Virtual Reality in high fidelity Flight Simulation

Project Information

VR-FS

Grant agreement ID: 808892

DOI

10.3030/808892

Project closed

EC signature date 2 February 2018

Start date 1 March 2018

End date 31 July 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

AEROTIM MUHENDISLIK YAZILIM VE DANISMANLIK SANAYI TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI
Türkiye

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VR-FS (Virtual Reality in high fidelity Flight Simulation)

Reporting period: 2018-03-01 to 2018-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The adoption of flight simulation slowly started after the Second World War, as a disruptive innovation in the training of aviation pilots. Its enormous potential for cost savings was the driving force for its progressive adoption. Currently, the cost of a training session in a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) is estimated to be between 5-20% of the cost of a session in a real aircraft.
High fidelity (HI-FI) flight models are the core of Full Flight Simulators, as models replicate the aerodynamics that rule how aircraft fly and how they react to flight control inputs and to external physical conditions (turbulence, wind, precipitation, ...). These models represent “only” 5% of the total cost of a FFS, which is in the average of €25 million, since the hardware equipment comprises very complex motion platforms (required for 6-degree of freedom, in order to emulate movements and acceleration of a real aircraft) and aircraft cockpits (specific for each aircraft model, replicating the real instrumentation panel and flight controls) mounted on the platform.
Our solution is the integration of HI-FI Flight Models in Virtual Reality (VR), creating a VR FFS that eliminates the high costs related to hardware in the current FFS, lowering the price of FFS from €25M to €125K.
During the 5 months of execution of Phase 1 we will validate the technical, operational and financial viability of our solution.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

• Validated the technical feasibility of the integration of our high-fidelity flight models with existing VR equipment, prioritising equipment to be used and analysing the interfacing.
• Validated the operational feasibility of establishing a strategic partnership with suppliers of the best available VR hardware for the system.
• Validated the financial feasibility of VR-FS, scrutiny our current revenue forecasts and refine our costs forecasts in view of the results of the operational and technical assessments.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Expected result 'n future years are as follows|
• Year 2019 – VR-FS fully developed for a utility helicopter, and validated for enabling a high-fidelity piloting experience in a small proof of concept test with 10 pilots, in our premises.
• Year 2020 – VR-FS demonstrated in cooperation with world-class entities (p.e. national army and/or airline) as a pioneering activity as part of their training programme, in sessions with +250 trainee helicopter pilots and +25 trainers, from more than 10 European nationalities.
• Year 2025 (year 5 after launch) – VR-FS in use for training of pilots for +4 aircraft models, leading to an annual turnover of €37,8 million and 65 employees by 2025.

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