The use of inverse simulation for preliminary assessment of helicopter handling qualities

Abstract

This paper describes a method for using inverse simulation to obtain a preliminary assessment of helicopter handling qualities. Formal descriptions of standard manoeuvres, defined to establish the handling qualities of military helicopters, are used to drive an inverse simulation of a subject helicopter. The simulation generates the controls and states of the helicopter as it executes the manoeuvre and the results may be used to calculate values of quickness, a parameter defined to measure responsiveness. Initial results reveal that in the context of inverse simulation quickness is independent of vehicle configuration when, as specified in the requirements, the quickness is based on the helicopter's kinematic states. An alternative quickness parameter, associated with the control displacements required to fly the manoeuvre is shown to be capable of discriminating between the pilot workload involved in flying two different configurations through the same manoeuvre.

A Novel Inverse Simulation Method of Helicopter Maneuvering Flight

“…If a certain limit is reached, it indicates that the aircraft's ultimate maneuvering ability has been reached. The inverse simulation can also be used in the conceptual design of aircraft, to identify deficiencies in the design proposals during preliminary assessment [2]. Some other aspects of research, such as the flying quality evaluation [3], flying trajectory optimization [4], maneuvering strategies optimization [5], and flight dynamics characteristics [6], etc., can be conducted using the inverse simulation.…”

“…However, the techniques required to achieve inverse simulation only came into early use in practical engineering in the mid-1980s, when a practical method of inverse simulation for studying helicopter agility was developed by Thomson and Bradley [10]. Their method was capable of simulating a wide range of maneuvers, and a wide range of practical problems [2,11].…”