Flight training simulator users and vendors understand well the importance of proper presentation of major sensory cues to a trainee within a simulated flight training system. Motion, visual, crew compartment displays and instrumentation form the primary cues delivered to a trainee in modern day flight simulators. Crucial to proper presentation of cues is having a quantitative means to measure the character of the cue. Subjective pilot evaluations of these cue sources typically reveal only the existence of problems but not the true problem source. Attempts to correct perceived cue deficiencies on this basis are usually ineffective and certainly not efficient. Objective measures of simulator cue behavior have been limited to some extent by sensor technology but more significantly by a lack of sophisticated data analysis tools. Current simulator testing of dynamic response of visual, motion, and cockpit display cues has been limited to time domain measures of initial response and simplified frequency domain measures. These current methods need to be expanded to provide a more complete presentation of the dynamic character and synchronization of these cues plus offer the potential for direct comparison with equivalent aircraft data when that data is available. This paper describes recent efforts to improve methods for testing and analyzing flight training system simulator cue synchronization (cue sync) and cue dynamic characteristics.

This paper documents the application of the piloted frequency sweep technique, and subsequent frequency response analysis, to quantitatively identify the cue-sync character of a USMC rotary wing training system - the MV-22A Operational Flight Trainer. Frequency response comparisons were generated by analysis of data generated using the piloted frequency sweep technique. The frequency response comparisons were used to evaluate the simulator motion and visual systems versus the simulator model thereby providing a means for identification of cue-sync character without the need for special purpose software modifications. Measurement of bandwidth and phase delay from the frequency responses is also included, and was produced in a manner consistent with evolving aircraft measurement standards. A suggested evaluation criteria, representing the extent to which cue-sync behavior can be compared to aircraft response is also characterized. Finally, a quantitative evaluation criteria for motion system cueing quality is provided in order to assist in the determination of motion system character.