Abstract:The effects of the pilot response characteristics on tilt-rotor aircraft trajectory optimization after one engine failure is studied. An augmented flight dynamic model for trajectory optimization after one engine failure is developed with algebra equations describing the pilot controls in cockpit and differential equations describing the pilot response characteristics. A direct transcription method is employed to transcribe the optimal control problem into a nonlinear programming problem. XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft is taken as the sample, the comparisons show that when the pilot response characteristics are considered in the trajectory optimization, the time histories of flight states, power required, thrust coefficient, longitudinal flapping angle and pilot controls become more relatively gentle with longer final distance and flight time. Besides, the longer pilot perception delay time, the longer time required for landing procedure, and the bigger touchdown speed, but the tendency of the pilot controls are basically the same. Therefore, the tilt-rotor trajectory optimization after one engine failure considering pilot response characteristics can provide pilots more useful references to perform the landing procedure after one engine failure.