ADVANCED SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION: THE SUPERCOCKPIT™

In early 1996, Bell Helicopter Textron, Incorporated expanded a research program, which focused on advanced cockpit and weapons technology for the future battlefield, to additionally include advanced software and avionics technology for the development and production environments. The cockpit development portion of the program is the focus of this paper. The ASTI SuperCockpit™ supports future digital battlefield operations via an advanced technology mission equipment package (MEP, which includes hardware and software) integrated at the human-machine level by the cockpit design. The cockpit represents one of the world’s most capable and integrated attack helicopter crewstations, incorporating the latest techniques in “glass cockpit” design. These techniques include mission-oriented applications of automation, ensuring that the right information is available to the crew at the right time, improved geometric accommodation, and usability testing to reduce crew workload and enhance situational awareness and mission effectiveness. The crewstation/MEP design represents the culmination of many years of experience by Bell on designing advanced cockpits that incorporate computer technology, including applications of artificial intelligence for cognitive decision aiding. The SuperCockpit™ and an earlier prototype design are described herein. Results of a recent evaluation are presented along with design modifications currently being implemented.