FCM Driver This utility cycles FLIGHTLAB Code generated Models (FCM) and synchronizes them to real time through a system timer or with an external signal, such as a 60 Hz video refresh signal. It also includes an operator con-sole that supports selecting the model to be run, setting initial conditions and configurations, monitoring and recording simulation data, trimming, flying, pausing and resetting the simulation model. All commands available from the operator console are accessible through a remote API for external IOS interfacing.

FLVIS This is an integral image generation utility that supports rendering of OpenFlight files for out-the-window displays, instrument displays, and external view displays. It uses graphics accelerator cards that support OpenGL. The FCM driver communicates with the FLVIS image generation software through a Common Image Generation Interface (CIGI) protocol, so the user may substitute any CIGI compli-ant Image Generator for FLVIS if desired. FLVIS comes with a generic terrain data base and a generic instrument panel display for demonstration purposes.

FLCOMMS This is an API library that supports com-munication with FLIGHTLAB shared memory that can be linked with a user’s custom software to interface with the FLIGHTLAB flight dynamics model.

Network Updating of Shared Memory

Specifications are subject to change without notice

FLIGHTLAB models can include shared memory data structures, defined by the developer to satisfy interface requirements. The Pi-lotStation NetFLC utility supports network updating of the shared memory data structures so that all networked computers have ac-cess to the flight dynamics data structures. The synchronization is done over Ethernet in a UDP multicast mode.

Application Programming Interfaces The shared memory data structures are used for all periodically updated inter-face data. The FLIGHTLAB Communications (FLCOMMS) API is used to access FLIGHTLAB shared memory data structures from other applications. Interface data and commands that are not up-dated each cycle are passed through an API that provides remote function calls. The remote command API includes commands such as fly, pause, reset to the last IC, load a new preset of ICs, trim, freeze airframe states, invoke malfunctions, and change environ-mental conditions. The API can be used to interface this PilotSta-tion functionality, to the Instructor/Operator Station.

Graphical User Interface For PilotStation PilotStation includes the FCM Console, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to support monitoring and debugging of the FLIGHTLAB Code-generated Model (FCM) flight dynamics model and its inter-faces to the simulator. This GUI also allows for user interaction with the PilotStation API as an alternative to the FL-IOS Instructor/Operator Station (IOS) software.

PilotStation Computer and Joystick The above software is installed and tested on a Core2Duo (dual-core) 3GHz PC with 2 GB of memory and 100 GB of mass storage. An NVidea GeForce 8800 GT graphics card is included to drive the visual dis-plays. A CD Rom Drive and a 10/100 Ethernet card are provided. The operating system is the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Ver-sion 5 or equivalent. A three axis joystick with discrete switches and a USB interface, such as the Microsoft Sidewinder, provides a flight control capability.