Method introduces roll into the flying-spot scanner by modifying the scanning waveforms

Brain, A. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

August 1972
	 B72-10417 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Ames Research Center
	 -4r 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Roll Function in a Flight Simulator 
The problem: 
Flight simulators for the training of pilots must 
present a view of the outside world as it would be 
seen from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight. Modem 
simulators make use of a television monitor mounted 
in the windshield of the simulated aircraft cockpit; 
an optical system is used to set the apparent position 
of the image at infinity. In older equipment, which 
use a projection display and are only useful for simu-
lating flights at high altitudes, roll simulation is 
achieved by rotation of the projection tube, but this 
equipment is not compatible with the shadow-mask 
color tube. It was therefore necessary to find a method 
for introducing roll into the flying-spot scanner by 
modifying the scanning waveforms. 
The solution: 
Introduce roll into the electronic system of the 
scanner. 
How it's done: 
For the purpose of mathematical analysis, the pic-
ture on the tube is left fixed in space and roll is 
accomplished by rotating the aircraft around its axis—
the picture does not change but its frame rotates. In 
the new reference frame, the point p,q which is the
simulated point on the pilot's monitor is rotated to a 
new point p1 ,q'. The current in the X-coils of the 
flying spot scanner tube is proportional to the X dis-
placement of the picture point. In the rolled position, 
this displacement is a function of both p 1 and q'. The 
X- and Y-deflection amplifiers are driven by a com-
posite waveform so that point p 1 ,q' is simulated as a 
roll on the display monitor; in fact, when the aircraft 
is rolled 900, the X and Y axes are interchanged. 
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Specific 
questions, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Ames Research Center 
Moffett Field, California 94035 
Reference: B72-10417 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Alfred E. Brain of

Stanford Research Institute

under contract to

Ames Research Center

(ARC-10557) 
Category 02 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000416 2020-03-17T03:38:47+00:00Z


Roll function in a flight simulator

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server