Proposed Yaw-Axis Target Acquisition and Tracking Handling Qualities Requirement Updates.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Proposed Yaw-Axis Target Acquisition and Tracking Handling Qualities Requirement Updates.
Authors:	Berger, Tom¹ tom.berger2.civ@army.mil, Gong, Anthony¹, Lusardi, Jeffery A.¹, Mansur, M. Hossein¹, Boehringer, Ryan P.², Ogden, Wesley R.², Ott, Carl R.², Brown, Daniel R.³, Daniels, David A.³, Borden, Christopher C.⁴
Source:	Journal of the American Helicopter Society. Oct2025, Vol. 70 Issue 4, p042005-1-042005-16. 16p.
Subjects:	Target acquisition, Automatic tracking, Bandwidths, Rotorcraft, Pilot projects
Abstract:	A piloted simulation experiment was conducted in the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator to investigate the effects of bandwidth, phase delay, attitude quickness, and maximum achievable rate on yaw-axis handling qualities in hover and forward flight. Two different aircraft were tested, representative of advanced scout-class rotorcraft. Five target acquisition and tracking mission task elements were used in the study. Two of the tasks were modified versions of tasks used to determine the ADS-33E target acquisition and tracking yaw attitude quickness boundaries. Two of the tasks were modified versions of attitude capture and hold and sum-of-sines tracking tasks previously used to evaluate pitch and roll axis handling qualities. The final task was a forward flight target acquisition task developed for this study based on a ground attack or strafing maneuver. Eight Army pilots participated in the study and evaluated 60 yaw-axis configurations. The results of the study suggest that the current yaw-axis hover/low-speed and forward flight bandwidth and hover/low-speed attitude quickness requirements for target acquisition and tracking are too low. Updated boundaries for these requirements are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	A piloted simulation experiment was conducted in the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator to investigate the effects of bandwidth, phase delay, attitude quickness, and maximum achievable rate on yaw-axis handling qualities in hover and forward flight. Two different aircraft were tested, representative of advanced scout-class rotorcraft. Five target acquisition and tracking mission task elements were used in the study. Two of the tasks were modified versions of tasks used to determine the ADS-33E target acquisition and tracking yaw attitude quickness boundaries. Two of the tasks were modified versions of attitude capture and hold and sum-of-sines tracking tasks previously used to evaluate pitch and roll axis handling qualities. The final task was a forward flight target acquisition task developed for this study based on a ground attack or strafing maneuver. Eight Army pilots participated in the study and evaluated 60 yaw-axis configurations. The results of the study suggest that the current yaw-axis hover/low-speed and forward flight bandwidth and hover/low-speed attitude quickness requirements for target acquisition and tracking are too low. Updated boundaries for these requirements are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00028711
DOI:	10.4050/JAHS.70.042005