Control of a Remote Maneuvering Unit During Satellite Inspection
Report Number: AMRL TR 66-134
Author(s): Clark, Herbert J.
Laboratory: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories
Date of Publication: 1967-03
Pages: 22
Contract: Laboratory Research - No Contract
DoD Project: 7184
DoD Task: 718401
Identifier: AD0654327
Abstract:
Operator performance in flying a simulated remote maneuvering unit (RMU) on a coplanar satellite inspection mission was evaluated under two conditions of RMU attitude control and two conditions of cockpit instrumentation. The maneuver was repeatedly performed successfully using either an on-off acceleration-command attitude control system or an on-off rate-command attitude control system, each with either a full panel of cockpit instruments (six) or only one cockpit instrument. The rate-command system was found to be superior for pitch control during station keeping and for roll control in general. The acceleration-command system was superior for pitch control during the trajectory portions of the mission. Because both control systems had disadvantages, consideration of a variable rate-control system is recommended. More economical and precise RMU control was obtained under the full-panel cockpit instrumentation condition irrespective of the control system used. The instruments of most value were found to be those which provided X (longitudinal) and Z (vertical) distance information. The limitations of the simulation and the advantages and disadvantages of an 'inside-out' versus an 'outside-in' television display of the target and its surrounds are also discussed.
Provenance: RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Author(s): Clark, Herbert J.
Laboratory: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories
Date of Publication: 1967-03
Pages: 22
Contract: Laboratory Research - No Contract
DoD Project: 7184
DoD Task: 718401
Identifier: AD0654327
Abstract:
Operator performance in flying a simulated remote maneuvering unit (RMU) on a coplanar satellite inspection mission was evaluated under two conditions of RMU attitude control and two conditions of cockpit instrumentation. The maneuver was repeatedly performed successfully using either an on-off acceleration-command attitude control system or an on-off rate-command attitude control system, each with either a full panel of cockpit instruments (six) or only one cockpit instrument. The rate-command system was found to be superior for pitch control during station keeping and for roll control in general. The acceleration-command system was superior for pitch control during the trajectory portions of the mission. Because both control systems had disadvantages, consideration of a variable rate-control system is recommended. More economical and precise RMU control was obtained under the full-panel cockpit instrumentation condition irrespective of the control system used. The instruments of most value were found to be those which provided X (longitudinal) and Z (vertical) distance information. The limitations of the simulation and the advantages and disadvantages of an 'inside-out' versus an 'outside-in' television display of the target and its surrounds are also discussed.
Provenance: RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine