An optical pressure measurement system for control inceptors to evaluate pilots’ workload

Abstract

An innovative optical sensor is presented to investigate rotorcraft-pilot coupling phenomena. The device allows the acquire signals related to the activity of the pilot’s hand on the inceptors in terms of load direction and intensity variation. An experiment is performed in order to prove the sensor capability and to test the first prototype of sensorized helicopter stick. Different flight scenarios are simulated in order to evaluate the pilot’s workload evolution in time.