An experimental voice command system for management of an integrated navigation system

An experimental voice command and integrated navigation system is described. The implementation is in a Convair 580 research aircraft. The system uses an interactive cockpit display to provide waypoint and routing management, fuel information, aircraft positioning, and navigation information and flight planning functions. For in situ measurement of physical phenomena, steering information is provided on cockpit course deviation indicators from flight guidance software. These functions are integrated together with a Macrospeak voice recognizer, so that voice commands can be used to control the system from the cockpit. The design of the system is discussed, considering the specialized role of the aircraft, including the various design tradeoffs made. The system was used operationally in its present form during recent field experiments including a magnetic survey over the Arctic Ocean