N161-056 TITLE: Intuitive, High Confidence Human-Machine Interface Symbology for Carrier Landing

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: INP LA-CNR: Sea-based Automated Landing Recovery System (SALRS)

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate Head-Up/Helmet-Mounted Display symbology for pilots to perform tactical jet landings on an aircraft carrier in highly degraded visibility and deck motion conditions, using advanced flight control augmentation and precision ship-relative navigation.

DESCRIPTION: Carrier tactical aircraft such as F/A-18E/F/G and F-35C have highly augmented flight control systems for carrier landing which enable reduced workload. They also have precision ship-relative navigation capabilities in operation as well as some in development. However, pilot displays remain antiquated, using 3 different approach navigation symbol sets, some dating to the 50's and 60's (az-el bars). In order to exploit their automated capabilities in all conditions, advanced, intuitive head-up display (HUD) symbology is needed that provides continuous situational awareness and flight guidance information to the pilot. Ideally this symbology would provide sufficient guidance and confidence to fly all the way to touchdown without outside visual cues. The display must be easily interpretable, matching display dynamics with aircraft dynamics and flight control, and provide high confidence situational awareness, including ship deck motion and landing area dimensions. It must also be compatible with existing HUD displays which are used throughout the flight envelope, to avoid any disorienting or difficult to learn transformations when transitioning from mission operations to landing approach.

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design for a head-up display a pilot can use to fly a tactical jet aircraft to a carrier landing without use of outside visual cues. Demonstrate a preliminary version of the display in a piloted simulation. The simulation should be representative of an F/A-18E/F type aircraft and a US Navy aircraft carrier with a moving flight deck. Assume that a precision guidance system is available so that the aircraft knows precisely where it is relative to the ship, and what the carrier flight deck motion is. The aircraft should fly a standard Case III (straight-in) approach to landing. Show feasibility of flying precision approaches and landings in conditions of reduced and zero visibility, with low pilot workload.

PHASE II: Continue development of the HUD display based upon Phase I effort. Demonstrate capability in a high fidelity piloted flight simulation, using an aircraft closely representative of the F/A-18E/F, and a U.S. aircraft carrier. Include conditions up to sea state 6 and zero visibility. Conduct an experiment using Navy pilots and the F/A-18E/F flight simulator at the NAS Patuxent River Manned Flight Simulator facility, or a similar facility. Show that landings can be conducted using the advanced HUD display in zero visibility that are equal to or better than those conducted using current displays in good visibility. Metrics for this performance comparison are: accuracy in maintaining glideslope and lineup, accuracy on touchdown, and reduction in scatter on sink rate at touchdown. Show also that pilots who are otherwise qualified to fly the aircraft can learn to use the display to conduct landings with minimal additional training.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Integrate the HUD display into a test aircraft representative of an F/A-18 at NAS Patuxent River, or a similar facility. Conduct flight tests during shore based simulated carrier landings. Assist the Navy with transitioning the HUD display into its intended platform(s). Commercial aircraft continue to develop capabilities to land in reduced visibility conditions. This HUD symbology could also be applied to passenger and freight carrying commercial air carriers.

REFERENCES:

1. NAVAIR 01-F14AAD-1 NATOPS Flight Manual Navy Model F-14D Aircraft, 1 February 1997, figure 2-94 "HUD Added Symbology"

2. Merrick, V., Farris, G, Vanags, A., NASA Technical Memorandum 102216, January 1990, "A Head Up Display for Application to V/STOL Aircraft Approach and Landing"

KEYWORDS: aircraft; carrier; landing; display; symbology; degraded visual environment

TPOC-1: John Kinzer

Email: [email protected]

TPOC-2: Amy Bolton

Email: [email protected]

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