SubscribeBihrle Applied Research's (BAR) Reconfigurable Multi Application Simulation Station (R-MASS) device is designed to provide organizations with a low cost solution for simulation laboratory and reconfigurable training needs.
The baseline R-MASS device is a fiberglass shell cockpit with multi-channel out the window graphics display with an over laid HUD (stand alone HUD is an option), and a head-down graphics display to provide instrumentation representation. The basic unit is delivered with additional user configurable switches and indicator lights, as well as a mechanically loaded center stick.
In addition, a high quality game based throttle and side stick controller will be incorporated for maximum configurability. As an option, the cockpit can also be fitted with an electrical force loading system that can be used to interactively modify and reconfigure control stick force characteristics. With this capability, the user will be able to fully emulate both the aerodynamic and stick force characteristics of a wide range of flight vehicles.
The Bihrle Applied Research D-Six Simulation environment will serve as the simulation host and display image generator. The D-Six software is designed to give the user full, dynamically editable access to flight model code, hardware and display configuration. With this hardware and software combination, simulation engineers are able to reconfigure the flight model, control loader, displays, and graphics to meet research or training project needs.
The following paragraphs provide a brief description of each component.
Cockpit
The R-MASS cockpit consists of a fiberglass shell that will be mounted to an appropriate base (depending on loading option). The shell replicates a closed cockpit with no canopy, and is fitted with side consoles, heads down display and I/O area, and cowling. The cockpit features an adjustable seat and sound system.
Cockpit I/O
The side consoles and upfront panel are populated with a series of lights, buttons, and switches that will be connected to a cockpit interface computer via analog and digital PCI I/O cards (user specification is available). The function of the switches and indicator lights will be dynamically configurable using D-Six’s IOD interface.
The pilot interfaces on the base unit will consist of a mechanically loaded center stick with high end game quality throttle and rudder pedals. Both the stick and the throttle will have multiple HOTAS switches interfaced to the software, capable of user configuration for any simulation function.
In addition to the center stick a side stick controller will also be provided to provide additional configuration representation. As a further option the customer may request a fully loaded stick option in which a high quality Fokker Control Systems (FCS) electrically loaded stick interface will be provided.
The basic unit provides a heads down display provided by a 20” LCD touch screen integrated into the front control panel. This panel can be overlaid with a matte to more fully represent a given aircraft instrumentation layout, or the entire panel may be removed and replaced with a more physically representative instrument panel if requested. These capabilities, combined with the reconfigurable instrumentation builder available in the D-Six software provide the greatest flexibility in an engineering simulation.
Software
With the exception of the control loading computers provided by Fokker Control Systems, the R-MASS system will use two Pentium class PCs running the Windows-XP operating system. BAR’s commercial simulation environment, D-Six, will provide a reconfigurable simulation tool that will allow operators to quickly implement a number of different simulation projects and capabilities.
The D-Six simulation host environment runs all simulation code and handles all communication with the cockpit and control loading computers, as well as functioning as the sound and image generator. In addition, a number of demonstration models are provided as part of the D-Six software delivery
Bihrle Applied Research provides their D-Six MultiModel package as part of the engineering cockpit application. Since both a Developer and a Desktop version of the software are delivered as part of this package, the user will have the capability to run the simulation with one copy while developing/modifying simulations at their desk with the other.
Further, the addition of the D-SixNet networking application enables the networked operation of the D-Six stations, allowing the cockpit to be flown with a second D-Six station, supporting a range of multi vehicle simulation applications. The D-Six Matlab Target module is included as part of the suggested software package is that enables D-Six to directly utilize code from the Simulink Real Time Workshop. Further descriptions of the software packages available are available.
Sound
The R-MASS sound system will be comprised three speaker, one sub-woofer and two mid- to high-range speakers. The D-Six environment running on the host computer will provide the audio through its user configurable interface. This arrangement provides an interface to allow researchers to trigger sound with simulation driven events.
Graphics
As part of the R-MASS system, D-Six provides an engineering out-the-window visualization capability that can support numerous out the window graphics channels. The image display system is user selectable for the best display to suit their needs.
The center channel image will contain a reconfigurable overlaid HUD unless the stand alone HUD option is selected. This configuration is easily expandable to incorporate more representative graphics image generators if needed.
Some of the possible R-MASS applications are described below:
R-MASS Use at Universities and Schools
Universities and Schools needs for simulation are increasing each year. With the R-MASS device, academic institutions can offer students and faculty an easy to use man-in-the-loop flight simulator that can be configured for a number of uses. Instructor can configure the simulator for undergraduate studies in stability and control, control law design, flight test, etc. With the unrestricted access to flight model code and display reconfigurability, the R-MASS is also a valuable research tool.
R-MASS Use at Defense Laboratories
Since the R-MASS Device is based on the D-Six simulation environment flexibility and expandability is key feature. Not only is the R-MASS easily reconfigured with software, the system may also be extended to hardware applications. In the age of simulation-based acquisition, there is an increasing need for simulation infrastructure to test new products like visual systems, control loaders, and other hardware. The R-MASS has the flexibility to provide labs with such a capability. In addition to acquisition roles, the R-MASS offers COTS equipment for other project based manned simulation needs, such as human factors studies, or generic distributed network players.
MASS Use at Civil and Military Aircraft Manufacturers
Aircraft manufacturers, civil and military alike, will benefit from a low-cost reconfigurable simulation station. R-MASS flexibility allows for rapid simulation development during conceptual phases of configuration development. With the use of analytical and experimental data, designers can implement simulations and evaluated them with a pilot well before the first sheet of metal is cut. This low-cost simulation capability also provides a valuable platform for avionics integration as well as marketing.
R-MASS Use at Training System Developers
During the development of training systems the R-MASS provides an intermediate integration platform for flight model development, hardware verification, pilot evaluation, and IOS design. With its reconfigurability, the R-MASS is reusable from effort to effort with surprisingly low overhead.
