EVALUATION OF A MULTI-AXIS DYNAMIC CUEING SEAT FOR USE IN
HELICOPTER TRAINING DEVICES
I Greig,
Control & Simulation Department, Defence Research Agency,
Bedford , United Kingdom
ABSTRACT
Distributed real-time simulation technology has the potential to bring substantial benefits to team-training, where
many combatants (real systems, man-in-the-loop simulators or computer generated forces) can interact in complex
tactical environments. In order to ensure a ‘fair fight’, simulation participants require similar levels of cueing
fidelity. However, the cost of providing high fidelity cueing environments to all simulation participants will be
prohibitively high. One potential source of cost saving is the use of dynamic crew seats to provide representative
motion cueing. Electrically or hydraulically powered multi-axis dynamics seats can potentially provide effective
motion cues with significant savings in purchase and life-cycle costs compared to traditional motion cueing systems,
while also improving portability and deployability.
This paper presents the results of research sponsored by UK MOD to quantify the benefits of dynamic seats for a
variety of helicopter nap-of-the-earth flying tasks. Objective and subjective measures of task performance were used to
compare an experimental multi-axis dynamic seat (the Advanced Multi-Axis Cueing Seat or AMACS) with fixed-
base and high fidelity motion cueing environments.
The research shows that AMACS provides significant improvements in task performance with a more realistic pilot
workload when compared to a non-motion cueing environment. They have also been found to increase subjective
realism and pilot involvement in the simulation, thus improving pilot acceptance of the simulator and potentially
improving training effectiveness. Dynamic seats are therefore capable of adding significant training value to devices
which traditionally have not benefited from motion cues, while adding little to their cost and complexity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author has worked for DRA Bedford (formerly RAE) for six years on a range of simulation based activities.
Work undertaken has fallen into three main areas : conceptual guidance systems studies; handling qualities and
control law assessment for future aircraft; and simulation technology development and assessment. He is currently
managing three main research projects : simulation evaluation of enhanced and synthetic vision systems for
autonomous landing guidance; UK air synthetic forces for Synthetic Theatre Of War ’97 (STOW’97); and the use of
multi-axis dynamic seats for helicopter training devices.
British Crown Copyright, 1996/DERA
Published with the permission of the Controller of Her Britannic Majesty’s Stationary Office
