Arbitration of tactile cueing functions for active inceptors systems

Active inceptors introduce the possibility to provide the pilot with variable tactile feedback and haptic cues during flight, offering an opportunity for improved situational awareness. Specifically, the task of managing several different tactile cues for active sidesticks systems is herein addressed, with the development of a cue arbitrating module. Firstly, an overview on the context in which these devices operate is assessed. The system is characterized by investigating on evolution, current state of the art and future potential. Afterwards, the problem of simultaneous and conflicting tactile cues is approached, describing the prioritizing module, intended to be used within a helicopter’s flight simulator framework. Particularly, this routine aims to handle and filter cueing inputs used for envelope protection purposes. Hence, the program’s test and validation process is reported, describing simulated flight sessions and evaluating main remarks. Conclusive considerations for potential future evolution of the system are finally proposed.