Project Title:
Optimal Guidance with Obstacle Avoidance for NOE Flight
03.08-9191
Optimal Guidance with Obstacle Avoidance for NOE Flight
Theory & Applications Unlimited
10 Jackson Street, Suite 101
Los Gatos
CA
95030
Denton
Richard V.
NAS2-12402
Amount:
ARC
NAS2-12092
Abstract:
This project is developing automatic guidance for helicopter Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) flight. The guidance technology uses information from the onboard
sensors combined with an onboard digital map, when the digital map is available,
to result in safe low-altitude flight corridors. The guidance technology makes a
digital map truly useful to the pilot, while affording acceptable workload levels.
Such an integrated digital map/optimal NOE guidance system will revolutionize low-level
helicopter operational performance and its impact on crew workload.
The applicability of the concept has been sucessfully demonstrated through analysis,
through simulations, and through delivery of a videotape showing how well the low-altitude
NOE algorithm can be made to operate in real time.
Engineering feasibility will be established. The work continues with the algorithm
refinements, particularly in relating the rotorcraft equations of motion to the NOE
trajectory computation scheme. Ride quality consideration and pilot-vehicle interfaces
will also be treated. The refined algorithm will be implemented in an engineering
testbed that emulates the eventual operation in an airborne flight computer. Appropriate
display advisories and the flight control coupler design requirements will also be
addressed. This will result in a prototype design that meets pilot acceptability
criteria, and that will operate in real time.