NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER

SIMULATION LABORATORIES

Dean P. Giovannetti, NASA Ames Research Center

[NASA AMES]{.underline}

[Simulation Laboratories]{.underline}

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Simulation
Laboratories at Ames Research Center are world-class research and
development facility offering unparalleled capabilities for conducting
exciting and challenging research experiments involving aeronautics and
aerospace disciplines. The entire collection of simulation components,
support equipment, associated facilities and buildings are known as
*SimLabs.* The intent of this article is to inform the simulation
community of these resources, their capabilities and availability for
use by private industry, academia and government agencies for simulation
research.

The SimLabs consists of numerous simulators developed, operated and
maintained by an in-house staff of nationally recognized simulation
experts supporting the widest possible range of aeronautical simulation
research. SimLabs business concept is based on a building block approach
that involves maintaining as distinct resources a conglomeration of
simulation elements or components that can be integrated to form a
complete system in a variety of different ways. This simulation system
approach allows the simulator configuration to be tuned to the needs of
specific research by employing only those components necessary for a
particular test, tuning these components specifically for the test and
using the most appropriate interchangeable components to suit specific
test requirements. Additionally, specialized equipment can be integrated
more easily and facility improvements can be implemented by up grading
individual components rather than the entire simulator.

SimLabs staff assists researchers with their simulation research
providing expertise in all aspects of simulation including, but not
limited to, design and fabrication of high fidelity motion and
non-motion simulators from concept specification through full operation,
including software, hardware, mechanical, cockpit controls and displays,
guidance and controls, visual data- bases, automation design and
fabrication. In- house experts offer guidance in research experiment
planning, data gathering, analysis, aviation human factors, airspace
operations, air traffic management, specification writing and
publication, technology development and transfer.

The laboratories consist of 3 main facilities; the Vertical Motion
Simulator Complex, the Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility and
FutureFlight Central. The following sections describe these unique
facilities.

[VERTICAL MOTION SIMULATOR COMPLEX]{.underline}

The Vertical Motion Simulator Complex (VMSC) has been in operation since
the mid- 1970's and is a one-of-a-kind simulation research and
development facility offering unparalleled capabilities for conducting
studies and experiments involving some of the most challenging aerospace
disciplines. The VMSC consists of the world's largest motion base
simulator and 5 interchangeable cabs (I-cabs), which can also be used
for fixed base simulation. The I-cabs support simulation of various
types of flight vehicles including transports, Space Shuttle,
helicopters, fighters, and rotorcraft to name a few. The large-amplitude
motion system was designed to aid in the study of helicopter and
vertical/short take-off landing (V/STOL) issues specifically relating to
research in controls, guidance, displays, automation and handling
qualities of existing or proposed aircraft. It is also an excellent tool
for investigating issues relevant to nap-of-the-earth flight, and
landing and rollout studies. The facility is not only renowned for its
large amplitude motion system but also for its efficient production of
high fidelity, low cost, and rapid concept to research data producing
capability, of simulations for existing and future advanced aerospace
vehicles. The VMSC is a stand-alone facility with the ability to rapidly
prototype any aspect of a simulation including but not limited to real
time host computer interfaces, flight deck graphics systems, out the
window image generation systems, cockpit controls, cueing devices and
high fidelity motion.

The VMSC Motion System is a six-degree of freedom
electromechanical/electro hydraulic servo system. It is located in and
partially supported by a specially constructed 73 feet wide by 36 feet
deep by 120 feet high tower, and the motion system uses virtually the
entire interior volume of this tower. In addition to its size another
unique feature of this facility is that it can simulate the physical
cueing environment of a large range of vehicles. Five cabs representing
the cockpits of a variety of vehicles and each with its own instruments,
controls, visual display and audio cueing systems can be placed on the
motion cueing system of the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS). The motion
platform consists of a 40-foot long beam, which travels ±30 feet
vertically. On top of the beam is a carriage that traverses the 40-foot
length of the beam. On top of the carriage is a gimbal system providing
±4 feet of lateral travel, ±18 deg. of roll and pitch and ±24 deg. of
yaw. (See Fig 1.)

![](media/image1.pct){width="2.625in"
height="2.9444444444444446in"}Figure 1

*Photograph of VMS Tower with cut away view and artist rendering of
motion system and interchangeable cab. Note size of tower in comparison
to automobiles in lower left of picture*.

INTERCHANGEABLE CABS (I-cabs)

Five Interchangeable Cabs (I-cabs) are maintained and operated by SimLab
and provide the capability to simulate the cockpit/crew station for
almost any imaginable aerospace vehicle. The I-cabs are built up around
essentially identical structures that furnish a basis and framework for
installing and mounting the numerous items that make up an aircraft
cockpit crew station. The basic design and construction of the I-cabs is
illustrated in

Figure 2.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.683333333333333in" height="1.95625in"}

# 

Figure 2

In order to achieve the desired interchangeability the I-cabs are built
to rigid mechanical, hydraulic and electrical interface specifications.
The structure of each cab is composed of four substructures: the base
structure, the fixed canopy section, the removable canopy and the Image
Presentation System (IPS) support structure. The base structure is a
large flat weldment fabricated from aluminum channels, tubing and plate.
It forms the floor of the cab and serves as the attachment to the motion
system. All the other substructures are bolted to it. Detachable front
and rear sections facilitate transporting the cab between the off-line
development area and the motion system. The under-floor structure is
designed to provide three adjacent oil-tight bays to accommodate
electrohydraulic control loaders used to simulate the primary aircraft
flight controls. The three different locations allow for either a
single, centrally located pilot station or a two place, side-by-side
arrangement. Wiring harnesses, hydraulic lines, junction boxes,
instrument panels and consoles, electrical power outlets as well as
other items are mounted directly to the base structure. The fixed canopy
section forms the rear wall of the cab providing a sturdy structure for
mounting a number of items including cab lighting, sound system
speakers, pilot observation cameras, head tracking support equipment and
standard aircraft size equipment racks. The removable canopy section
forms the front wall, sidewalls and roof of the cab and its primary
functions are to enclose the equipment contained inside the cab and
provide a sound/light barrier to prevent distractions to the pilot. As
its name implies, this section can be easily removed with an overhead
crane allowing unrestricted access to the other internal items and
substructures. The image presentation system (IPS) varies markedly from
cab to cab in Field of View (FOV) capabilities. Each IPS is tailored to
a specific class of aircraft such as Helicopter, Space Shuttle, Large
Commercial and/or heavy lift military aircraft, Tilt Rotor and Military
Fighter. No one compact visual system exists that can provide the
cumulative FOV requirements for each of class of listed aircraft, hence
the need for five cabs. Lastly, all five cabs have removable access
porches and can be retrofitted with a wide range of pilot inceptors,
seats, instrument panels, etc., from SimLabs' vast inventory of aircraft
simulation equipment.

The five I-cabs are not only used for flexibility but also for
efficiency. While any one cab is on the VMS motion platform the others
are being reconfigured and readied for the next vehicle they will
simulate. When an I-cab reconfiguration is complete the cab is stored
until the current simulation on the VMS motion platform ends. When the
simulation currently running on the VMS motion platform simulation is
complete the I-cab used for that simulation is replaced with the readied
I-cab in storage. It takes approximately one eight hour shift to change
I-cabs on the VMSC motion platform and prepare the motion system for a
completely different simulation. The short time it takes to exchange
cabs allows almost constant utilization and availability of the VMS
motion system.

VIRTUAL LABORATORY

Virtual Laboratory (VLAB) is a virtual reality environment providing
remote access from the researchers desktop to Ames Research Center
simulation laboratories for interactive participation with live
experiments. VLAB is capable of simulation model control, controls and
display development, virtual prototyping, and data browsing. VLAB allows
NASA expertise to benefit government and industry in a hands-on fashion
by providing convenient access to national simulation resources enabling
industry to improve its design process, yielding aeronautical products
with a true competitive edge.

Using VLAB, multiple researcher's in different locations participating
in the same experiment can monitor and actively participate in a
simulation from any location in the US.

VLAB enables industry/government partnerships to benefit from US
aeronautics by providing easy access to national facilities, shared
databases, and more effective and efficient design processes. VLAB
reduces delays in distribution of experiment results by making data
available in real-time within the lab and elsewhere reducing costs
associated with human-in-the-loop simulation experiments. VLAB allows
multiple researchers to remotely participate in concurrent experiments
and in various phases of the design cycle. The system allows researchers
to develop math models, displays, control systems, validate models for
higher quality experiments, and provide fully compatible software
modules all from their integrated desktop. VLAB has thus far been
extensively used for Space Shuttle, Civil Tilt Rotor, NTSB and DOD
simulations, research associate presentations, VIP demos, and education
purposes.

![](media/image3.pct){width="2.75in" height="2.5in"}

*Photo of researcher using VLAB graphical interface*

VLAB represents a fresh approach to conducting simulation experiments.
The concepts and methodologies developed using VLAB are anticipated to
become a "springboard" for a new approach to aeronautical research and
development.

[Crew-Vehicle Systems Research Facility]{.underline}

The Crew-Vehicle Systems Research Facility (CVSRF) is a unique national
research resource designed for the study of human factors in aviation
safety. The facility is used to analyze performance characteristics of
flight crews; formulate principles and design criteria for future
aviation environments; evaluate new and contemporary air traffic control
procedures; and develop new training and simulation techniques required
by the continued technical evolution of flight systems. The CVSRF allows
scientists to study how errors are made, as well as the effects of
automation, advanced instrumentation, and other factors, such as
fatigue, on human performance in aircraft.

The facility includes two flight simulators, a Boeing 747-400 and an
Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator (ACFS), and a simulated Air Traffic
Control (ATC) System. Both flight simulators are capable of full-mission
simulation. Each has a dedicated experimenter's control lab, capable of
monitoring and controlling its respective simulator. Visual systems
provide out-the-window cues in both cockpits. The Air Traffic Control
System simulator provides a realistic air traffic control environment,
including communication with the cockpits allowing study of
air-to-ground communications systems as they impact crew performance.

![](media/image4.png){width="3.182638888888889in"
height="2.627083333333333in"}

Cut-away view of the Crew-vehicle systems research facility

Boeing 747-400 Simulator

A key component of the facility is a Boeing 747-400 flight simulator.
This simulator represents a cockpit of one of the most sophisticated
airplanes flying today. The simulator is equipped with programmable
flight displays that can be easily modified to create displays aimed at
enhancing flight crew situational awareness and thus improving system
safety. The simulator also has a fully digital control loading system, a
six degree-of-freedom motion system, a digital sound and aural cues
system, and a fully integrated autoflight system, which provides
aircraft guidance and control. It is also equipped with a weather radar
system. The visual system can depict out-the-window scenes in day, dusk,
night or twilight modes. The visual, weather radar, and motion systems
are tightly coupled simulating weather effects with a high degree of
realism.

The 747-400 simulator provides all modes of airplane operation from
cockpit preflight to parking and shutdown at destination. The simulator
flight crew compartment is a fully detailed replica of a current airline
cockpit. All instruments, controls and switches operate as they do in
the aircraft. All functional systems of the aircraft are simulated in
accordance with aircraft data. To ensure simulator fidelity the 747-400
simulator is constantly maintained to the highest possible level of
certification for airplane simulators as established by inspectors of
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="2.932638888888889in"
height="2.3131944444444446in"}

*Boeing 747-400 Simulator Cockpit*

Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator

Another key element of the facility is the Advanced Concepts Flight
Simulator (ACFS). Like the B747-400 simulator, the ACFS is also equipped
with a six degree-of-freedom motion system, programmable flight
displays, digital sound and aural cueing system, and a visual system
with a 180-degree field of view. The simulator systems provide an
extremely realistic full mission environment. The ACFS is configured as
a generic commercial transport aircraft employing many advanced flight
systems as well as features existing in the newest aircraft being built
today. Among its advanced flight systems, the ACFS includes touch
sensitive electronic checklists, advanced graphical flight displays such
as airport moving maps and graphical aircraft systems schematics, a
flight management system linked to ATC, and a Head Up Display (HUD)
guidance system. In addition, the ACFS utilizes sidestick controllers
for aircraft control in the pitch and roll axes. The ACFS generic
aircraft was formulated and sized on the basis of projected user needs
into the 21st century.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="2.797222222222222in"
height="2.088888888888889in"}

*Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator Cockpit*

Air Traffic Control Simulator

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) environment is a significant contributor
to pilot workload and therefore to the performance of crews in flight.
Full-mission simulation is greatly affected by the realism with which
the ATC environment is modeled. From the crew's standpoint, this
environment consists of dynamically changing verbal or data-link
messages, some addressed to or generated by the crew, others addressed
to or generated by other aircraft flying in the immediate vicinity. The
ATC simulator is capable of operating in three modes: stand-alone,
without participation by the rest of the facility; single-cab mode, with
either the ACFS or the 747-400 participating in the study; and dual-cab
mode, with both cabs participating.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="2.553472222222222in" height="1.90625in"}

*Air Traffic Control Laboratory*

####### Future Flight Central

Future Flight Central (FFC) is a full scale air traffic control tower
simulator that has the \"look and feel\" of an actual airport tower with
a 360-degree, continuous field of view, high fidelity out-the-window
visual scene. FFC is a national Air Traffic Control/Air Traffic
Management test facility dedicated to solving the present and emerging
capacity problems of the nation\'s leading airports. The facility offers
a full-scale real-time simulation of an airport tower, where
controllers, pilots and airport personnel participate to optimize
expansion plans, operating procedures, and evaluate new technologies.
The facility is used for planning new runway configurations, optimizing
new ground traffic and tower communication procedures, testing new
technologies and validating air traffic planning simulations. It
supports cost-benefit studies, human factor assessments, and
proof-of-concept evaluations through qualitative and quantitative
measurements of workload, airport capacity and efficiency under
realistic conditions.

![](media/image8.pct){width="2.81875in" height="1.9361111111111111in"}

*Future Flight Central Tower Simulator*

*Interior Photo of FutureFlight Central Simulator*

FFC-detailed and highly realistic 3-D airport database models are
displayed on twelve projection screens to provide a 360-degree
out-the-window view of the airport. The database supports views from any
location, allowing the simulation and playback recordings to show the
views from the air traffic control tower, ramp tower, pilot and ground
vehicle operator. Interactive displays support all air and ground
positions controlling traffic within a terminal air space. The voice
communication system can be configured to support all radio frequencies
operating at an airport control tower. Controllers, ramp operators and
pseudo-pilots participating in the simulation are each equipped with a
communication touch screen interface and headset.

![](media/image9.pct){width="2.6791666666666667in"
height="2.1597222222222223in"}

Quad-split video recording

FutureFlight Central air traffic scenarios encompass the terminal air
space and surface of the airfield. Up to twelve controller positions,
eight ramp tower positions and thirteen pseudo-pilot positions are
networked in real-time. During a simulation run, FutureFlight Central
can collect measurements of surface performance for ground vehicles and
aircraft, controller/pilot communication, and audio/video observational
data including:

*• Replay of an entire simulation run*

• *Summary statistics such as taxi time, departure rate, runway
occupancy time, and non- movement area time*

*• Digital audio recordings of pilot/controller radio transmissions for
voice communication analysis*

*• Audio recordings of non-transmitted controller-to-controller
coordination within the tower cab*

*• Video recordings of controller movements using cameras installed
throughout the tower cab*

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="2.870833333333333in"
height="1.7402777777777778in"} *MD-11 as modeled in FutureFlight
Central*

Aircraft and ground vehicles are controlled by pseudo-pilots using
interactive displays to control many aspects of aircraft movement.
Examples of modeled parameters include:

*• Push back and Engine startup time*

*• Taxi route and Taxi speed*

*• Aircraft lights*

*• Ground acceleration/deceleration*

*• Takeoff speed and Climb speed*

*• Aircraft stall speed (Dirty/Clean)*

*• Rate of turn/climb/descent*

*• Fade from radar*

*• Cruise speed*

*• Flight plan True Air Speed (TAS)*

*• Descent speed*

*• Terminal area speed*

*• Intermediate approach speed*

*• Final approach speed*

*• Landing speed*

*• Landing distance*

*• Landing options: visual, ILS, go-around, missed approach*

The simulator's aircraft model database currently contains over 100 3-D
aircraft and ground vehicle models. The library collection includes
detailed liveries of airlines represented at the airport under study.
FutureFlight Central continuously updates this collection based on
research needs.

FutureFlight Central contains facilities for recording broadcast quality
presentation materials. A professional presentation of simulation
results with narrated out-the-window and in-tower video, including audio
recordings and graphical presentation of data can also be generated.

####### SUMMARY

The NASA Ames SimLabs are world class

Simulation research and development facilities available for use by
government, DOD, private industry and academia, offering neutral
unbiased guidance in simulation development planning, data gathering,
investigative research and analysis. All SimLabs are equipped with the
most current motion, visual, computational, etc., simulation equipment
with the ability to operate remotely and/or networked with other
simulation laboratories.

A complete list and in-depth description of simulations conducted at the
SimLabs is available at the SimLabs web site
[http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov](http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/)

under Annual Reports.

For additional information or to request use of the laboratories please
contact,

Tom Alderete

Assistant Division Chief, Aviation Systems

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Email: Thomas.S.Alderete@nasa.gov

Phone: 650-604-3271

Fax: 650-604-3952

Or

Barry Sullivan

Chief, Aerospace Simulation Operations Branch

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Email: Barry.T.Sullivan@nasa.gov

Phone: 650-604-6756

Fax: 650-604-3952

Or

Dean Giovannetti

Assistant Chief,

Aerospace Simulation Operations Branch

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Email: Dean.P.Giovannetti@nasa.gov

Phone: 650-604-3871

Fax: 650-604-3952

Or

Visit the SimLabs web site at

[http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov](http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/)

for more detailed facility descriptions, information and photos.