NASA “Explores Air Taxi Passenger Comfort Via Custom Virtual Reality Simulator”
NASA researchers have developed a custom virtual reality flight simulator to study passenger experiences in air taxis, reports an article posted on its website, written by the organisation’s public affairs specialist, Teresa Whiting. The aim is to gather data for assisting the future design of Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft where passenger comfort is the priority.
Wayne Ringelberg, a U.S test pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, recently experienced a series of trial rides in this new simulator. These early tests are crucial for improving the simulator before it is used in a research study later in the year.
Ringelberg commented, ”This project is leveraging our research and test pilot aircrew with vertical lift experience to validate the safety and accuracy of the lab in preparation for test subject evaluations.”
He continued, “The experiments in the ride quality lab will inform the advanced air mobility community about the acceptability of the motions these aircraft could make, so the general public is more likely to adopt the new technology.”
His evaluation involved a simulated air taxi ride beginning at a conceptual vertiport on a downtown San Francisco parking garage. The ride, designed by NASA engineers, took him through the city and landed on a skyscraper vertiport. Wearing a virtual reality headset and headphones, Ringelberg assessed the simulation’s visual, motion and audio accuracy, providing feedback for the research team.

NASA researchers Curt Hanson (background) and Saravanakumaar Ramia (foreground) control the air taxi virtual reality flight simulator from computers during a test at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in March 2024 — Credit: NASA/Steve Freeman
Following these evaluations, NASA researchers are to launch a series of human subject studies during the next four years. These studies aim to understand what factors contribute to a comfortable and enjoyable air taxi experience for passengers.
The simulator is a key feature of NASA Armstrong’s virtual reality passenger ride quality laboratory. It combines virtual reality visuals, physical motion cues and spatialised rotor sounds to create a realistic air taxi passenger experience.
The project is managed by the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology project under NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program. It supports NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility mission, which aims to provide data to guide the development of electric air taxis and drones.
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(Top image: NASA test pilot Wayne Ringelberg sits in the air taxi virtual reality flight simulator during a test at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in March 2024 — Credit: NASA/Steve Freeman)
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