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Displays for Ecological VSTOL Operation (DEVO)

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-08-C-0279
Agency Tracking Number: N08A-005-0060
Amount: $69,864.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N08-T005
Solicitation Number: 2008.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-07-14
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-02-14
Small Business Information
625 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
DUNS: 115243701
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Ryan Kilgore, PhD
 Senior Scientist
 (617) 491-3474
 rkilgore@cra.com
Business Contact
 Jennifer Barron
Title: Director, Contracts
Phone: (617) 491-3474
Email: jbarron@cra.com
Research Institution
 MASSACHUSETTS INST. OF TECHNOLOGY
 Michael P Corcoran
 
77 Massachusetts Avenue Building E19-750
Cambridge, MA 2139
United States

 (617) 253-3906
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Despite their utility, VSTOL aircraft have been plagued by high accident rates, leading to unacceptable safety risks and extensive equipment maintenance costs. To enhance VSTOL safety, particularly under instrument flight or degraded visual conditions, we will design, demonstrate, and evaluate novel visual Displays for Ecological VSTOL Operation (DEVO). These displays—the first application of ecological design principles to VSTOL flight control—will increase the safety of both manned and unmanned VSTOL operations through simple visual cues to support operators’ direct perception of vehicle dynamics. Three major components comprise our approach. First, we will combine demonstrated work domain analysis techniques, theories of ecological perception, and rapid software prototyping techniques to design and demonstrate simple display mechanisms for presenting critical system information to the operator. Second, we will conduct basic human-performance experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of these display mechanisms in enhancing novice pilots’ skill acquisition and performance. Third, we will identify potential approaches for developing self-paced intelligent tutoring systems to leverage these displays in training VSTOL operators. We will also work with subcontractor Aurora Flight Systems to identify a pathway for demonstrating the use of these displays to control an Aurora unmanned vehicle in a live flight test under Phase II.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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