NASA builds VR flight sim to study ‘air taxi’ turbulence
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NASA’s system incorporates VR headsets, alongside physical motion cues, and spatialised rotor audio in a laboratory environment, creating an immersive passenger experience in virtual reality.
Researchers at NASA will be able to use the data to understand turbulence and passenger comfort during travel using air taxis, electric flying vehicles that are capable of vertical take off and landing (VTOL).
The research can then be incorporated into the design of eVTOL air taxis. The simulator itself is an electrically-driven multi-axis platform, capable of six degrees of motion to simulate the motions of an electric air taxi. The simulator runs pre-recorded flight paths, requiring the passenger to simulate the view that a passenger would have during a real flight, flying from ‘vertiport’ to ‘vertiport’.
Current tests have been conducted by NASA test pilot Wayne Ringelberg, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre in Edwards, California, USA. Ringelberg has recently completed a series of test rides in the new simulator to help the NASA team make adjustments before other users are involved for the first research study, set to take place later in 2024.
Ringelberg commented: “This project is leveraging our research and test pilot aircrew with vertical lift experience to validate the safety and accuracy of the lab in preparation for test subject evaluations,” said Ringelberg. “The experiments in the ride quality lab will inform the advanced air mobility community about the acceptability of the motions these aircraft could make, so the general public is more likely to adopt the new technology.”
Source: Inavate