Robust Analysis for the Investigation of Biodynamic Rotorcraft Pilot Couplings

Aircraft-Pilot Couplings, namely the adverse interaction of the pilot with the aeromechanics of aircraft, are potentially dangerous phenomena. The prediction of aircraft proneness to this type of phenomena is usually difficult prior to flight testing. Their occurrence in rotorcraft, called Rotorcraft-Pilot Couplings, received less attention until recent years. Robust stability analysis techniques borrowed from robust control theory are used in this work to develop a simple and versatile method for the investigation of the boundaries of pilot biodynamic feedthrough that guarantees the stability of the coupled system no matter how complex the vehicle model is. The proposed method is applied to the analysis of a detailed model of a medium weight helicopter, and results are discussed.