Board index Other Hangar talk Real aviation

How to become an aerospace engineer

The "real" thing.
Forum rules
Please refrain from discussing politics.

How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Gijs » Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:08 am

This week I officially became an aerospace engineer by graduating from university with a 9 (out of 10) for my thesis project! Here's a plan on how to achieve just that :-)

  • Design a display that can support haptic feedback on the side stick in communicating flight envelope boundaries to pilots. Previous research had found that pilots like haptic feedback for this, but did not always understand what the haptics were trying to tell them. A visual display was expected to improve system acceptance, as well as their performance.
  • Implement the system into an advanced research simulator with an actively controlled side stick (see pictures below). Note that I didn't use the motion system for my experiment (unfortunately).
  • Invite 16 Airbus pilots and let them fly your simulation. Just some numbers so you get a grasp of how extensive the experiment was:
    • They flew 338 approaches into three different airports.
    • Total distance flown: 5772 NM, exceeding the distance from Amsterdam to Singapore.
    • 30 hours, 23 minutes and 30 seconds of actual air time (excluding training etc.).
    • 79.6 GB of flight data collected (at 100 Hz).
    • 434 pages of questionnaires to record subjective data (pilot opinions).
  • Last but not least, use FlightGear in some form :-) In my case we used it to provide the visuals in our simulator. Most of the pilots were rather impressed by the looks of it as well as the smoothness and fast loading times. These guys are used to flying multimillion-dollar training sims, so that's a testimony to the hard work by many of you!
In the end my experiment did not show significant improvements in most of performance parameters with the new display, but there was a clear increase in pilot acceptance and understanding of the haptic system. Promising results for further research!

I'm thrilled that, almost exactly 12 years after my first steps into the FlightGear world, I have reached a (provisional) top of climb. Thank you all for taking part in that journey! Being part of the FlightGear community has definitely paved the way. Let's see what the future brings...

Cheers,
Gijs

Image

Image
Airports: EHAM, EHLE, KSFO
Aircraft: 747-400
User avatar
Gijs
Moderator
 
Posts: 9544
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:55 pm
Location: Delft, the Netherlands
Callsign: PH-GYS
Version: Git
OS: Windows 10

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Thorsten » Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:19 am

Congratulations!
Thorsten
 
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:33 am

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby icecode » Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:32 am

Now begins an even more interesting journey (or that's what I hope it happens after graduating :) ). Congratulations!
icecode
 
Posts: 709
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:17 pm
Location: Spain
Version: next
OS: Fedora

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby legoboyvdlp » Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:42 am

Awesome project - nice work and congratulations :)

Is that a 737 MAX cockpit?
User avatar
legoboyvdlp
 
Posts: 7981
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2014 2:28 am
Location: Northern Ireland
Callsign: G-LEGO
Version: next
OS: Windows 10 HP

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Parnikkapore » Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:48 am

Aerospace and Mechanical/Civil engineering is one of my dream careers too! Don't forget to come back and post :smile:
There are free alternatives to (almost) every program you encounter. You just have to find them.
Parnikkapore
 
Posts: 929
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:16 am
Callsign: HS-FGS
Version: next
OS: Kubuntu

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Gijs » Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:00 am

Thanks guys! I'll definitely let you know whenever there's more cool stuff to show ;-)

Parnikkapore wrote in Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:48 am:Aerospace and Mechanical/Civil engineering is one of my dream careers too!

If you can, go for it!

legoboyvdlp wrote in Sat Jun 01, 2019 10:42 am:Is that a 737 MAX cockpit?

It's a generic cockpit with a mixture of parts. This being a research simulator means that we require maximum flexibility so we can simulate whatever is needed. In the setup shown here there is a side stick on the right and a yoke on the left. The pedestal is from an actual 777 (we don't have a corresponding Airbus pedestal) and the MCP resembles a 737. I performed a single-pilot manual-flying experiment so we only used the right seat and no autopilot. The displays can show whatever you want, in this case an augmented version of an A320 PFD, with the aircraft about to stall.

In fact, the simulator is so flexibel that you can swap out the controls for a helicopter setup, or even a car complete with steering wheel and pedals :-)
Airports: EHAM, EHLE, KSFO
Aircraft: 747-400
User avatar
Gijs
Moderator
 
Posts: 9544
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:55 pm
Location: Delft, the Netherlands
Callsign: PH-GYS
Version: Git
OS: Windows 10

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Johan G » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:05 pm

Congratulations! :D

Was it an FBW FDM with or without envelope protection? And I guess the feedback was more that just a stick shaker or increased control forces.

It would be interesting to skim through that paper when it is ready (though parts of it would be above what I can understand).
Low-level flying — It's all fun and games till someone looses an engine. (Paraphrased from a YouTube video)
Improving the Dassault Mirage F1 (Wiki, Forum, GitLab. Work in slow progress)
Some YouTube videos
Johan G
Moderator
 
Posts: 6629
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 6:33 pm
Location: Sweden
Callsign: SE-JG
IRC name: Johan_G
Version: 2020.3.4
OS: Windows 10, 64 bit

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby bugman » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:17 pm

Congratulations from me as well. From the description of your thesis, it sounds like you would have had a lot of fun with it too,

Regards,
Edward
bugman
Moderator
 
Posts: 1808
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:01 am
Version: next

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Michat » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:29 pm

These are pretty good news from you./ Congratulations! :D Engineer de Roy.

29.92 for you.
User avatar
Michat
 
Posts: 1226
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:24 pm
Location: Spain
Version: 191b
OS: MX 21 Fluxbox oniMac

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby wlbragg » Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:27 pm

What a great accomplishment, congrats!
Kansas and Ohio/Midwest scenery development.
KEQA, 3AU, KRCP Airport Layout
Intel i7/GeForce RTX 2070/Max-Q
User avatar
wlbragg
 
Posts: 7586
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:31 am
Location: Kansas (Tornado Alley), USA
Callsign: WC2020
Version: next
OS: Win10/Linux/RTX 2070

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Gijs » Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:18 pm

Johan G wrote in Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:05 pm:Was it an FBW FDM with or without envelope protection? And I guess the feedback was more that just a stick shaker or increased control forces.

We used an A320 model so yeah FBW. In my experiment all flights were in alternate law without reduced protections. If you're really interested in the haptic feedback side of things you can find already published papers on that matter here and here. My experiment basically used that system, with the addition of feedback on the roll axis.

It would be interesting to skim through that paper when it is ready (though parts of it would be above what I can understand).

The intention is indeed to publish the results, but that'll take a little while. I'll let you know when it's done.
Airports: EHAM, EHLE, KSFO
Aircraft: 747-400
User avatar
Gijs
Moderator
 
Posts: 9544
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:55 pm
Location: Delft, the Netherlands
Callsign: PH-GYS
Version: Git
OS: Windows 10

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby www2 » Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:30 pm

Gefeliciteerd.
And remember me to buy a beer/soft drink at the next FS weekend for you.
www2
 
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:58 pm
OS: Ubuntu

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby xDraconian » Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:44 pm

Great accomplishment Gijs. Congratulations!
xDraconian
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:53 am
Version: Git
OS: Linux Mint

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby VicMar » Sun Jun 02, 2019 8:51 am

Congratulations on a job well done. Best wishes for the future too.

Vic
Time flies like an arrow
Fruit flies like a banana
User avatar
VicMar
 
Posts: 2044
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:53 pm
Location: Lancing. UK (EGKA)
Callsign: VicMar
Version: 2018.3.1
OS: OS X 10.12.6

Re: How to become an aerospace engineer

Postby Isaak » Sun Jun 02, 2019 11:50 am

Proficiat, Gijs! I heard from Durk that you'd made it, glad to see some action! I guess this means that you can finally attend FSweekend without feeling guilty because you should be studying for an exam? ;-) We'll drink one on that in November!
Want to support medical research with your pc? Start Folding at Home and join team FlightGear!
Isaak
 
Posts: 768
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:52 pm
Location: Hamme, Belgium
Pronouns: he, him
Callsign: OO-ISA
Version: next
OS: Windows 10

Next

Return to Real aviation

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests