Flight Simulation with Signature Technology in a sustained "G" Environment by Ken Ginader

An abstract written in preparation for presentation at ITEC 2010 in the United Kingdom

Due to budget restrictions, tactical flight training is increasingly being accomplished in flight simulators. However, in order for this training to be "train like you will fight", the flight simulator must faithfully replicate the flight environment, performance, and overall experience of the aircraft. Signature Technology is an answer to creating an environment where pilots become immersed in the training experience while being stressed in the same way they are stressed in the aircraft.

Every man-controlled vehicle has a frequency signature (e.g., a sports car performs and feels very differently from a luxury sedan, likewise with high performance aircraft). In high performance aircraft, the motion and performance signature is sensed by pilots and the previously learned skills used to fly the aircraft are based on that experience. These sensing cues are critical for fighter pilots who make split second decisions and respond rapidly based on their perception of what the aircraft is doing.

A vehicle's "signature" or feel is determined by the vehicle's natural frequency and system bandwidth. natural frequency is a function of the stiffness and mass of the system, i.e., the higher the stiffness, the higher the natural frequency; and the higher the mass, the lower the natural frequency. System bandwidth quantifies how well a vehicle, or a single controlled axis of a vehicle, is able to produce the commanded motions.

A vehicle with a higher bandwidth will have a faster response and therefore be able to react more quickly to a changing command signal than a vehicle with a lower bandwidth.

The Authentic Tactical Fighting System (ATFS-400™) flight simulator integrates a high fidelity tactical aircraft cockpit with a high performance "flyable" centrifuge-based motion system that generates the variable 'G' onset and offset rates and sustained 'G' forces of a tactical fighter aircraft. The ATFS-400 includes ETC's proprietary technologies of G-Pointing and Signature Technology, interchangeable aircraft specific Cockpit Modules, Wide Field of View visuals, and the Virtual Battlespace to support full fidelity air combat training.

Over the past 15 years, ETC has designed the ATFS-400 in the Frequency Domain to optimize natural frequency and system bandwidth to produce a sustained 'G' flight simulator that can replicate the performance and "real feel" signature of 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft. This design combined with state of the art control system architecture, motion control laws and aircraft flight models yields a flight motion platform that can provide the performance and feel of an intended aircraft.

Signature Technology is more than just high natural frequencies and bandwidth. It is the unique technology that allows the ATFS-400 flight simulator to replicate the performance and feel of a tactical aircraft so pilots' flight experiences in the ATFS-400 replicate that of the tactical aircraft.