Simulation News

EDM Showcases G-cueing

EDM SHOWCASES ‘G CUEING’ MOTION SIMULATOR AT I/ITSEC 2009

EDM is one of a small handful of companies in the world with the pedigree to manufacture simulated ejection seat systems used in a wide variety of military applications. At this month’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC 2009) in Orlando, Florida, EDM is showcasing a new addition to its range – the G Cueing’ seat.

This new development of a replica seat incorporates electric actuators or motors which provide “movement” within various parts of the seat, simulating the movement of the aircraft within the simulated environment. Together with highly realistic visual and sound effects, plus in some cases a simulated anti-g suit, the pilot is placed in an environment that stimulates his or her sensory perception.

Actuators within the seat work in a coordinated fashion to provide simulated movement aligned to the pilots centre of gravity, which in turn is aligned to the aircraft’s primary X,Y and Z axes. The actuators are stimulated from a complex six-axis flight model that, in real time, calculates simultaneous equations of motion based on the centre of gravity of the pilot within the simulated aircraft model. This provides the pilot with “surge”, “heave” and “sway” cues.

“This is an exciting development that we expect to prove an increasingly important tool for military customers in preparing their pilots for advanced flight training operations,” said EDM’s Head of Sales and Business Development, Mick Bonney, adding that the Manchester, UK based company is already contracted to supply G Cueing seats to the Royal Air Force Hawk T MkII full mission simulators. Deliveries to the RAF are due to begin in 2011.

TEAMWORK

The advanced ‘G Seat’ system design has resulted from a cohesive team effort involving a number of UK and US based specialist simulation companies – each adding their own often-unique expertise – together with excellent project management.

In recent months, EDM and its G Cueing Seat development partner Stirling Dynamics, which also supplied a dynamic sidestick and throttle unit, have collaborated with these specialists to produce a seat that is fully integrated with a high performance flight model, visual projection system and high fidelity visual database, allowing occupants to “fly” the seat.

The flight model has been specifically developed for EDM by J2 Aircraft Dynamics and is based on a generic fast jet training aircraft. J2 Aircraft Dynamics is a specialist aerodynamic software modelling company which has worked with major aerospace companies such as Airbus and EADS on prototype aircraft design projects.

The Genesis RTX ™visual database has been supplied through the leading and highly innovative US database specialists Cogent 3D and Diamond Visionics. Computing power for the image generation will be provided by Concurrent computers, while the high definition projectors will be controlled through SOL™ image blending software from Mersive Technology.

A version of the F16 Head Up Display, which has been integrated with the visual system and the flight model, has been developed by DiSTI. Co-ordination of the US components of the demonstrator seat has been through AntyCip, based in France, which serves as the European representative for Mersive, Diamond Visionics, DiSTI and Cogent products.

This exemplary transatlantic collaborative effort has resulted in a demonstration that will show how diverse off-the-shelf and bespoke products can be integrated through industry common software standards such as Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI).

G SEAT CAPABILITY

The training solution developed by EDM/Stirling Dynamics for the Royal Air Force incorporates a number of key features and benefits, including:

• · Retention of all key simulated equipment on the seat to allow highly realistic ingress and egress training
• · Integrated six-axis modular actuation system providing real-time G-cueing in “surge” (longitudinal), “sway” (lateral) and “heave” (vertical) directions
• · Innovative rolling motion through the use of asymmetric movement of the seat pan
• · Seat actuator modules are designed for removal and refit with the seat in the simulator cockpit thus providing a high degree of maintainability
• · Control of the seat actuators is via a high-speed CANBUS network
• · Actuators and control system are Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) items
• · Communication to the seat from the aircraft and visual system simulation is via a standard Ethernet connection

Future applications for the G Seat range from helicopters to UAV/UCAV pilot stations and possibly civil airline simulator adaptations.

STRONG PEDIGREE

EDM has manufactured replica seats for 15 years at its base in Newton Heath, Manchester, UK. Its range of simulated ejection seat systems has found numerous applications – from maintenance technician training to highly complex fighter pilot training using Full Mission Simulators such as the Eurofighter Typhoon Aircrew Simulated Training Aids.

EDM manufactures the simulated seats under an arrangement with Martin Baker, the original equipment manufacturer for operational ejection seats fitted in fighter aircraft such as Eurofighter Typhoon, BAE SYSTEMS Hawk, Alenia Aermacchi M346 and Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning II.

END

EDM/Stirling Dynamics have worked with the following UK and US based specialist simulation companies to produce the seat. Their websites and booth number, where appropriate, at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC 2009) in Orlando are listed below:

Stirling Dynamics. Booth 2528 http://www.stirling-dynamics.com

J2. Not exhibiting. http://www.j2aircraft.com

Cogent 3D. Booth 2501. http://www.cogent3d.com

Diamond Visionics. Booth 2501. http://www.diamondvisionics.com

Concurrent computers. Not exhibiting. http://www.ccur.com

Mersive Technology. Booth 1557. http://www.mersive.com

DISTI. Booth 1871. http://www.disti.com/

AntyCips. Booth 1819. http://www.antycip.com/fr/index.php?th=2

For further information, contact Richard Catling at Crest Communications:

email crestcomms@aol.com or tel: 024 7664 2428

or

Michael Bonney at EDM: email mbonney@edm.ltd.uk or tel: 0161 203 3150 Cell +44(0)7921 886682