Experimental Identification of Rotorcraft Pilots' Biodynamic Response for Investigation of PAO Events

This work presents the results of an experimental campaign focused on the characterization of the passive behavior of rotorcraft pilots' biomechanics. Human subjects were subjected to excitation spectra in a flight simulator, recording the motion induced by their limbs' vibrations into the controls inceptors and the limbs' accelerations. Independent excitations in the vertical and lateral direction have been considered. In the first case, measures were related to the motion of the collective lever and of the left arm, while in the second case they were related to the motion of the cyclic stick and of the right arm. The frequency response has been evaluated, and interesting behaviors discussed in view of their relevance in modeling the passive biomechanical behavior of pilots for coupled bio-aeroservoelastic analysis of rotorcraft.