Profile

Experienced flight control, flying qualities, modeling and simulation engineer and pilot with interests in spacecraft and remotely piloted aircraft. Proponent of better tools for developing and sharing flight vehicle models for control design. Comfortable in the confluence of pilot and machine. Author of over 50 technical publications including eight peer-reviewed reports.

Experience

Senior Research & Development Engineer, Adaptive Aerospace Group, Inc., 2015—present

  • Developed and ground-tested a derived angle-of-attack (AoA) estimation system using inputs from an Air Data/Attitude/Heading Reference System from first-principals for an FAA grant.
  • Developed a flight test plan and assisted in flight-testing and analysis of other AoA measurement and estimation systems for an FAA grant.
  • Led a small team in developing a Simulink®-based flight simulation of a spacecraft for the NASA Engineering Safety Center.
  • Led a team in developing a Simulink®-based flight simulation and control system of a hypersonic vehicle for a private aerospace company.
  • Technical lead of an assessment study to demonstrate a re-entry backup control system for NESC.
  • Developing guidance and control for lunar landing vehicle concept.
  • Consulting on development of additional 6DOF checkcases for NASA lunar orbit and descent simulations.

Senior Research Engineer, NASA Langley Research Center, 1989—2015

Career focus in the areas of control, modeling and simulation of piloted aircraft and spacecraft as a member of the technical staff in the Aircraft Guidance and Control, Dynamic Controls, and Dynamic Systems and Control branches.

  • Led a government team responsible for inner-loop control design for the Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser lifting body, including both manual and autopilot control for terminal area energy management, approach and landing regimes.
  • Evaluated handling qualities for both aircraft and simulators, including the first western supersonic flight evaluation of the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic transport and was co-PI on exploratory studies toward establishment of handling qualities guidelines for manned spacecraft.
  • Organized and led a cross-NASA effort from 2012 to 2014 to develop and publish check-cases for verification of high-fidelity flight simulations of atmospheric and exoatmospheric flight for NASA‚Äôs Engineering and Safety Center.
  • Led an assessment of the AIAA S-119 standard for flight simulation model exchange (also assisted in development).
  • Developed DAVE-ML, an XML grammar used to encode a flight vehicle dynamic model including check-case data, documentation and model provenance.
  • Wrote LaRCsim, a high-fidelity flight simulation environment for Silicon Graphics computers written in ANSI C/C++. Used as the initial equations-of-motion module for FlightGear, an open-source flight simulation framework.

Supervisory Aerospace Engineer, Naval Air Test Center, 1982—1989

  • Played an instrumental role in establishing the Manned Flight Simulator facility for the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.
  • Wrote the initial version of the CASTLE simulation framework.
  • Specified and developed an early block-diagram system modeling tool as lead engineer on the F-14 and V-22 flight simulators.

Junior Engineer, IBM Product Development Lab, 1979—1982

  • Installed and trained senior engineers in the use of CAD design tools; assisted in microcode development and performed service life testing for point-of-sale terminals.

Education

  • M.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 1988
  • B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, NC State University, 1979

Skills

  • Software: Fluent in Swift, Objective-C, XML, XSLT, Matlab/Simulink, C/C++, Ruby, OpenGL, Java, JSON, Ruby-on-Rails. Familiar with Python, Pascal, nawk, lex/yacc, bash, JavaScript, Qt 4. Previously worked with Ada, FORTRAN, COBOL, IBM 360 Assembler, 6800 Assembler, IBM Autocoder and APL. Git evangelist. Developed apps for web, Linux, MacOS and iOS. Familiar with optimization techniques and genetic algorithms.
  • Controls: Design and analysis with both “classical” Bode/Nichols and root locus and “modern” LQR/LQG design methods. Familiar with Μ-synthesis (actually analysis).

Professional Activities and Awards

  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal
  • Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Member, AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technical Committee (2007—2014)
  • Member, Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization
  • Member, AIAA Flight Simulation Facilities Working Group (1985—1989)

AAG Research Projects

  • Derived angle-of-attack algorithm for small airplanes using ADHARS sensors
  • IV&V of commercial crew capsule GN&C during reentry

NASA Research Projects

  • NESC Development of 6-DOF flight vehicle simulation verification, co-lead
  • NESC Independent Commercial Crew spacecraft, modeling and control team
  • Dream Chaser inner-loop control law development, government team leader
  • Spacecraft Handling Qualities, co-principal investigator
  • Project Orion, Ascent Abort GNC Mode Team
  • Fundamental Aero/Supersonics, flexible aircraft flying qualities co-principal investigator
  • NASA/Boeing X-48A Blended-Wing-Body, scaled-model flight controls team leader
  • NASA X-37 Approach and Landing Test Vehicle, controls analysis team leader for Langley
  • Hyper-X return-to-flight, guidance, navigation and control team
  • NASA/Boeing/Tupolev Tu-144 handling qualities evaluation flights, lead flight test engineer
  • High-Speed Research, flight control/flying qualities simulation evaluation leader
  • Pegasus XL incident, reflight team
  • NASA X-34, autoland risk reduction team
  • Workstation-based flight simulation code (LaRCsim), developer
  • HL-20 Lifting Body, guidance and control law and simulation team leader

Selected Publications (in reverse chronological order)

  1. Jackson, E. B, Hoffler, K. D.: “Effects of Atmospheric Motion on a Derived Angle-of-Attack Estimator.” Presented at AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference, Denver, CO, June 2017. AIAA Paper 2017-4062.
  2. Jackson, E. B, Hoffler, K. D., Sizoo, D. G., Ryan, W.: “Experience with Sensed and Derived Angle-of-Attack Estimation Systems on a General Aviation Airplane.” Presented at AIAA SciTech Conference, Grapevine, TX, Jan 2017. AIAA Paper 2017-0065.
  3. Jackson, E. B, Hoffler, K. D.: “Flight Test Results of Direct-Measure and Derived Angle-of-Attack Systems for General Aviation Airplanes.” FAA Report DOT/FAA/TC-16/52, November 2017. Available from http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/tc16-52.pdf
  4. Jackson, E. B., Madden, M. M., Shelton, R., Jackson, A. A., Castro, M. P., et al.: “Further Development of Verification Check-Cases for Six-Degree-of-Freedom Flight Vehicle Simulations.” AIAA Paper 2015-1810.
  5. Murri, D., Jackson, E. B., Shelton, R., Madden, M. M., Aguirre, J., et al.: “Check-Cases for Verification of 6-DOF Flight Vehicle Simulations.” NASA-TM-2015-218675. Volume 1, and Volume 2 (Appendices).
  6. Jackson, E. B., Shelton, R., Jackson, A. A., Castro, M. P., et al.: “Development of Verification Check-Cases for Six-Degree-of-Freedom Flight Vehicle Simulations.” AIAA Paper 2013-5071.
  7. Bailey, R. E., Jackson, E. B., Arthur, J. A.: “Handling Qualities Implications for Crewed Spacecraft Operations.” Paper presented at: 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference; March 2012; Big Sky, MT.
  8. Murri, D. G., Jackson, E. B.: “Flight simulation model exchange.” NASA TM-2011-217085. Volume 1, and Volume 2 (Appendices)
  9. Hildreth, B., Jackson, E. B., Aponso, B., Berndt, J., Bezdek, W., et al., editors: “Flight Dynamics Model Exchange Standard.” ANSI/AIAA-S-119-2011.
  10. Jackson, E. B., Murri, D., Hill, M., Jessick, M., Penn, J., et al.: “Assessment of the Draft AIAA S-119 Flight Dynamic Model Exchange Standard.” AIAA Paper 2011-6583.
  11. Brian, G., Jackson, E. B.: “Extensions to the Dynamic Aerospace Vehicle Exchange Markup Language.” AIAA Paper 2011-6588.
  12. Jackson, E. B., Proffitt, M. S. 2010. “HOPE: An On-Line Piloted Handling Qualities Experiment Data Book.” AIAA Paper 2010-7939.
  13. Arthur, J. A. 3rd, Bailey, R. E., Jackson, E. B., Barnes, J. R., Williams, et al.: “Part-task Simulation of Synthetic and Enhanced Vision Concepts for Lunar Landing.” Paper presented at: SPIE Defense Security and Sensing Conference; April 2010; Orlando, FL.
  14. Jackson, E. B., Goodrich, K. H., Bailey, R. E., Barnes, J. R., Ragsdale, W. A., et al.: “Investigation of Control System and Display Variations on Spacecraft Handling Qualities for Docking with Stationary and Rotating Targets.” NASA TM-2010-216194.
  15. Bailey, R. E., Jackson, E. B., Goodrich, K. H., Ragsdale, W. A., Neuhaus, J., et al.: “Initial Investigation of Reaction Control System Design on Spacecraft Handling Qualities for Earth Orbit Docking.” J. Guid Control Dynam. 32(6):1723—1735.
  16. Hildreth, B. L., Jackson, E. B.: “Benefits to the Simulation Training Community of a New ANSI Standard for the Exchange of Aero Simulation Models.” Paper presented at: Inter-service/Industry Training Systems Conference; December 2009; Orlando, FL.
  17. Bailey, R. E., Jackson, E. B., Bilimoria, K. D., Mueller, E. R., Frost, C. R., et al.: “Cooper-Harper Experience Report for Spacecraft Handling Qualities Applications.” NASA TM-2009-215767, 2009.
  18. Jackson, E. B., Hildreth, B. L.: “Status of the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Format Standard.” Paper and slides presented at the Royal Aeronautical Society, June 2008.
  19. Minn, J. D., Jackson, E. B., Christhilf, D. M.: “Simulation Environment for Orion CEV Launch Abort Control Design Studies.” AIAA Paper 2007-6881.
  20. Hill, M. A., Jackson, E. B.: “The DaveML Translator: An Interface for DAVE-ML Aerodynamic Models.” AIAA Paper 2007-6890.
  21. Jackson, E. B., Buttrill, C. W.: “Control Laws for a Wind Tunnel Free-Flight Study of a Blended-Wing-Body Aircraft.” NASA TM-2006-214501.
  22. Jackson, E. B.: “Using the Proposed AIAA Aerodynamic Modeling Standard (AeroML) or How to Build a Portable Sim.” Paper presented to a special workshop at the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technology Conference; August 2006; Keystone, CO.
  23. Jackson, E. B.: “DAVE-ML: The Proposed Implementation of the Simulation Standard for Model Exchange.” Presentation to a special workshop at the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technology Conference; August, 2005; San Francisco, CA.
  24. Raney, D. L., Jackson, E. B., Buttrill, C. S.: “Simulation Study of Impact of Aeroservoelastic Characteristics on Flying Qualities of a High Speed Civil Transport.” NASA TP-2002-211943, 2002.
  25. McMinn, J. D., Jackson, E. B.: “Autoreturn Function for a Remotely Piloted Vehicle.” AIAA Paper 2002-4673, 2002.
  26. Jackson, E. B., Hildreth, B. L.: “Flight Dynamic Model Exchange using XML.” AIAA Paper 2002-4482, 2002.
  27. Jackson, E. B., Raney, D. L., Glaab, L. J., Derry, S. D.: “Piloted Simulation Assessment of a High-Speed Civil Transport Configuration.” NASA TP-2002-211441, 2002.
  28. Raney, D. L., Jackson, E. B., Buttrill, C. S., Adams, W. M.: “The Impact of Structural Vibration on Flying Qualities of a Supersonic Transport.” AIAA Paper 2001-4006, 2001.
  29. Rivers, R. A., Jackson, E. B., Fullerton, G. C., Cox, T. H., Princen, N. H. : “A Qualitative Piloted Evaluation of the Tupolev Tu-144 Supersonic Transport.” NASA TM-2000-209850, 2000.
  30. Jackson, E. B., Martinez, D., Derry, S. D.: “Piloted Simulation Investigation of a Supersonic Transport Configuration (LaRC.4).” NASA TM-1999-209557.
  31. Rivers, R. A., Jackson, E. B.: “Russian Tu-144 Supersonic Transport Flight Test.” Paper presented at: 15th East Coast Symposium of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Solomons, MD, April 1999.
  32. Jackson, E. B., Rivers, R. A.: “Flight-Simulated Launch-Pad-to-Landing Abort Maneuvers for a Lifting Body.” AIAA Paper 1998-4254, 1998.
  33. Raney, D. L., Jackson, E. B.: “Effect of Engine Response Time and Other Factors on Landing of a Supersonic Transport in the Backside Flight Regime.” NASA TP-3632, 1997.
  34. Jackson, E. B.: “Manual for a Workstation-based Generic Flight Simulation Program (LaRCsim) Version 1.4.” NASA TM-110164, 1995.
  35. Jackson, E. B.: “Results of a Flight Simulation Software Methods Survey.” AIAA Paper 95-3414, 1995.
  36. Jackson, E. B., Rivers, R. A., Chowdhry, R. S., Ragsdale, W. A., Geyer, D. W. “Launch Pad Abort of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” J. Guid Control Dynam. 17(6):1345—1349, 1994.
  37. Rivers, R. A., Jackson, E. B.: “Preliminary Piloted Simulation Studies of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” J. Aircraft. 31(3):556—563, 1994.
  38. Jackson, E. B., Rivers, R. A., Chowdhry, R. S., Ragsdale, W. A., Geyer, D. W.: “Launch Pad Abort Capabilities of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” NASA TM-4550, 1994.
  39. Jackson, E. B., Rivers, R. A., Bailey, M. L.: “Effect of Lift-to-Drag Ratio in Pilot Rating of the HL-20 Landing Task.” J Spacecraft Rockets. 30(5):543—548, 1994.
  40. Jackson, E. B., Cruz, C. I., Ragsdale, W. A.: “Real-Time Simulation Model of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” NASA TM-107580, 1992.
  41. Jackson, E. B., Cruz, C. I.: “Preliminary Subsonic Aerodynamic Model for Simulation Studies of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” NASA TM-4302, 1992.
  42. Rivers, R. A., Jackson, E. B., Ragsdale, W. A.: “Preliminary Development of the HL-20 Lifting Body Design.” Paper presented at: 35th Symposium of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots; September 1991; Beverly Hills, CA.
  43. Jackson, E. B., Ragsdale, W. A., Powell, R. W.: “Utilization of Simulation Tools in the HL-20 Conceptual Design Process.” AIAA Paper 1991-2955.
  44. Jackson, E. B., Bailey, M. L., Rivers, R. A.: “Effect of Lift-to-Drag Ratio Upon Pilot Rating for a Preliminary Version of the HL-20 Lifting Body.” AIAA Paper 1991-2090.
  45. Dowdy, M. C., Jackson, E. B., Nichols, J. H.: “Controls Analysis and Simulation Test Loop Environment (CASTLE) Programmer’s Guide, Version 1.3.” NATC TM 89-11-SA, 1989.
  46. Dowdy, M. C., Jackson, E. B., Nichols, J. H., Sutton, D. D.: “Controls Analysis and Simulation Test Loop Environment (CASTLE) User’s Guide, Version 1.3.” NATC TM 89-144-SA, 1989.
  47. Jackson, E. B., Coyle, T.: “Assurance of the X-29A Advanced Technology Demonstrator Flight Control Software.” AIAA Paper 1983-2724.