Assessment of Flight Simulator Fidelity in Multiaxis Tasks Including Visual Cue Quality

A technique for analytical assessment of flight simulator fidelity is presented as an extension of a methodology previously introduced in the literature. The assessment is based on a computer simulation of the pilot and vehicle and is inherently task dependent. A simple model of visual cue quality is introduced that is based on the classical concept of human operator visual remnant. The complete assessment procedure now includes proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual cue modeling. Inverse dynamic analysis is employed that allows the use of compensatory models of the human pilot in multiaxis tasks. The methodology is exercised by considering a simple rotorcraft lateral and vertical repositioning task in which visual and motion cue quality is varied.