This virtual reality (VR) and desktop simulation features a realistic C-130 flight simulation that immerses users in laser dazzle scenarios, emphasizing instrument-based flying to to maintain control when visual cues are impaired. 

Outcomes and Additional Information

• C-130 aircrews have seen an increase in laser dazzle threats in-flight, requiring them to increasingly focus on flight instrumentation over ground-visual cues during these events. Current VR laser dazzle simulators have mostly static instrumentation, which does not allow for realistic training. 

• This project was designed to support research on how humans perceive lasers and to create realistic models that will not hurt pilots' eyes. It will also be used to create a war-game training simulation alongside other training simulations to emulate the different threats in the field.

• GRILL Students were required to create a virtual environment with a runway lit for night operations, realistic physics and aerodynamics, flight control operations, and crash mechanics. Users interact with cockpit instruments like the artificial horizon and flight control trims to simulate real in-flight behavior. 

• User inputs, including trim, airspeed, and control movements, are tracked and logged to analyze pilot adaptation. The data logging aspect included metrics for flight and control operations, laser dazzle settings, and timestamping. 

• Future work will include additional runway lighting, more realistic laser dazzle effects, imporved flight physics, and additional aircraft models.