Eri Itoh

Nonlinear approach for human internal models: feedforward and feedback roles in pilot maneuver

In order to grasp characteristics of pilot maneuver, this paper analyzes nonlinearity of human internal models corresponding to feedforward and feedback roles. Manual control experiments were carried out and feedforward and feedback human internal models are identified from the experimental data by using neural networks. The obtained internal models are analyzed through time records and spectral analysis. In the results, it is found that human operations include nonlinear behaviors. Conventionally, there are a large number of researches that describe human operation as quasi-linear models and analyze them to estimate the difficulty of operation. However, this research suggests a possibility that actual human operations include nonlinearity and the nonlinear characteristics of human internal models enable us to explain contextual human operation. It is also suggested that the level of controlling skill correlate well with nonlinearity of human internal models.

Analyzing Feasibility of Continuous Descent Operation Following Fixed-flight Path Angle from Oceanic Route to Tokyo International Airport

Improving trajectory predictability during Continuous Descent Operation (CDO), one of the ideas suggested in this paper applies “Fixed-flight Path Angle (FPA) descent”, with which the arrival aircraft perform continuous descent following the assigned flight path angles. The FPA descent is expected not only to save fuel, but also contribute to high performance arrival management, eventually leading to efficient departure scheduling and capacity management of runways and airspaces close to the airport. This paper discusses the applications of FPA descent to large commercial jet aircraft. The FPA descent is evaluated via two types of simulators: one is a B777-200 full-flight simulator owned by a national airline company, and the other is an air traffic simulator which demonstrates arrival traffic flow to Tokyo International Airport. Series of flight simulator experiments were carried out to assess the pilot’s operability during the FPA descent from oceanic air route. Aircraft tracking performance on the assigned FPA vertical path is confirmed via the flight simulator experiments. Fuel consumption of the FPA descent is compared with that of Optimal Profile Descent (OPD). Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate time-spacing performance of the FPA descent in arrival traffic via air traffic simulator. How the combination of FPA descent and automatic speed control in airborne, Flight-deck Interval Management (FIM), works for arrival time-spacing is clarified through the series of air traffic simulations. These simulation results show the applicability of the proposed FPA descent and suggest future contributions towards efficient arrival operations.

Architecture for Harmonizing Manual and Automatic Flight Controls

Automaticflight control systems occasionally confuse pilots.A pilot should shift to manual control if necessary in an emergency situation. However, it is often difficult for a pilot to make a decision to disengage the autopilot.Against this background, we propose the “human as a control module” architecture for harmonizing pilot and autopilot control.The human as a control module architecture adjusts pilot and autopilot control authorities automatically whensimultaneousinputstotheaircraftaregiven.Avoidingtheoverlapofpilotandautopilot inputs, the proposed architecture helps to circumvent the effect of conflicting actions. This paper culminates in the ultimate purpose of the human as a control module architecture and demonstrates how it could improve aircraft safety by applying it to a past aircraft incident.

Sequencing of Arrival Aircraft with Operational Constraints

At most airports around the world landings are assigned based on the first come, first served rule. Limited airport capacity and environmental issues have called for better sequencing strategies. New technologies can be helpful, but hardware approaches require significant time and resources before the actual implementation. This research investigates possible fuel savings obtained only by re-sequencing of arrival aircraft. This novel re-sequencing method consists of a set of rules obtained after analyzing the statistical performance of several suggested guidelines. It is concluded that refining only the landing sequencing operations can lead to average fuel savings of 2.8 % of the total fuel consumed during the descent.