Promoting learning, memory, and transfer in a time-constrained, high hazard environment

Two methods of metacognitive reflection for promoting compliance with an aviation safety rule were tested in a transfer design. Two groups of pilots (n = 10) conducted a simulated flight entailing a search for a target on the ground. During this flight, only 35% of the pilots stayed above an altitude of 500 ft, the minimum allowed by relevant regulations. Following the flight, one group completed a self-explanation questionnaire, in which they explained their actions during the initial flight and what they would do in future flights. The other group completed a relapse-prevention questionnaire, in which they identified the circumstances leading to safety lapses and their future avoidance. A third group (n = 10) formed a rest control; they conducted a familiarization flight without a ground target or debriefing. One week later, all pilots conducted a series of test flights with the same or different ground targets as the initial flight. The self-explanation group showed 100% compliance when the ground target remained the same, but less so (<70%) when the ground target was different. The relapse-prevention group and control groups both showed low levels of compliance across all test flights (<30%). The results are discussed from theoretical and applied perspectives.     

Wetting and coalescence prevention of drops in a liquid matrix. Ground and parabolic flight results

An experimental and numerical analysis of the behavior of drops in a liquid matrix, in presence of temperature differences, is carried out in preparation for a MAXUS sounding rocket flight to study wetting and coalescence prevention induced by thermal Marangoni effect. On-ground experimentation has been carried out using micro zone apparatus. Different pairs of liquids (drop and matrix) have been analyzed; wetting prevention has been observed with drops of different diameter and critical temperature differences have been measured for each pair. To avoid buoyancy effects similar experiments have been carried out during the 30^th ESA parabolic flight campaign. The main objective of the experiments is facility tests in a parabolic flight for the MAXUS flight. During the parabolic flight a hanging drop of Silicone oil 10 mm diameter has been injected in a matrix of Fluorinert and in air; wetting prevention has been observed in presence of a temperature difference between the drop and the lower surface. The theoretical-numerical study of the problem has been carried out with a thermofluidynamic model based on the assumption of the existence of a fluid film between the drop and the lower surface. After the campaign, the video images of the experiment have been analyzed and velocity measurements have been obtained analyzing the motion of tracers. Measured and computed velocities are in sufficient agreement, in particular for the Silicone oil/Fluorinert configuration.     

Synchronous acceleration of two millimeter-sized bodies up to hypersonic velocities in a multichannel railgun

A two-channel electromagnetic railgun accelerator of bodies of original design is described. Using this device, synchronous group flight in the atmosphere has been realized for two plastic cubes with a 2-mm edge length and ～0.01-g mass each at a velocity exceeding 4 km/s. The flight and related gas-flow patterns have been monitored by high-speed photography using a double-frame schlieren system.     

Reactivation of latent herpes viruses in cosmonauts during a soyuz taxi mission

The hypothesis tested by this project is that space flight increases the incidence and duration of herpes virus reactivation and shedding in saliva. Saliva, urine, and blood samples were collected from 3 crew members who participated in a 14-day Odessa Soyuz taxi mission. Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the mission, and blood and urine were collected before and after the mission. The saliva and urine samples were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of 3 important herpes viruses. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were tested in saliva, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was measured in urine samples. Plasma antibodies levels to these viruses were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after flight. EBV reactivated before, during, and after flight; CMV reactivated before and after flight; and VZV reactivated during and after flight. In other studies, greater frequencies of positive samples and greater numbers of copies of viral DNA have been found. No increases in titer of antibodies to these viruses were found, suggesting that an immune response may not be necessary for reactivation.     

Diffusion of aerosols in a tube with turbulent flow

Aerosol diffusion in a tube with turbulent flow is investigated. Two systems of aerosol diffusion are considered; the first case with uniform inlet aerosol concentration and without formation in flight, and the second without aerosol particles at the tube inlet and with formation in flight. Both systems have been found in practical applications. Observations of the results indicate that the Reynolds and Schmidt numbers, which characterize the gas flow and aerosol diffusion, respectively, play an extremely important role in the determination of aerosol concentration.     

Through the eyes of a bird: modelling visually guided obstacle flight

Various flight navigation strategies for birds have been identified at the large spatial scales of migratory and homing behaviours. However, relatively little is known about close-range obstacle negotiation through cluttered environments. To examine obstacle flight guidance, we tracked pigeons (Columba livia) flying through an artificial forest of vertical poles. Interestingly, pigeons adjusted their flight path only approximately 1.5 m from the forest entry, suggesting a reactive mode of path planning. Combining flight trajectories with obstacle pole positions, we reconstructed the visual experience of the pigeons throughout obstacle flights. Assuming proportional–derivative control with a constant delay, we searched the relevant parameter space of steering gains and visuomotor delays that best explained the observed steering. We found that a pigeon''s steering resembles proportional control driven by the error angle between the flight direction and the desired opening, or gap, between obstacles. Using this pigeon steering controller, we simulated obstacle flights and showed that pigeons do not simply steer to the nearest opening in the direction of flight or destination. Pigeons bias their flight direction towards larger visual gaps when making fast steering decisions. The proposed behavioural modelling method converts the obstacle avoidance behaviour into a (piecewise) target-aiming behaviour, which is better defined and understood. This study demonstrates how such an approach decomposes open-loop free-flight behaviours into components that can be independently evaluated.     

Design of accelerated hygrothermal cycles on polymer matrix composites in the case of a supersonic aircraft

The paper is related to a supersonic transportation application where polymer matrix composites utilized in primary structures are subjected to particular hygrothermal flight-cycles. In fact, the particular point in this study is the drying effect of supersonic flight at high temperature, around 130 °C, on the durability of the material. This phenomenon constitutes an entirely new situation for these materials in contrast with a classical subsonic flight at low temperature. The supersonic aircraft is supposed to be subjected to a succession of supersonic flight-cycles followed by a periodic maintenance operation. The objective of the study is first to characterize the in-service material state during the supersonic flight cycles and after the maintenance operations. Then, the challenge is to define the material geometry and environmental conditions to meet the in-service material state in short time. Thus, different accelerated cycles adapted to the new situation of supersonic flights, i.e. focusing on the cyclical drying of the material, are proposed.     

Wake structure and wingbeat kinematics of a house-martin Delichon urbica.

The wingbeat kinematics and wake structure of a trained house martin in free, steady flight in a wind tunnel have been studied over a range of flight speeds, and compared and contrasted with similar measurements for a thrush nightingale and a pair of robins. The house martin has a higher aspect ratio (more slender) wing, and is a more obviously agile and aerobatic flyer, catching insects on the wing. The wingbeat is notable for the presence at higher flight speeds of a characteristic pause in the upstroke. The essential characteristics of the wing motions can be reconstructed with a simple two-frequency model derived from Fourier analysis. At slow speeds, the distribution of wake vorticity is more simple than for the other previously measured birds, and the upstroke does not contribute to weight support. The upstroke becomes gradually more significant as the flight speed increases, and although the vortex wake shows a signature of the pause phase, the global circulation measurements are otherwise in good agreement with surprisingly simple aerodynamic models, and with predictions across the different species, implying quite similar aerodynamic performance of the wing sections. The local Reynolds numbers of the wing sections are sufficiently low that the well-known instabilities of attached laminar flows over lifting surfaces, which are known to occur at two to three times this value, may not develop.     

Flight efficiency is a key to diverse wing morphologies in small insects

Insect wings are hybrid structures that are typically composed of veins and solid membranes. In some of the smallest flying insects, however, the wing membrane is replaced by hair-like bristles attached to a solid root. Bristles and membranous wing surfaces coexist in small but not in large insect species. There is no satisfying explanation for this finding as aerodynamic force production is always smaller in bristled than solid wings. This computational study suggests that the diversity of wing structure in small insects results from aerodynamic efficiency rather than from the requirements to produce elevated forces for flight. The tested wings vary from fully membranous to sparsely bristled and were flapped around a wing root with lift- and drag-based wing kinematic patterns and at different Reynolds numbers (Re). The results show that the decrease in aerodynamic efficiency with decreasing surface solidity is significantly smaller at Re = 4 than Re = 57. A replacement of wing membrane by bristles thus causes less change in energetic costs for flight in small compared to large insects. As a consequence, small insects may fly with bristled and solid wing surfaces at similar efficacy, while larger insects must use membranous wings for an efficient production of flight forces. The above findings are significant for the biological fitness and dispersal of insects that fly at elevated energy expenditures.     

喷气式发动机地面静态噪声测试数据的修正方法

衍生机型要投入运营必须进行再审定。利用发动机地面静态噪声测试来预测飞行中的噪声级,可以达到节约时间和成本的目的。通过发动机在翼的试验方法,获得某型发动机的地面静态噪声数据,将静态测试数据修正到飞行状态,从而预测装配该型发动机的衍生型飞机的飞行噪声级。从地面到飞行状态等效映射中的修正因素直接影响实验结果的准确性。围绕修正因素进行研究,来验证该修正方法的准确性。     

Gamma-ray background induced in a double Ge(Li) spectrometer at balloon altitudes in the Southern Hemisphere

A double coaxial Ge(Li) spectrometer has been flown for the first time in December 1983 from the Southern Hemisphere. Despite an electronics failure which shortened the flight duration, the induced background at ceiling in the diodes can be studied. Nevertheless, the low statistics of the data requires some caution in the identification of the features of the lines. During the flight, different anticoincidence modes were operated to estimate the local production. The atmospheric 511 keV line results show that the fluxes detected by the upper diode are in good agreement with previous measurements, and, at the same time, indicate a probable contamination of the lower diode. The techniques used with a double coaxial Ge(Li) seem to demonstrate a better method to reject the induced background in the upper diode (the heart detector) than with the single Ge(Li) telescope.     

一种超低空飞行的仿生扑翼飞行器的设计及分析

为研制既具备一定的负载能力,又具有高隐蔽性的飞行器,依据鸟类的飞行方式,设计了一种可以超低空飞行的仿生扑翼飞行器.首先,计算了扑翼飞行器传动机构的自由度,从原理上确定了设计方案的可行性,并确定了飞行器各个构件的尺寸;其次,利用设计软件Creo绘制飞行器三维模型,通过运动仿真得出飞行器的扑动符合设计要求;然后,利用ADA...     

Long distance propagation of a polarized neutron beam in zero magnetic field

A beam of fully polarized cold neutrons was transported through a zero magnetic field region of 70 m length without loss of polarization. The purpose of this exercise was twofold: firstly, to demonstrate that the new zero-field neutron spin-echo method will work also for very long neutron flight paths; secondly, to prove in the most direct way that the neutron free-flight region of the ILL neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment was indeed sufficiently field-free (“quasifree condition”) by using the neutrons themselves as a magnetometer. To this purpose the residual magnetic field integrals in the long “zero-field” region were measured with a conventional neutron spin-echo method. The overall spin precession angle of the neutrons during their flight through the long zero-field region was found to be less than 2°.     

Oscillations make a self-scaled model for honeybees’ visual odometer reliable regardless of flight trajectory

Honeybees foraging and recruiting nest-mates by performing the waggle dance need to be able to gauge the flight distance to the food source regardless of the wind and terrain conditions. Previous authors have hypothesized that the foragers’ visual odometer mathematically integrates the angular velocity of the ground image sweeping backward across their ventral viewfield, known as translational optic flow. The question arises as to how mathematical integration of optic flow (usually expressed in radians/s) can reliably encode distances, regardless of the height and speed of flight. The vertical self-oscillatory movements observed in honeybees trigger expansions and contractions of the optic flow vector field, yielding an additional visual cue called optic flow divergence. We have developed a self-scaled model for the visual odometer in which the translational optic flow is scaled by the visually estimated current clearance from the ground. In simulation, this model, which we have called SOFIa, was found to be reliable in a large range of flight trajectories, terrains and wind conditions. It reduced the statistical dispersion of the estimated flight distances approximately 10-fold in comparison with the mathematically integrated raw optic flow model. The SOFIa model can be directly implemented in robotic applications based on minimalistic visual equipment.     

The role of flight experiments in the development of cryogenic fluid management technologies

This paper reviews the history of cryogenic fluid management technology development and infusion into both the Saturn and Centaur vehicles. Ground testing and analysis proved inadequate to demonstrate full scale performance. As a consequence flight demonstration with full scale vehicle was required by both the Saturn and Centaur programs to build confidence that problems were addressed. However; the flight vehicles were highly limited on flight instrumentation and the flight demonstration “locked-in” the design without challenging the function of design elements. Projects reviewed include: the Aerobee Sounding Rocket Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) tests which served as a valuable stepping stone to flight demonstration and built confidence in the ability to handle hydrogen in low gravity; the Saturn IVB Fluid Management Qualification flight test; the Atlas Centaur demonstration flights to develop two burn capability; and finally the Titan Centaur two post mission flight tests.     

Use of multiple modes of flight subsidy by a soaring terrestrial bird,the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos,when on migration

Large birds regularly use updrafts to subsidize flight. Although most research on soaring bird flight has focused on use of thermal updrafts, there is evidence suggesting that many species are likely to use multiple modes of subsidy. We tested the degree to which a large soaring species uses multiple modes of subsidy to provide insights into the decision-making that underlies flight behaviour. We statistically classified more than 22 000 global positioning satellite–global system for mobile communications telemetry points collected at 30-s intervals to identify the type of subsidized flight used by 32 migrating golden eagles during spring in eastern North America. Eagles used subsidized flight on 87% of their journey. They spent 41.9% ± 1.5 (, range: 18–56%) of their subsidized northbound migration using thermal soaring, 45.2% ± 2.1 (12–65%) of time gliding between thermals, and 12.9% ± 2.2 (1–55%) of time using orographic updrafts. Golden eagles responded to the variable local-scale meteorological events they encountered by switching flight behaviour to take advantage of multiple modes of subsidy. Orographic soaring occurred more frequently in morning and evening, earlier in the migration season, and when crosswinds and tail winds were greatest. Switching between flight modes allowed migration for relatively longer periods each day and frequent switching behaviour has implications for a better understanding of avian flight behaviour and of the evolution of use of subsidy in flight.     

Comparative aerodynamic performance of flapping flight in two bat species using time-resolved wake visualization

Bats are unique among extant actively flying animals in having very flexible wings, controlled by multi-jointed fingers. This gives the potential for fine-tuned active control to optimize aerodynamic performance throughout the wingbeat and thus a more efficient flight. But how bat wing performance scales with size, morphology and ecology is not yet known. Here, we present time-resolved fluid wake data of two species of bats flying freely across a range of flight speeds using stereoscopic digital particle image velocimetry in a wind tunnel. From these data, we construct an average wake for each bat species and speed combination, which is used to estimate the flight forces throughout the wingbeat and resulting flight performance properties such as lift-to-drag ratio (L/D). The results show that the wake dynamics and flight performance of both bat species are similar, as was expected since both species operate at similar Reynolds numbers (Re) and Strouhal numbers (St). However, maximum L/D is achieved at a significant higher flight speed for the larger, highly mobile and migratory bat species than for the smaller non-migratory species. Although the flight performance of these bats may depend on a range of morphological and ecological factors, the differences in optimal flight speeds between the species could at least partly be explained by differences in their movement ecology.     

基于声阵列的飞机地面声爆测试技术

开展超声速飞机飞行条件下的地面声爆测试是声爆问题研究的重要技术手段。针对大范围、高精度地面声爆的测试问题,提出了采用声阵列进行地面声爆测试的飞行试验技术方案,并开展了试验验证。根据声爆在真实大气中的传播特性,以声阵列为核心设计地面声爆测试方案和分布式测试系统,提出基于航迹切入程序进行飞行动作设计的方法,形成声爆-飞行状态-飞行航迹-地面至空中气象条件的综合方案。采用该飞行试验技术方案对某型歼击机的地面声爆进行了实测,结果表明该方案合理可行,能可靠地进行不同飞行条件下的地面大范围声爆测量及其相关参数测量,基于系综平均法设计的声阵列可提升稳定飞行状态的声爆测量精度,三种声爆测量传声器布置方案能够用于评估地面对声爆传播的影响。     

舵结构系统的飞行自激振动特性

针对舵结构系统在飞行当中出现的自激振动现象,提出了含间隙和库仑干摩擦舵结构系统在非定常气动力作用下的振动力学模型,基于理论分析揭示了舵结构系统飞行自激振动现象的发生机理,并通过数值计算模拟了包含高次谐波的舵结构系统自激振动,得到了与飞行实测结果一致的现象和规律。     

Grasping the world from a cockpit: perspectives on embodied neural mechanisms underlying human performance and ergonomics in aviation context

ABSTRACT

A great challenge for cognitive neuroscience is studying human behavior in its complexity as it manifests in the real world. The field of aviation provides a unique opportunity to investigate how perception, action and cognition interact in complex yet controlled ecologically valid environments. We suggest a novel cross-domain approach that combines insights from ecological psychology and embodied cognition with a neurophysiological framework to explain patterns of human performance across a variety of aviation contexts. Specifically, we argue that studying the interaction between an agent and the environment, as manifest in the Mirror Neuron system as a neural correlate, is key to understanding complex behavior. We can describe the experience and skills involved with task-relevant actions – like flying an airplane – using brain mechanisms of motor simulation of the observed action. With this direct coupling between perception and action, the automatic implicit nature of the Mirror Neuron system can be harnessed to improve human factor and ergonomics. This analysis offers three areas for future study and application: (1) enhancing flight training by isolating specific agent-environment relations; (2) tracking training progression based on brain signatures of flight expertise; and (3) neuroscientific-inspired ecological design of next-generation human–machine interfaces in flight decks.