Delta3D was used to create an application for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine whether Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) utilization by helicopter pilots conducting simultaneous non-interfering (SNI) routes will improve safety and enable more efficient use of national airspace system.
This study attempts to help define optimal operating and training procedures for conducting SNI routes with GPS by studying pilot's scan patterns and navigation performance based on data collected in flight. Further, this study attempted to compare pilot scan patterns and navigation performance in real and simulated environments to determine if simulation is a viable framework for future study of helicopter pilot's use of GPS on SNI routes.
This experiment was divided into two phases. The initial phase involved constructing a route, refining data collection equipment and procedures and collecting in-flight data. This phase involved flight data collection in Tullahoma Tennessee. The second phase of the experiment involved creating a virtual replica of the actual aircraft and test environment. "Virtual Tullahoma" was created at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California.
The image display hardware system was a CAVE (CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment) consisting of three rear-projected screen and projector support structures arranged in a "U" shape. A mock cockpit is positioned on a raised platform facing the center screen. This results in 180 degree viewing angles for the virtual pilot.
