UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Chun-Wai Wong
Meng Aerospace System Engineering
Project Supervisor
Dr Pritesh Narayan
Android Software Interface Development for Flight Test Capturing
The aims of the project is to create an interface that would allow the
students to capture flight test data without compromising their and others
safety. The app must be simple to use and useable when the pilot is
experiencing heavy payload on multitasking.
During the Flight test, the phone must be bonded to the aircraft and must
not be held in for the sensors (IMU) to work. Therefore the interface must
take this into account, as many user are used to use their phone while
holding it, when the phone is held at arm length most people will find it hard
to do simple task, such as typing and selecting options.
The task the student need to
perform during the flight test:
Climb Performance Descent Performance
Phugoid
Steady Heading Sideslip
Roll Mode
Height Control Task
Spiral Mode
Heading Control Task
Short Period Mode Roll Control Task
Dutch Roll Mode
The software takes into the
account of vision perspective,
peripheral vision, screen size
and many other aspect are
taken into account
Different test requires different screen, as
some task just relies on logging, other relies on
give a feedback on the task. A new rating
system was made to replace the Cooper-
Harper Handling Qualities Rating Scales where
the majorities of the numbers are not generally
used by the students flying.
Some Android programing is required to create
the interface, the basic language used is JAVA.
This language was not taught in lectures in the
Aerospace module, so much of the language is
self learnt
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Project summary
To design and develop an android based
smartphone application to enable flight test
data capture
Project Objectives
•Safely allow for selection of flight mode for
data capture with minimal overhead during
single pilot in command operations
•Design and implementation of a Head Up
Display (if applicable) which enables the pilot
to command the aircraft safely (e.g. use of
checklists and collision avoidance) and
execute flight test data capture in controlled
airspace
•Validate the solution using a survey of pilots
as well as in flight testing
•Develop a metric to translate qualitative
pilot feedback into quantitative comparative
data
Project Conclusion
Over 80% of user that tested the application
found it comfortable using it than the
standard interface from a data capturing
software available in the android market.
Data Saved
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