Guy Norris/PHOENIX
When Honeywell unveiled its Primus Epic avionics system at the 1996 National Business Aviation Association convention, it promised that advanced three-dimensional (3D) displays were just down the road. At this year's NBAA, it will be demonstrating 3D display concepts developed using its new tool for rapid advanced cockpit simulation (TRACS).
"Things that we thought were far into the future are much closer," says Larry Clark, manager of Honeywell's next generation systems team. "If we had it today we could sell it," he adds. Clark's comments follow a recent meeting "on Epic and beyond" between Honeywell, NASA and the US Federal Aviation Administration. "We focused on 2005 and asked what will be needed in transportation overall," says Clark. Although the meeting addressed issues much wider than display concepts, the outcome of the talks have a direct bearing on the work being conducted with TRACS. The three main messages from the meeting were the future needs for advanced communications, particularly data- linking weather and other data from and to the aircraft; for higher levels of integration; and for "human-centred design". This is Honeywell's term for future low workload cockpit configurations, as well as systems and functions related to avionics in general. "It's not just to do with the pilot, but with anyone who comes into contact with the equipment during manufacturing, installation, training, operating, troubleshooting, support and repair," says Clark.
TRACS is playing a vital role for Honeywell in its search for solutions to these requirements. It is being used as a tool for rapid prototyping, human-centred design work, application-specific developments and even marketing demonstrations. The advanced cockpit displays use actual symbology and run on commercial computers and communications networks. TRACS can also run multiple symbology sets, and operate multiple scenarios, and fly "interactively" with other systems.
The latest advanced display concepts will be shown to pilots for the first time at NBAA. The key to most of them is the use of advanced graphics and display processing to generate a 3D effect. This is being tried with varying formats in a primary flight display (PFD) mode, as well as a multifunction display (MFD). The 3D effect is produced mainly by treatment of the symbology edges to create an impression of depth, although the essential geometry of the display is generally unchanged. The exception is one, slightly more radical, version of the PFD which presents the artificial horizon and flight guidance information in a "globe" format.
Other concepts being tried include a 3D engine indication and crew alerting system and 3D synoptics. I-NAV, an interactive navigation concept, with interesting terrain features and unusual flightpath indicators, is also being tested.
TRACS also allows the displays to be manipulated using cursor control devices - either a touchpad or a joystick. "None of these is ready to be certified tomorrow," cautions John Cummings, programme manager for advanced display systems. "We're still trying to work out what some of the benefits are," he adds, obviously excited by some of the possibilities offered by Honeywell's 3D initiative.
PRIMUS EPIC CUSTOMERS
Sino-Swearingen and Cessna have selected the Primus Epic control display system (CDS) to upgrade the Honeywell systems already baselined for their two new business jets: the SJ30-2 and Citation Sovereign, respectively.
The SJ30-2 avionics suite, which replaces the Primus 1000 previously selected for the aircraft, will include three 200 x 250mm (8 x 10in) active flat-panel displays: two PFDs and one MFD. The SJ30-2 CDS is built around the IC-615 integrated avionics computer and dual micro air-data computers, compatible with reduced vertical separation minima requirements.
The Sovereign system, which also builds on the Primus 1000 used on the Citation Excel, will include four 200 x 250mm flat-panel displays.
Source: Flight International
