NID student designs combat aircraft simulator

A student of National Institute of Design (NID) has designed a multi-purpose combat aircraft simulator for Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to make life easier for pilots and technicians.

"The simulator is multi purpose as it can be used for various combat aircrafts. One has to change the programme and accordingly the simulator will function for the desired aircraft, " said Satyajeet Kumar, an NID graduate of product design who has designed the simulator.

The simulator has three touch screens "" one on the front and two on the sideways, adjustable chair and a central processing unit.

It has been designed to give the feel of an actual combat cockpit.

However, there are more such simulators for ADA in the series, which will be designed by the students from the institute.

According to Satyajeet, the simulator will enhance the learning process wherein the trainees would be able to relate more when they get to operate in the real cockpit, at the later stage of the course.

This will also cut down the cost of training, he added.

The simulator is an original concept of ADA and is one of its kind in the world.

The earlier version of this simulator, also designed by a student of NID, was displayed at the aero-show, a couple of years ago.

NID has signed an MoU with ADA to give design inputs on the simulator.

The simulator is one among the about five simulators that ADA plans to develop and may be displayed in the next aero-show.

The second generation simulator, unlike the earlier one, is easier to maintain and change the programming for other aircrafts.

This will be used to train pilots and technicians about the cockpit of combat and get a first hand feel of an actual cockpit, said the 27-year-old student.

The design of the simulator has been completed and the prototype is being developed.

He added that ADA has already received about few orders for the aircraft simulators.

However, this stimulator may be not used for commercial aircrafts as the functions and ergonomics are different for the combat aircrafts but the design can be inspiring for the commercial organisations to develop similar kind of stimulator for the commercial aircrafts.