Browse Topic: Consumer electronics

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Maintenance of spatial orientation (SO) is achieved primarily through visual information where the horizon and celestial reference cues or flight instruments are used by pilots to infer aircraft orientation. However, cross checking the instruments in degraded visual environments can be complicated by factors such as workload, distraction, and situations where the vestibular and proprioceptive systems may provide false and competing orientation information. We describe experiments measuring pilot performance using a flight simulator under challenging conditions where the sensory information was controlled. Reducing available visual instruments increased the task difficulty. A wearable vibrotactile array could provide concurrent, additional orientation information. Increasing the flying task segment difficulty increased the perceived workload and also corresponded to an increase in accidents. Adding tactile orientation information reduced the accident rate.
Mortimer, BruceDuffy, MichelleOlson, MakailaLoftis, ShelbyGraff, DanielRupert, AngusChaparro, BarbaraFrench, JonDailey, Chris
Advancing technology has driven continuous improvements across most aspects of human endeavors. In the time since the first modern helicopter flew in 1939, the world has seen inventions like the microwave, personal computers, cell phones, and the internet. If helicopters predate these society-changing innovations, then it stands to reason that the manner in which helicopters operate has drastically shifted as well. Specifically, this paper reviews historical concepts of operations (CONOPS) in rotorcraft aerial firefighting and analyzes where technology advancements have made an impact on firefighting operations and the performance of helicopters in suppressing fires. These shifts were evaluated using analytical assessments and highlighting snapshots in time of how capability impacted the aerial firefighting mission effectiveness. As companies innovate and technology advances, further benefits to rotorcraft CONOPS in aerial firefighting will be realized.
Gil, MonicaGorelick, JordanMelhorn, Shawn
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