Technological research challenges of flight simulation and flight instructor assessments of perceived fidelity

Abstract

This article postulates that perceptual fidelity is not necessarily communicated by exact physics-based simulation. Fidelity ranges widely among simulators; some re-create an environment or system so that it is difficult to distinguish between the simulator and the real system, whereas others re-create a small part of a system or present the whole system in a more compact and stylized fashion. This article aims to explore technological and perceptual fidelity metrics for flight simulators based on human judgments and technological characteristics resulting in research challenges in either facet of a system. Examples include psychophysical experiments assessing perceptual sensitivity to system faults such as latency. Focusing on commercial flight and flight systems simulation, this article presents the results of an experimental study acquiring user assessments of fidelity, involving expert users with experience of the real, operational environment and the simulated equivalent. Acquiring judgments of fidelity from flight instructors, technological development could relate to respective naturalness of a simulator toward positive transfer of training.