Handling Qualities Prototyping for Improvements to the AH-64D Across Heterogeneous Simulation Environments

The design of Modern Control Laws is enhanced by a rapid prototyping and interactive improvement. This takes place in a variety of simulation environments, ranging from batch simulation with linear models on desktop computers to pilot-in-the-loop simulation with full nonlinear models in a dedicated fixed-base simulator. Throughout the development, the control laws and aircraft systems models are developed and refined in Simulink®, and then exported to these heterogeneous environments using Real Time Workshop. This paper describes the technical obstacles related to this integration and the technical and cost effectiveness of rapid prototyping of handling qualities.