The legs with automatically variable length are attached to the platform using hinges. Selected material aluminum alloy type 2024 from which the platform is created. Selected material aluminum alloy type 2024 from which the platform is created. Static analysis of the loaded platform was performed. By loaded platform is meant that in the places where the simulator and the pi-lot's seat are installed, loads equal in weight to the simulator and the maximum weight of the seat with the pilot are applied. The anal-ysis includes such epurfaces: loads to assess whether the structure can support a given weight, displacement, deformation, safety margins and a Design Insight plot to evaluate design details. Identification of elements that are most likely to start collapsing under the weight of the simulator. The research was performed using SolidWorks Simulation software. Based on the data obtained from the plot, conclusions were made about the performance and safety of the developed platform.

The use of the X-Plane flight simulator and SimInTech environment in the educational process during the practical lesson "Flight data processing"

During training sessions at an aviation university, it is advisable to demonstrate samples of aviation equipment, individual elements of systems and assemblies, or use specialized stands and posters. However, when conducting classes remotely, not all of these materials can be used, since it is not always possible to show them in dynamics and thus ensure the formation of a clear idea of students about the object being studied. The article considers an example of using a flight simulator in the educational process as a means of visualizing aviation equipment during a practical lesson "Flight data processing". Visual perception of the materials of objective control does not give a complete understanding of the dynamics of the aircraft flight, its attitude while executing pilotage and aerobatics elements, therefore, it is necessary to demonstrate the performance of flight elements with the simultaneous display of flight parameters in a graphical form. For this purpose, the X-Plane flight simulator is used, for interaction with which a project has been developed in the SimInTech environment that implements data exchange for flight control of an aircraft model and registration of parametric information for its further analysis. Schemes for simulating the operation of on-board recording devices are described. The ways of solving the tasks are described. The possibility of using the developed projects for remote training of aviation specialists, as well as the implementation of the results obtained in the educational process of aviation universities, is indicated.

The modeling of a Tokamak plasma discharge, from first principles to a flight simulator

A newly developed tool to simulate a tokamak full--discharge is presented. The tokamak "flight--simulator" Fenix couples the tokamak control system with a fast and reduced plasma model, yet realistic enough to take into account several of the plasma non--linearities. Distinguishing feature of this modeling tool is that it only requires the Pulse Schedule (PS) as input to the simulator. The output is a virtual realization of the full discharge, which time traces can then be used to judge if the PS satisfies control/physics goals or needs to be revised. This tool is thought for routine use in the control--room before each pulse is performed, but can also be used off--line to correct PS in advance, or to develop and validate reduced models, control schemes, and in general the simulation framework.