Page 15 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE ROTARY WINGS

a production helicopter that will offer a to operate the complex control systems, the myCopter steering wheel system.
smooth ride, exceptional fuel-efficiency “But we have now managed to develop “Instead, the pilot simply turns the steering
and low noise levels. a steering wheel based control system wheel as required to fly the helicopter
- with automatic control technology in the intended direction,” Schuchardt
Helicopters As Means Of behind it - that makes flying far simpler. adds. A single control has been retained
Personal Transport The range of possible applications for exclusively for altitude, though this
What if in the future, one could fly a extends way beyond PAVs, bringing clear could be replaced by a paddle behind the
helicopter, just as one drove a car? benefits to other airborne vehicles as steering vehicle and foot pedals. Just as in
Research has been underway on the well,” said Stefan Levedag, Head of the a car, one of the foot pedals can be used to
fundamental technologies and concepts DLR Institute of Flight Systems. The control speed. Lateral and reverse flight is
for aerial vehicles of the future, aimed revolutionary helicopter steering wheel controlled via an eight-way switch on the
at moving personal transportation has already made its first flight in an Air myCopter steering wheel.
into the air, and the establishment of a Vehicle Simulator (AVES) that is run by
personal aerial transportation system the DLR at Braunschweig. Actual flight
(PATS) based on Personal Aerial Vehicles testing is planned for a later date on the
(PAVs). The ‘Enabling Technologies for Airbus Helicopters EC 135 DLR ACT/FHS
Personal Aerial Transportation Systems’ research helicopter owned by DLR.
or ‘myCopter’, which ran from 2011 to end “Until now, helicopter pilots have
2014, has made important forward strides been required to monitor all four control
in studying the requirements for future axes,” explains Bianca Schuchardt, from
aerial transport systems. the DLR Institute of Flight Systems. “This
The development of a myCopter takes absolute concentration, especially
steering wheel system, by researchers at when hovering, as a pilot must operate
the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches both sticks and pedals at the same time to Bianca Schuchardt from
Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt; DLR) maintain a stable position in the air.” The the DLR Institute of Flight
Braunschweig, was an important outcome cyclic stick - responsible for movements Systems, with the steering
of the project. Today’s helicopters require about the longitudinal axis (roll) and the wheel system in the
pilots to be trained to a very high standard transverse axis (pitch) - is missing from helicopter simulator
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