Effect of simulator frame rate on pilot training for high-speed fighter aircraft

The current generation of fighter aircraft (e.g., F-35) move at supersonic speeds. Fighter pilots undergo rigorous simulation-based training to adapt and learn to operate these high-speed aircraft. On a simulator’s display of a cockpit view of a moving aircraft, a fast-moving scene or objects seen by the pilot is presented as a series of computer-generated images. Due to the computing time for each image frame to be rendered, there are gaps between each frame which may present as visual artifacts in the virtual scene. This problem becomes amplified the faster objects move on the display. The missing visual information between frames presented can be detrimental for fast-paced high-intensity tasks, especially at low frame rates. Therefore, the effect of frame rate of the flight training simulator needs to be carefully evaluated to avoid negative transfer of training and ensure pilot safety. This paper reviews the current literature related to frame rate on viewer preference, its influence on task performance, simulator sickness and training. The aim of this paper was to identify gaps in scientific knowledge on the impact of simulator frame rate and provide future research directions to investigate pilot learning and transfer of complex tasks with extremely fast-moving scenes or objects across simulated and real fighter aircraft.