SMART FLIGHT CONTROL SOFTWARE IS TESTED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS IR FORCE BASE - NASA researchers are flying the first set of tests aimed at creating ``smart'' flight control software they hope will someday allow battle-damaged military jets and commercial jetliners with mechanical problems or severe icing to land safely.

Researchers at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center have started a series of six to 10 flight tests of the Intelligent Flight Control System. The tests are in support of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration effort to develop ``neural network'' software that would discover patterns in the data it receives and modify its behavior accordingly.

The goal is to develop software that would sense when an aircraft is damaged and then automatically manipulate control surfaces - like flaps, rudders or ailerons - to compensate, restoring control to the pilot.

The first set of flight tests involve a ``nonlearning'' preliminary version of the neural network software that is pretrained to the aerodynamic database of the research aircraft, a highly modified F-15B fighter.

The first of three objectives is to make sure that the nonlearning parts of the system are functioning correctly.

These tests will look at the stability and control of the aircraft. The test aircraft will have two flight control systems: its regular system to bring the aircraft up to test altitudes and speeds, and the test software.

``We are going to attempt to determine the best maneuvers for online parameter identification - the aerodynamic data, stability and control, and handling qualities,'' John Bosworth, the project's chief engineer, said of the second objective. ``In addition, for the third objective, we will be performing handling qualities studies with the nonlearning system for comparison to the learning system in order to get more baseline data to compare with simulation and aerodynamic models.''

Neural network software is distinguished by its ability to observe patterns in the data it receives and processes and then perform different tasks in response to new patterns.

Simple neutral network software has been in use since the 1960s with computer modems to enable them to receive error-free data over often-noisy telephone lines, but it has never before been demonstrated in such a complex, safety-related environment, NASA officials said.

NASA estimates it will spend about $10 million over three years on the program, called the Intelligent Flight Control System.

Flight tests of a ``self-learning'' version of the IFCS software are tentatively planned for 2003, and an upgraded version is targeted for evaluation on a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport in 2005.

The C-17 was chosen because it most closely resembles a jet airliner, Bosworth said.

The system is very early in its development. Military applications of the system are at least five years away, with likely candidates for its first use being unmanned aircraft.

Civilian applications are at least 10 years away.

Partners on the program include Boeing's Phantom Works, which works on advanced concept programs; NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif.; and the Institute for Software Research in West Virginia.