A theory for describing the manner in which aircraft dynamic characteristics determine pilot opinion ratings of aircraft handling qualities is discussed. The theory centers upon the role of pilot rate feedback in continuous tracking. A structural model of the human pilot is used to quantify the amount of rate feedback the pilot is required to use in the control of an aircraft in a specific task. Using the model, 35 vehicle configurations that have been evaluated in manned simulation are analyzed. The tasks range from simple single axis, single-loop pitch attitude tracking to precision hover and landing approach, in which control of both vehicle position and attitude are required. The manner in which control system sensitivity affects pilot opinion rating is also investigated. The rate feedback theory is supported by the results of the model-based analyses, where it is shown that the mean square value of the rate feedback signal in the model correlates with the pilot opinion ratings obtained from experiment.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ronald A. Hess (1989) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: