NEW APPROACHES TO HUMAN-PILOT/VEHICLE DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

New models for human pilot dynamics and new methods for pilot/vehicle dynamic analysis are investigated. The status of existing quasi-linear models is reviewed and deficiencies are noted as a basis for pinpointing areas needing the most effort. The pilot modeling topics explored include: low frequency lead generation using either velocity sensing at the periphery (eye) or difference computations accomplished at a more central level; mode-switching models for nonstationary or discrete inputs to the pilot/vehicle system; physiological aspects of pilot dynamics in tracking tasks; Successive Organization of Perception (SOP) theory for levels of pilot cognition higher than compensatory. For pilot/vehicle analysis, analytical approaches from control theory which appear to have promise are studied, including: time-optimal computing feedforward elements useful in the mode switching models for response to nonstationary inputs; optimal control theory using the crossover model in the performance criterion to estimate pilot response characteristics in compensatory tasks; inverse optimal control theory using known experimental results and quasi-linear pilot response models in an effort to define the pilot's adjustment rules in terms of performance indices; optimal control theory to provide a simple test for optimality (to an elementary quadratic criterion) using only average performance measure data.