Urban Air Mobility Passenger Discomfort Evaluations of Sudden Heave Motion in a Virtual Reality Motion-Base Simulator

Small, highly maneuverable Urban Air Mobility (UAM) air taxis might exhibit motions during hover and low-speed flight that are unfamiliar to many passengers, and for which there are no established guidelines to predict passenger comfort. Researchers performed a study in the Armstrong Virtual Reality Passenger Ride Quality Laboratory to identify relationships between sudden motion characteristics and UAM passenger comfort and acceptance. Twenty-three volunteer test subjects from the Armstrong workforce each completed a 15-minute experience as a passenger in a virtual air taxi simulation. Subjects evaluated a series of flight maneuvers with varying levels of sudden motion using a five-point rating scale and indicated which motion(s) they found uncomfortable. Researchers then administered a post-test questionnaire to relate the passengers’ ratings to their willingness to fly on a real air taxi with similar levels of motion. The study results relate peak heave acceleration and jerk to passenger acceptance.