[RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc
Human ability to percieve distance is largely a learned skill, and as with most 'seeing' tasks, we rarely realize how subject to error it may be. While distance estimates may be good in a certain environment, with certain kinds of visual cues, it is no surprise that when trying to estimate the distances of our hlg's, we might regularly err. There is very little up there to use for known object comparisons, focus comparisons, and even the overlap of receding landscape is not of much use. The glider is often the only thing to focus on and I think this leads to easy errors in perception. My experience suggests that we (rc pilots) tend to underestimate numeric distances, but overestimate actual positions (thinking we're further away in terms of being over a landmark, than we actually are). The few times I really methodically checked my ideas about 'how far out over the water' I was flying at my local lakefront hill, I was embarrassed to find out how much further out I thought I was than I actually was. I've since tried to modify my perception by always adding some margin to distance perceptions. If I'm cruising over to try to take advantage of lift over a far away mini-ridge, I always go a little further than I think it is. Who knows if this is helping!? Only more testing will give answers. I do have a real sense that it helps alot to move around and fly the same area from different places. If you're in the habit of always flying your local spot from one position, you might consider moving around some. I have a couple special spots I like to fly where I can walk the entire time that I'm flying, and I'll often get in two or three miles of travel in a flying session. With all the discussion, I am really curious how high my launches are, though I gotta admit, I tend to think of them as a lot less than a hundred feet! I don't really know whether my own errors are over or under in trying to put a number to heights, but when non flyers watch me launch my Chinook, I know that they almost always underestimate. They'll often say things like "wow, that thing really went up! What was that, maybe forty feet?" Well, like I said, I don't know how high my Chinook launch is exactly, but I can tell ya... its way more than forty feet. I thought a couple of the comments that Chris Adams made recently were interesting in this regard. He mentioned that in trying to work with the laser rangefinder to determine hlg heights, the pilots regularly were sure they were over the guy with the rangefinder, when in fact they were still pretty far off. I'd be curious to know whether that error was regular. (Were they always short of the target spot, or always beyond it?) I'd guess they were short, based on my experience... maybe Chris will tell us. Chris also mentioned that even after testing the rangefinder successfully, he still has a nagging perception that his plane isn't going as high as the rangefinder says. I think I'm going to do some more distance perception testing at the local flying spots. I'll be really curious to see what I can learn about my own errors, and any general tendencies. I'd be curious to hear thoughts on any of the above ideas. Lift, Scobie in Seattle RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc
At 02:07 PM 7/18/00 -0700, you wrote: snip My experience suggests that we (rc pilots) tend to underestimate numeric distances, but overestimate actual positions (thinking we're further away in terms of being over a landmark, than we actually are). The few times I really methodically checked my ideas about 'how far out over the water' I was flying at my local lakefront hill, I was embarrassed to find out how much further out I thought I was than I actually was. This may apply to smaller models such as sailplanes, however I think most people tend to underestimate how far away the model is when flying larger unlimited or cross country sailplanes. I have seen many people fly into the back side of a tree when they were sure they were nowhere near that far away. The best example of this was at Visalia a couple of years ago when Daryl flew his giant scale model into the back side of the factory southeast of the field. Most of us thought he was not even half way to the building. Chuck Anderson RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc - my vote
I think most people tend to underestimate how far away the model is when flying larger unlimited or cross country sailplanes The best example of this was at Visalia a couple of years ago when Daryl flew his giant scale model into the back side of the factory southeast of the field. Most of us thought he was not even half way to the building. Actually I think it was Larry Jolly. What a sight that was... My vote is with you...he was no where even CLOSE to hitting that building when he landing on the roof :) RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc
but overestimate actual positions (thinking we're further away in terms of being over a landmark, than we actually are) Scobie, Yes, I also tend to over-estimate the plane's distance away from me. The shadow cast by the plane can sometimes be useful in this regard as an indication of exactly where the plane is in relation to the ground (of course the relative positions of sun, plane, and ground have to be considered). If Chuck Anderson is correct that larger planes cause the opposite perceptual error, there should be a particular plane size in-between whose distance away we can accurately guess! David Berkeley CA USA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc
Chuck, I believe it was Larry and not Daryl. No real damage was done. I don't even go near those buildings because they are deceptive as to distance ( at least to me ). Chuck Anderson wrote: The best example of this was at Visalia a couple of years ago when Daryl flew his giant scale model into the back side of the factory southeast of the field. Most of us thought he was not even half way to the building. Chuck Anderson RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Remember, if you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments. Bob Pope Laguna Hills, CA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] perception of distance, hlg height etc
Chuck, I think that was Larry Jolly. Jerry Miller SOSS RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
