Photo of Professor Mark White

Professor Mark White PhD, FRAeS, FHEA

Professor Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research

Rotorcraft Simulation Fidelity

The objective of this research is to establish a rational and systematic engineering approach to flight simulation fidelity enhancement, applicable to practices and processes involved in flight model and flight simulator development and certification. The research examines both the predictive fidelity (flight model requirements) and perceptual fidelity requirements (overall simulation fidelity) for rotorcraft flight simulators. This involves the use of System Identification Techniques to improve the model fidelity and use of a Simulation Fidelity Rating scale and objective to capture pilot performance and adaption. There is potential for use of the methodology for training assessment in other Virtual Environments e.g. medical simulators.

https://www.researchgate.net/project/A-Novel-Approach-to-Rotorcraft-Simulation-Fidelity-Enhancement-and-Assessment

Naval Ship Aerodynamics

This research is informing the design of new UK Naval vessels e.g. Type 26 together with the operational clearance of the F-35B to the new Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier. The work is being carried out with BAE Systems and dstl.

Helicopter Ship Dynamic Interface

The research focusses on the use of CFD and flight simulation to examine the requirements to inform First of Class Flight trials and Ship Helicopter Operating Limits operational activities. The work is being conducted for BAE Systems, QinetiQ, dstl, MoD and DSTG in Australia.

Research Grants

SAIF Integration at Leonardo Helicopters

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING & ASSESSMENT LTD (SEA LTD) (UK)

September 2020 - November 2021

PDRA Statistical Analysis

DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (UK)

January 2019 - January 2023

Rotorcraft Certification by Simulation (RoCS)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

May 2019 - November 2023

Methods and Experiments for NOvel Rotorcraft (MENtOR)

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

March 2019 - February 2022

A Novel Approach to Rotorcraft Simulation Fidelity Enhancement and Assessment

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

September 2017 - January 2024

Network for Innovative Training on ROtorcraft Safety - NITROS

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

November 2016 - April 2022

Enabling Technologies for Personal Aerial Vehicles (MYCOPTER).

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2011 - December 2014

Novell Innovative Competitive Effective Tilt Rotor Integrated Project (NICE-TRIP)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

November 2006 - December 2012

Lifting Standards: A Novel Approach to the Development of Fidelity Criteria for Rotorcraft Flight Simulators

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

September 2008 - December 2011

Garteur AG12. Validation Criteria for Helicopter Real Time Simulation Models.

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2002 - October 2004

Research Collaborations

Group of Responsables

External: GARTEUR

Dr Dan Schrage

External: Georgia Institute of Technology

International Research Institute for Simulation, Motion and Navigation

External: Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

A new collaboration is under development to further the simualtion fildelity research currently underway at the University of Liverpool. The project will focus on rotorcraft flight simulators and the development of fildiety metrics for civil rotorcraft training.

Marc Hoefinger

External: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)

Simulator fidelity, an examination of the use of simulator JAR-STD 1H as a framework for the evaluation of simulator fitness for purpose

Marc Hoefinger

External: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)

Helicopter turbulence effect modelling: development and assessment of transfer function based models of turbulence on the helicopter (body states) for maritime applications.

Virtual Engineering Centre

Internal

Work Package Leader WP5 - Verification and Validation

Derek Gould

Internal

Development of fidelity criteria for medical simulations

Paul Knox

Internal

An evaluation of VR sickness in a motion simulator with ab initio pilots

Bill Gubbels

External: National Research Council of Canada

This project involves a collaborative effort between the University of Liverpool (UoL) and the NRC Flight Research Laboratory and consists of two main parts. The first part involves the collection of flight test data of the Bell 412 ASRA for use as benchmark data. Using a FLIGHTLAB Bell 412 (F-B412) model developed under a previous NRC-FRL/UoL collaboration , the predictive fidelity of the flight model will be assessed against the benchmark data.

Georg Meyer

Internal

It is intneded that the project will develop fundamental tests to investigate a pilot’s sensitivity to various stimuli and then to examine the relationship between these sensitivities and changes in the flight simulator environment.

Acoustic Research Unit

Internal

Acoustic modelling of audio signatures and fidelity requirements for flight simulators. PhD applicants currently being sought.