The Avionics and Aircraft Systems award went to Smiths Group for the flight qualification of the Eurofighter Speech Recognition Module (SRM).
Smiths' SRM for the Eurofighter is the first production direct voice-input system and marks a radical change in military cockpit man-machine interface design. It is the culmination of more than two decades of development and is expected to pave the way for an extension of the technology to many other single-seat military aircraft.
The SRM provides the Eurofighter pilot with an additional natural mode of control over 26 cockpit functions, yielding a reduction in workload, improved aircraft safety and improved mission capabilities. Finalists in the category were Live TV, Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics and UPS Aviation Technologies.
LiveTV, the Thales Avionics In-Flight Systems and Harris Corporation joint venture, extended the boundaries of in-flight entertainment last year with the successful implementation of its real-time television programming system.
Rockwell Collins was recognised for the development of its Surface Guidance System, first demonstrated last September and designed to improve situational awareness and increase airfield operational safety. UPS Aviation Technologies achieved certification of the Capstone Avionics Suite, laying the foundation for future automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast procedures. ADS will allow pilots and controllers to work together to achieve safe air traffic separations and is expected ultimately to lead to a free-flight environment.
Source: Flight Daily News