Intelligent Flight Trainer for Initial Rotary Wing Training

This paper summarizes an effort to develop and demonstrate an Intelligent Flight Trainer (IFT) for Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training. Demonstration of concept feasibility relies on an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) architecture incorporating Adaptive Training to progressively improve student pilot proficiency. The IFT structure includes: a teacher model which includes algorithmic and expert system assessments of student performance; a domain expert model which maintains knowledge of maneuver criteria and strategies; and a student model which reflects student proficiency. Under an initial feasibility effort we implemented the IFT, integrated it with the UH-1 Training Research Simulator (UH-1TRS) at Fort Rucker, and demonstrated real-time operation in teaching student pilots elementary hover maneuvers. Follow-on development and validation will extend the IFT to a full-scope IERW trainer, validate its effectiveness, and specify requirements for developing it into an add-on module for existing simulators.