“Simulation of the Human Pilot applied at the Helicopter / Ship Dynamic Interface.”

The paper provides a review of the development of an algorithm to predict the control actions required to fly a given manoeuvre. The new algorithm, called SyCoS (Synthesis through Constrained Simulation), incorporates the crossover model to represent the pilots reflexive actions in terms of simple gain and delay parameters. In its final form the algorithm is referred to as the Compensatory Tracking Model (CTM) and has been implemented in the FLIGHTLAB environment for the study the control actions required for the launch and recovery of a helicopter to a moving ship in the presence of ship motion, airwake and turbulence. The results confirm that the SyCoS pilot can successfully carry out this task and replicate key aspects of the pilot strategy such as guidance and response to atmospheric disturbances. Other important features of the control activity which impact on pilot workload appear to be missing, however, indicating that further development of the SyCoS model is required before convincing predictions of workload can be obtained.