Automated flight test management system

The Phase 1 development of an automated flight test management system (ATMS) as a component of a rapid prototyping flight research facility for artificial intelligence (AI) based flight concepts is discussed. The ATMS provides a flight engineer with a set of tools that assist in flight test planning, monitoring, and simulation. The system is also capable of controlling an aircraft during flight test by performing closed loop guidance functions, range management, and maneuver-quality monitoring. The ATMS is being used as a prototypical system to develop a flight research facility for AI based flight systems concepts at NASA Ames Dryden

Development of preliminary design concept for multifunction display and control system for Orbiter crew station. Task 3: Concept analysis

The access schema developed to access both individual switch functions as well as automated or semiautomated procedures for the orbital maneuvering system and electrical power and distribution and control system discussed and the operation of the system is described. Feasibility tests and analyses used to define display parameters and to select applicable hardware choices for use in such a system are presented and the results are discussed

Sixth Annual Users' Conference

Conference papers and presentation outlines which address the use of the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE) and its various applications programs are compiled. Emphasis is given to the design of the user interface and image processing workstation in general. Alternate ports of TAE and TAE subsystems are also covered

Army-NASA aircrew/aircraft integration program (A3I) software detailed design document, phase 3

The capabilities and design approach of the MIDAS (Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System) computer-aided engineering (CAE) workstation under development by the Army-NASA Aircrew/Aircraft Integration Program is detailed. This workstation uses graphic, symbolic, and numeric prototyping tools and human performance models as part of an integrated design/analysis environment for crewstation human engineering. Developed incrementally, the requirements and design for Phase 3 (Dec. 1987 to Jun. 1989) are described. Software tools/models developed or significantly modified during this phase included: an interactive 3-D graphic cockpit design editor; multiple-perspective graphic views to observe simulation scenarios; symbolic methods to model the mission decomposition, equipment functions, pilot tasking and loading, as well as control the simulation; a 3-D dynamic anthropometric model; an intermachine communications package; and a training assessment component. These components were successfully used during Phase 3 to demonstrate the complex interactions and human engineering findings involved with a proposed cockpit communications design change in a simulated AH-64A Apache helicopter/mission that maps to empirical data from a similar study and AH-1 Cobra flight test

Development of preliminary design concept for a multifunction display and control system for the Orbiter crew station. Task 4: Design concept recommendation

Application of multifunction display and control systems to the NASA Orbiter spacecraft offers the potential for reducing crew workload and improving the presentation of system status and operational data to the crew. A design concept is presented for the application of a multifunction display and control system (MFDCS) to the Orbital Maneuvering System and Electrical Power Distribution and Control System on the Orbiter spacecraft. The MFDCS would provide the capability for automation of procedures, fault prioritization and software reconfiguration of the MFDCS data base. The MFDCS would operate as a stand-alone processor to minimize the impact on the current Orbiter software. Supervisory crew command of all current functions would be retained through the use of several operating modes in the system. Both the design concept and the processes followed in defining the concept are described

Collaborative searching for video using the Físchlár system and a DiamondTouch table

Fischlar DT is one of a family of systems which support interactive searching and browsing through an archive of digital video information. Previous Fischlar systems have used a conventional screen, keyboard and mouse interface, but Fischlar-DT operates with using a horizontal, multiuser, touch sensitive tabletop known as a DiamondTouch. We present the Fischlar-DT system partly from a systems perspective, but mostly in terms of how its design and functionality supports collaborative searching. The contribution of the paper is thus the introduction of Fischlar-DT and a description of how design concerns for supporting collaborative search can be realised on a tabletop interface

Assessment of cockpit interface concepts for data link retrofit

The problem is examined of retrofitting older generation aircraft with data link capability. The approach taken analyzes requirements for the cockpit interface, based on review of prior research and opinions obtained from subject matter experts. With this background, essential functions and constraints for a retrofit installation are defined. After an assessment of the technology available to meet the functions and constraints, candidate design concepts are developed. The most promising design concept is described in detail. Finally, needs for further research and development are identified

Design for aging eyes: an in-depth look at fast-food outdoor menu displays

The aging population, one of the fastest growing age groups in the United States, is an audience that graphic designers and visual communicators often fail to address. Fast-food menu displays are just one example of a design that may not meet the needs of a senior clientele. This study consolidates and summarizes a variety of literature relevant to the design needs of an aging population.;This study then poses four research questions: (1) How can we design a fast-food menu for the aging eye? (2) How can a designer understand the functional problems associated with the visual and motor deficits of the older population? (3) What colors do elderly have difficulty seeing? What typeface is easiest to see at a distance? (4) What size does that typeface have to be in order for it to be read without any difficulty?;By considering the changes that occur as the eye ages, the fast-food industry could take a giant step forward. Two basic conditions must be met in order to make fast-food menu displays more legible and effective. The first condition is that the material (text & photographs) on the menu should be both visible and legible. The second condition is that the items on the menu must be easily understood. To test the current fast-food menu displays, 90 individuals responded to a questionnaire. The questionnaire provided data that begins to reveal how people order food from the menus at fast-food restaurants. The same questionnaire also collected some qualitative data regarding individuals\u27 overall impressions of fast-food menu design. The outdoor menu displays of four drive-thru fast-food restaurants were also evaluated and analyzed based on criteria established by the literature review.;Results from the study provided some answers about what individuals like and want in the designs of fast-food menus. Speed and consistency were two suggestions that were reported by multiple respondents on the surveys. Also, there seemed to be a strong preference for pictures. The findings from the menu analysis show that there is not a universal standard in terms of outdoor fast-food menu display design.;The purpose of this line of research is to produce some preliminary guidelines for the structure, organization, and design layout of outdoor drive-thru fast-food menu displays. The study establishes critical legibility factors related to aging vision and analyzes the displays of four fast-food restaurants

A knowledge-based system design/information tool

The objective of this effort was to develop a Knowledge Capture System (KCS) for the Integrated Test Facility (ITF) at the Dryden Flight Research Facility (DFRF). The DFRF is a NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) facility. This system was used to capture the design and implementation information for NASA's high angle-of-attack research vehicle (HARV), a modified F/A-18A. In particular, the KCS was used to capture specific characteristics of the design of the HARV fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FCS). The KCS utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge-based system (KBS) technology. The KCS enables the user to capture the following characteristics of automated systems: the system design; the hardware (H/W) design and implementation; the software (S/W) design and implementation; and the utilities (electrical and hydraulic) design and implementation. A generic version of the KCS was developed which can be used to capture the design information for any automated system. The deliverable items for this project consist of the prototype generic KCS and an application, which captures selected design characteristics of the HARV FCS

Human factors aspects of control room design: Guidelines and annotated bibliography

A human factors analysis of the workstation design for the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite mission operation room is discussed. The relevance of anthropometry, design rules, environmental design goals, and the social-psychological environment are discussed