Pilot-in-the-loop flight simulation - A low-cost approach

This paper presents results of the research efforts in the field of flight simulation that have been made at the Institute of Flight Mechanics and Flight Control of the Technische Universität München. Besides a competitive computational environment for flight simulation, dynamic analysis and control design, an innovative fixed-base flight simulator was developed that has drastically reduced expenses for high-fidelity simulations without abandoning quality. With cost effectiveness being of paramount importance, all aerospace related components contributing to the system were benchmarked with non-aerospace solutions to identify saving potential. Other relevant goals were flexibility, extensibility and modularity. These aims were primarily pursued by eliminating specialized hardware and software solutions and relying on commercialoff-the-shelf components. To generate an open architecture, software packages developed at the Institute of Flight Mechanics and Flight Control were implemented for cockpit control and instrument generation, for hardware interfacing, environment simulation and engineering visualization. A large number of SIMULINK simulation libraries as well as MATLAB tools for analysis and design tasks were realized. A formal software development process was introduced, including strict programming and modeling conventions, high documentation as well as validation & verification standards and extensive testing procedures. The new approach of the flight simulator concept and the related systems have received a high level of acceptance in academia, research and industry. Thus, multiple contracts have been awarded to the Institute of Flight Mechanics and Flight Control of the Technische Universität München in the field of flight simulation, with the solutions now being used in commercial flight simulators, aerospace companies and research institutions.