Describe Differences in Interaction Devices for Aircraft Navigation Displays
Precise communication and navigation are the key factors to a safe and successful flight. The early aviators began to improve the operational safety and functionality of flights securing the mechanics of the flight. Through the use of reliable communication and navigation system, these were done in large part. Today, smaller, lighter and powerful navigation devices are used to enhance situational awareness on the flight deck. The system is coupled with improved displays, advanced electronics and management control system (Ceruzzi, 1989).
The interactive devices of an aircraft are used by the operator of the guidance system of the plane. The devices and methods include an interaction on the screen that presents a playback element showing the value of guidance target of the system. It has a control panel that is grasped and moved on display in a curve form to modify the target of guidance. An aircraft that is provided with a guidance system are as well equipped with the Flight Control Unit that enables the captain to key in the guidance targets into the system. There is a processor device for executing interactive incremental adjustments on the aircraft. The module is configured such that it can perform approximate adjustments on a scale through a first interaction. It has an element to modify guidance target value of the system and display a secondary interactive element (Harris, 2011).
An Aircraft Navigation Display (ND) provides the information about the lateral situation of the plane. It’s the main instrument for navigation as it displays the route customized for the FS2002 GPS system, navaids, and aerodromes around the aircraft, as well as TCAS system that shows all planes flying around with alerts if they are flying close. It shows a compass rose or an arc depending on the selected mode of the EFIS panel. The five modes are ILS, VOR, NAV, ARC, and PLAN. The display shows the flight plan and additional points such as NDBs, VORs, and Airports et al. the size and the position of the display can also be adjusted and saved (Hirose, 2001).
The navigation display itself located at the center is the core part of the instrument. Compared to a PFD, the green diamond indicates the actual track, the blue or magenta triangle gives the heading selected or supervised on the FCU. Ground Speed (GS) and True Air Speed (TAS) are shown in knots. Both wind speed and direction are indicated below with the arrow displaying the direction. Using the visibility buttons in the EFIS panel, the ND shows all the navaids and airports near the aircraft. The display shows their names and the (ATIS) frequency. All the programmed routes in the GPS system are shown with waypoints. A magenta square shows the departure waypoint whereas a magenta circle shows the arrival waypoint (University of Birmingham, 1969.
The ND modes are helpful to the captain as they enhance navigation in the cockpit. VOR mode is designed for ADF purposes. The needle indicates the direction of the runway. The NAV mode indicates all the important information in the rose mode. Right, top corner of the display contains information about the route waypoint: name, bearing, distance and estimated time of arrival. The PLAN mode is specific to the visualization of the route. It displays the routes customized on the system with all waypoints (Magnenat-Thalmann, Ratib, & In Choi, 2014).
Interaction devices for aircraft navigation displays are crucial in the modern navigation system of an airplane. They contribute to the safety and functionality of the air body. Modernized systems are easier to operate as they involve entirely programmed with smaller, lighter and powerful electronics.
References
Ceruzzi, P. E. (1989). Beyond the limits: Flight enters the computer age. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Geroimenko, V., & Chen, C. (2005). Visualizing information using SVG and X3D: XML-based technologies for the XML-based Web. London: Springer.
Harris, D. (2011). Human performance on the flight deck. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate.
Hirose, M., INTERACT, International Federation for Information Processing, IFIP TC.13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, & INTERACT '01. (2001). Human-computer interaction. Amsterdam [u.a.: IOS Press.
Magnenat-Thalmann, N., Ratib, O., & Choi, H. F. (2014). 3D Multiscale Physiological Human.
