Overview
This project addresses three current major aeronautics needs: system architecture flexibility, useful surface optimisation and information continuity. Therefore the project will improve operational safety and efficiency while reducing aircraft development costs.
- To prove the technical feasibility of an avionics single large seamless display
- To reach a Technology Readiness Level of 3-4 for the display, which implies performing the following laboratory validation:
- Basic performance
- Performance under critical environment
- Comply with avionics required safety
- To deepen and review the concepts of use at the origin of the single display cockpit.
- To share the ideas of the ODICIS project within the aeronautics industry.
- To consider the outlook for product development.
The first objective was to prove the technical feasibility of an avionics large seamless display, which can potentially be curved. This involved optical but also graphics generation challenges. The design of the display took into account as much as possible user wishes and aircraft possibilities.
Once the display was made available, the proper means of interaction were defined and implemented. At this point, a complete technological mock-up of a single display cockpit was made available.
Meanwhile, the concepts of use that stimulated the idea of a single display cockpit were reviewed, deepened and tested on the mock-up. Human factors evaluations sought to ascertain the safety and efficiency gains produced by this novel cockpit concept based on use of a single display.
The ODICIS project methodology was to develop a single display cockpit associated with adequate means of interaction. The concept of use of such a display was investigated and followed by Human-Machine Interface development.
Funding
Results
Identification of requirements
First, a set of requirements was established and used at mock-up level to drive the key design aspect. Other requirements more related to a final product were included in order to keep in mind the ultimate goals of a single display but also to be used as a reference for future developments.
Development of a single display cockpit concept
- A projection-based single display has been prototyped. It features an LED illumination system and a sophisticated shape, not limited to borders at right angle but rather one that can adapt to the available space within a cockpit dashboard. For optimised viewing angles in the lower area, a curve shape was proposed. The mock-up allowed demonstrating that it was possible to achieve a continuous display by merging the images provided by adjacent projectors. The image features a good contrast, wide colour gamut and large viewing angles.
- For easier interactivity a custom tactile system was developed. It is based on infrared illumination of the display surface and detection by cameras located near the projectors. This architecture is highly scalable, capable of addressing curve displays, truly multi-touch and unlike many other tactile systems it does not need an additional layer above the screen which maximises the contrast of the display.
- To drive a single display cockpit, a graphics generation architecture has been conceived. It is scalable and reconfigurable. A safety analysis has been conducted to make sure that the chosen architecture is capable of meeting the requirements in terms of availability and development assurance level. Even though this study was a theoretical one, the algorithms and data flows have been modelled and implemented in the final mock-up.
- For better immersion into a future single display concept, a mock-up has been manufactured. It is supported by the hardware and software developed in the technical work packages and proposes a human machine interface that benefits from the absence of physical boundaries on the display surface. The availability of information is guaranteed by the reconfiguration of information in case of display failure.
- The mock-up and the single display concepts were very well perceived by the end users during the evaluations or the various dissemination events such as the Paris Air Show 2011 that took place throughout the project.
Technical Implications
A single display cockpit concept has been developed and prototyped.
Strategy targets
An efficient and integrated mobility system