SFTY 409 - Module 6 assignment - Flight Deck HMI

docx

School

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

409

Subject

Mechanical Engineering

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by BaronStrawGorilla198

1 Flight Deck Human-Machine Interface XXXX Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University SFTY 409: Aviation Safety XXXX March XX, 20XX

2 Introduction The flight deck human-machine interface (HMI) refers to the instruments and systems that pilots utilize to interact with the aircraft during flight. HMI plays a critical role in aviation safety as it allows pilots to monitor the state of the aircraft, adjust certain systems, and respond to emergency situations. HMI is driven by improvements and advances in technology that makes it possible to collect and display large amounts of information regarding aircraft performance and the environment in real-time for the pilots to interpret. HMI can also refer to the design of flight deck which can impact the cognitive abilities of the pilots to interpret data and interface with aircraft. HMI is not purely the physical interaction between the pilot and the aircraft, but also the mental aspect pilots have to master when interfacing with the aircraft ("Human machine interface (HMI)," 2023). Concerns regarding HMI Some of the concerns regarding HMI are quite drastic to say the least, but make sense as to why they may be viewed as concerns. Potential confusion or errors due to HMI can involve a variety of reasons. One such issue that may arise due to HMI is information/sensory overload. With the vast amount of data being gathered and displayed by the aircraft, this can be challenging for pilots to process in real-time. As a result, providing too much information may actually have its limitations and has the potential to increase the workload of pilots which can have a negative impact on the pilot’s situational awareness (Rash, 2017). Another aspect pilots must be aware about is that not all aircraft are built the same or by the same manufacturer, thus another concern would be complexity and non-standardized of the aircraft cockpit. As a result aircraft designers have began implementing cockpit design features that optimize for smooth pilot interaction while avoiding information/sensory overload (Bennes, 2020). Some of these

3 designs answer some of the regarding pilot convenience, frequently used controls and displays, avoiding pilot confusion, getting the right info at the right time, and access to the most critical controls in the event of an emergency (Bennes, 2020). HMI Fail-safes A HMI fail-safe principle can be viewed as a redundancy (back-up) in the event of a localize failure (Mills et al., 2014) with the overall goal of minimizing risk to the pilots/passengers/crew and the aircraft. As a result to counter some of the concerns mentioned in the previous paragraph, fail-safes such as autopilot disconnect, flight director modes, warning messages, emergency landing procedures, and aircraft system redundancy. While not necessarily a form of a fail-safe, flight deck automation is a component that ties into the overall HMI design as it can assist pilots throughout the flight by handling otherwise routine tasks thus allowing pilots to focus on problem-solving and improving situational awareness (Tremaud, 2012). Pros to Flight Deck HMI Overall, the pros of flight deck HMI outweigh the cons as the interface can enhance the pilot’s understanding of the aircraft systems which can assist in diagnosing problems during flight as well as improve fight safety ("Flight deck human-machine interface and its issues," 2021). HMI design integrations such as pilot ergonomics, engineering restraints (fail-safes), and technical specifications can also maximize HMI ease of use and versatility for the pilots ("Advanced human machine interfaces: Elevating the airline passenger experience," 2022). One important aspect is that HMI can help reduce accidents attributed to human error in a significant way as the aircraft can notify the pilots with visual and audible queues in the event the aircraft “notices” something wrong (Jorna, 1998). Simply put, HMI can improve safety, increase pilot efficiency, improve pilot situational awareness, and reduce the pilot’s workload.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 Conclusion Overall, Flight Deck HMI is a critical element in modern day aviation. It bridged the gap between pilot input and the complexity of modern aircraft systems all while ensuring safety and efficiency as HMI allows for improved situational awareness and ease-of-use. Though there are some concerns such as overloading the pilots with too much information, as a whole HMI will continue to improve due to the ever changing nature of aviation. As a result, the inputs of experienced pilots are critical for HMI to be effective at improving an already significantly safe industry.

5 References Advanced human machine interfaces: Elevating the airline passenger experience . (2022, September 29). E2IP Technologies. https://e2ip.com/elevating-the-airline-passenger- experience/ Bennes, L. (2020, March 20). The remarkable HMIs of futuristic cockpit designs . Ansys | Engineering Simulation Software. https://www.ansys.com/blog/hmi-futuristic-cockpit- design Flight deck human-machine interface and its issues . (2021, June 8). IvyPanda. https://ivypanda.com/essays/flight-deck-human-machine-interface-and-its-issues/ Human machine interface (HMI) . (2023). SKYbrary Aviation Safety. https://www.skybrary.aero/articles/human-machine-interface-hmi Jorna, P. G. (1998, March 5). Human machine interactions with future flight deck and air traffic control systems: validation results and the role of objective and subjective measurements . National Aerospace Laboratory NLR. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/80112083.pdf Mills, T., Prost-Domasky, S., Honeycutt, K., & Brooks, C. (2014, March 27). Corrosion control in the aerospace industry . ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/fail-safe-design Rash, C. E. (2017, January 3). Attention on deck . Flight Safety Foundation. https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/attention%E2%80%89on-deck/ Tremaud, M. (2012). Aircraft automation . SKYbrary Aviation Safety. https://www.skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/2022.pdf