Date of Award

4-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences

First Advisor

Brian Kish

Second Advisor

Ralph Kimberlin

Third Advisor

Stephen K. Cusick

Fourth Advisor

Hamid Hefazi

Abstract

The objective of this thesis research was to analyze the implementation of new technologies into the flight test engineering major courses at Florida Institute of Technology. The focus was to use current augmented reality technology available in the market and create ways the students would be able to use it while performing experiments. Augmented reality is not the same as virtual reality. It is a technology that generates computer images of effect into an existing reality. In easier words, augmented reality projects images into the real-life surroundings the user locates. It allows the user to interact with the computer while the user enjoys the place where he or she is. Augmented reality has been used for many years to assist pilots, primarily for military purposes. The FAA and NASA use the term Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) to describe use for aviation purposes. This technology is applied to give Heads-up information to the pilots. This research used the Epson Moverio BT-300 glasses, with sample code based on an open source code called GPS Raw. The code was developed to display two essential parameters for the user: altitude and groundspeed. The goal was to verify the information gathered from the glasses is the same or similar to the data collected from the aircraft instruments. The glasses were flown on three different aircraft, a Piper Warrior, a Piper Cherokee Six and a Piper Navajo. The tests were conducted from the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport, KMLB. The tests simulated two flight labs performed by the Performance for Flight Test Engineering Course, MAE5701; Airspeed Calibration and Climb Performance. Both tests involved altitude and groundspeed. The results showed that the data recorded from the glasses did not match the data recorded from the aircraft instruments. Therefore, the glasses were not suitable to be used to assist students of the flight test program.

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