ANALYSIS OF DELAYS IN NETWORKED FLIGHT SIMULATORS

Networking large numbers of manned flight simulators over wide geograp hical areas has become feasible because of the great advances in the t echnologies of microprocessors, and local area and long haul networks. One of the main concerns in developing networked simulators is the ef fect of intersimulator time delay on the performance of these networks as training devices. Previous studies on the effects of time delays i n single simulators provide guidance in analyzing this problem. This p aper first introduces the networked simulator problem. Next, it review s the basic Optimal Control Model (OCM), one of the most useful method s for the mathematical modeling of pilots. Finally, it describes how t he OCM concept can be used in the analysis of some networked flight si mulator experiments. A simplified formation flight task is carefully a nalyzed, and a number of interesting phenomena are described.