User:Lewiscatton/Grace

GRACE stands for Generic Research Aircraft Cockpit Environment. The National Aerospace Laboratory of The Netherlands (NLR) frequently applies flight deck simulators like GRACE in their research. GRACE is a high fidelity cockpit simulator and offers a number of standard aircraft configurations. Besides a platform to run experiments it logs data too. The data that are recorded are considered to be pilot-performance indicators. When crewmembers make decisions, give inputs and the aircraft ‘behaves’ in a certain way it is all indicative for the performance of the pilots. In the analysis of simulator experiments the data recorded with other HF tools are compared against performance indicators. As such GRACE, as data logger, is not just a simulator but a HF tool (in the HILAS-meaning of HF tool) as well.

=Output= A continuous data file (which primarily contains flight data) and action driven data file (which primarily contains pilot input).

=Methodology= GRACE offers, like the black box in a real aircraft, the opportunity to log hundreds of variables. A rough distinction between two kinds of data is made: 1. Continuous data like flight parameters values; 2. Action driven data like pilot inputs (i.e. controls, knobs and buttons). Dependent on the exact scenario that is simulated a selection of individual parameters to record and analyse is made. The data are logged in a time-stamped data file. These data can be synchronised with data from other HF tools via the time-stamp. All kinds of comparisons between performance data and other data (for example mental workload, attention, acceptability, fatigue etc.) can be made.

=References=
 * HILAS Home Page
 * Flight Deck Technology Strand