Team 10 F-16 Cockpit Simulator Egress System
F-16

F-16 Cockpit Simulator Egress System

Abstract

Lockheed Martin needs a movable pilot seat in their F-16 cockpit simulators. The current cockpit design has the pilot climb through tight spaces to sit in a stationary seat. A dome surrounds the simulator and seat, creating a cramped space with few places for the pilot to place his or her feet. This increases the chance the pilot could fall and harm either the pilot or cockpit parts. The purpose of the project is to create a movable seat for the cockpit to increase the pilots ease of entry and exit of the cockpit simulator. The system must be usable for men and women between 5 foot and 6 foot 2 inch tall, as defined by the United States military. Also, the pilot must be able to exit the simulator easily in case of a fire or medical emergency. The selected design includes attaching the seat to rails that allow it to slide freely. The cost and need for a quick response in the case of emergency led the team to choose a human powered design over an automated design, such as electric motors. A human powered design allows the pilots to pull themselves in and out of the simulator with their hands and feet on a low friction rail system. The seat is held in its final position by an electromagnet lock. The lock was selected to hold the pilot in place during normal use, but break free in an emergency situation. A prototype will be mounted on a wooden model of Lockheed Martin's current cockpit simulator. A five-hundred-pound object will simulate the largest allowable weight of the cockpit seat and pilot for testing. The design will serve as a proof of concept for Lockheed Martin to carry out in future F-16 simulators.