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DSTO support to Navy aviation

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is the Australian Government's lead agency charged with applying science and technology to protect and defend Australia and its national interests. DSTO delivers expert, impartial advice and innovative solutions for Defence and other elements of national security.

Simulation of a Seahawk helicopter on a ship deck

DSTO provides support to the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) aviation force in a number of key areas including:

• Developing flight models for a range of applications;

• Modelling and simulation of on-deck operations;

• Investigation of ship/helicopter night operations;

• Modelling human system performance;

• Studying rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicles;

• Carrying out operations research; and

• Mission systems.

DSTO also provides support to navy aviation in:

• Structural integrity;

• Fuels and lubricants;

• Gearbox vibration analysis;

• Corrosion control; and

• Electronic warfare.

Helicopter flight dynamic models

DSTO employs a range of flight models with varying fidelity to support its research activities including operations research (OR) studies, human machine interface (HMI) studies and incident and accident investigation.

Operations research studies require robust and efficient flight models so that various options can be rapidly evaluated. HMI studies require medium and high fidelity models to provide the pilots with an appropriate feel for the aircraft. With incident and accident investigation, a full representation of the aerodynamics, engines, and control systems is essential.

Helicopter-ship on-deck operations modelling

In heavy seas, turbulent airwake over the flight deck and the motion of the deck itself can provide an extremely hazardous environment for operating helicopters from ships. This applies both for launch and recovery operations, as well as on the ship deck. Safe operating limits are required to enable the deck crew to know when it is safe to perform particular on-deck operations.  The RAN requires that on-deck limits are assessed prior to any sea trials.

Since 1987, DSTO has been using simulation to determine safe operating limits. This on-deck simulation has been used by the RAN for more than 10 years and is considered an essential tool for the assessment of helicopter on-deck limits.

Helicopter night operations

DSTO has the capability to carry out detailed investigations into the operation of helicopters at night. The RAN is acquiring a night vision goggle (NVG) capability for its helicopter fleet, which will enhance night vision, and also display instrument symbology on a helmet mounted display (HMD).

NVG simulation trials at DSTO’s Air Operations Simulation Centre show improved flight safety and increased head-out-time (time the pilot spends looking out of the cockpit window and not down at his instruments). With the introduction of the Top Owl helmet, DSTO is also carrying out further complementary research regarding the effects of vision distortion due to increasing the apparent separation of the eyes by using visual sensors mounted on the side of a helmet (hyperstereopsis).

Human factors research

DSTO employs the Integrated Performance Modelling Environment (IPME) software to model human-system performance for RAN helicopter crew. In IPME, alternative task sequences or networks are constructed to model human-system performance. Two types of models can be built:

• Process models that are task network models in which performance is based on the times allocated to each task; and

• Workload models that include the effect of operator workload on performance.

DSTO has applied task network modelling to:

(i) Optimise crew allocation (determine which crew member undertakes each task) in the Seahawk helicopter upgraded with Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) sensors; and

(ii) Determine the most appropriate crew duties and functions for the Integrated Tactical Avionics System (ITAS) to undertake in the Super Seasprite helicopter.

Helicopter UAV controllability

DSTO is investigating the control of rotary wing unmanned air vehicles (RW-UAVs) operated from ships. The reduced size of a typical RW-UAV compared to a helicopter makes the effect of ship airwake turbulence on the air platform even greater and places further restrictions on RW-UAV operating limits due to controllability.

Operations research

DSTO carries out OR studies for RAN aviation using a variety of approaches including constructive and analytical simulation. This requires that all facets of a helicopter’s operation be modelled, including aircrew tactical decision making (using intelligent agents), sensor and weapon performance, aircraft handling characteristics, cooperating unit behaviour (e.g. friendly shipping), target behaviour, and the environment.

Various mission scenarios are run and averaged over many iterations to determine appropriate measures of performance. Aircraft sensor configurations can be changed in order to compare the effectiveness of each option. The resulting information provides greater understanding about what a capability actually delivers, identifies capability gaps and areas for potential improvement, and helps develop new tactics.

Mission systems research

DSTO carries out research into helicopter mission systems, namely the integrated suite of avionics and on-board systems that provide the airborne platform with its operational warfighting capability. Such research requires a deep level understanding of the capability of both the hardware and software, based on laboratory studies, enabling low cost and low risk experimentation of new and evolving mission system technologies.

DSTO contacts and information

Defence Science and Technology Organisation

506 Lorimer Street

Fishermans Bend, VIC 3207

Tel: +61 3 9626 7271

Fax: +61 3 9626 7099

Email: information@dsto.defence.gov.au

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