Aerospace robotics in supermaneuverable flight: defining the set of attainable motion fields in existing aircraft and motion simulators

By viewing an aircraft as a special case of an aerospace robotics system, a procedure for quantifying supermaneuverable flight can be developed. The goal is to relate and compare existing motion fields from flight test data of supermaneuverable aircraft to the motions that can be produced by ground based flight simulators. A literature survey of existing supermaneuverable flight test data is first conducted as it relates to the linear and rotational motion fields that a pilot would be exposed to. These motion fields specify what is desired to be imitated on current aircraft simulators to replicate agile aircraft flight. Also of interest in this existing data base is its relationship to the human tolerance limits where medical risk will become a factor and thus impact the pilot's ability to perform his mission.<>