Pilots could soon be talking their aircraft through manoeuvres, thanks to the latest in voice activated technology from British Aerospace.
BAe has chosen Paris to unveil its Direct Voice Input (DVI) system which allows pilots to give oral instructions to their aircraft. Visitors to the BAe stand in Hall 2/C15 can talk to a simulation Eurofighter for themselves.
The system is already in use in all seven Eurofighter test craft. The computer simulation allows you to take it through its paces.
Stumbling
Early trials with voice activation in the mid-Eighties hit a number of stumbling blocks.
Results could only be achieved by recording an individual's voice so that intonation would be recognised by a computer. Such individualised packages has limited potential.
The Eurofighter DVI, developed by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, is now able to respond to more than 100 commands and isn't restricted to any individual's tone of voice.
Andy Peters, BAe Hawk senior weapons instructor, is on hand to talk the visitor, and the computer simulator, along the flight path.
"Basically what we've got here is a next generation computer game. It shows you how the DVI will make a pilot's life much easier. By giving very simple instructions, "show radar" for example, you can run through a whole series of tests to monitor all the major aircraft functions."
Commands
"Voice commands will let you see the fuel systems, to activate the radar, monitor the engines, as well as checking the weapons capability. What it doesn't let you do is fire the missiles. For obvious reasons, this will always need to be done manually."
The simulator gives the 'pilot' an impressive range of scenarios. You could talk yourself through a Norwegian fjord or navigate a mountain range or use your voice to command the radar which will lead you into air-to-ground combat.
"Once Eurofighter is operational in 2002, this technology will be an everyday tool," adds Peters.
Source: Flight Daily News
