ETD

• Control loading device
• Direct Haptic Aiding
• Flight Simulation
• Guidance Algorthm
• Haptic Aids
• Human Factors
• Human–Automation Interaction
• Indirect Haptic Aiding
• Level of Automation
• Naive Pilots
• Pilot Performance
• real-time mission feedback
• Trajectory Tracking

Literature highlights issues in human–automation interaction, stressing the need for continuous communication and preserved pilot authority, with the Level of Automation (LoA) requiring solutions that provide support while maintaining pilot engagement. This thesis investigates the use of haptic assistance systems to support pilots in trajectory tracking tasks within a simulated flight environment. A dedicated system architecture was developed, integrating a haptic joystick, CAN communication, a C++/Simulink framework for real-time error computation and the Aerofly FS2 simulator with a custom 40-gate trajectory. Key features of the proposed controllers include real-time mission feedback and a system identification method to model the dynamics of the aircraft and the joystick. Two control strategies were investigated: Direct Haptic Aiding (DHA), which actively guides the control stick towards corrective actions, and Indirect Haptic Aiding (IHA), which emulates the tactile response of conventional aircraft controls without imposing direct commands. A custom algorithm computes real-time deviations from the predefined path, providing cues for pitch and roll correction. A progressive experimental campaign was designed, starting with exploratory sessions and culminating in a between-subjects study with 40 novice pilots. Performance was evaluated through objective metrics and subjective feedback, including the effect of aid intensity.