Intelligent head-down display design for the smart cockpit

Abstract

Modem computing technology can be useful for improving safety in the general aviation industry. Intelligent systems can be developed that aid the dual goals of increasing pilot situational awareness and decreasing pilot workload, which, in turn, should lead to improved safety. The Aerospace and Electrical Engineering Departments at Texas A&M University, along with Knowledge Based Systems, Inc., have joined together in a research program titled General Aviation Pilot Advisory and Training System (GAPATS). GAPATS research is focused on integrating inexpensive, yet powerful, computing technology into general aviation aircraft. The system architecture consists of several components, one of which is a head-down display. A head-down display is a display that, in general, is embedded in the cockpit instrument panel. When viewing a head-down display, the pilot looks "down" into the cockpit, rather than up and out through the windshield, hence the term, "head-down" display. In GAPATS, the head-down display operates in several display modes spanning a wide range of functions. Thus, it is also called a Multi-Function Display. The various display modes have been designed with careful attention to the aforementioned system goals of reduced pilot workload and increased situational awareness. This thesis provides a thorough overview of the design and development of the Multi-Function Display. Inadequacies of the Multi-Function Display are also cited, particularly pertaining to the user interface. Finally, suggestions for future enhancements are proposed.