A machine under development to treat neurological disorders might also hold promise for combating a recurring safety concern in the aviation community: aircraft upset prevention and recovery. ReNeuro Robotics, a Dallas-based neuro-engineering company, is working toward medical certification for a powered, three-axis rotational device to assist with clinical treatment of traumatic brain injuries and other abnormalities.
"By programming a specific series of rotations around the roll, pitch, and/or yaw axes, the device provides vestibular and ocular stimulus to targeted areas of the brain to restore synaptic connections," ReNeuro’s Ethan Joubran told AIN. Those capabilities also enable the device to recreate aircraft spins, stalls and other unusual flight attitudes with a much higher degree of accuracy than conventional ground-based, full-motion sims.
"Existing level-D simulators can't provide the realistic sensation of entering a spin, or the g-forces from counteracting an upset condition," he added. "Those sensations are critically important to responding accurately to your environment."
ReNeuro is seeking industry partners to adapt the rotational device for aviation use—aircraft upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT)—and Joubran noted the company received interest from several training providers earlier this month at Heli-Expo.