A blackboard approach for diagnosis in Pilot´s Associate

A description is given of Pilot´s Associate (PA), a control-advisory system expected to fly in late-1990s tactical fighter aircraft. PA will improve pilot effectiveness by improving pilot awareness of not only external situations but also the internal status of aircraft systems and options for accommodating faulty equipment. A blackboard architecture was used in developing the internal-awareness function, called system status. To get a clearer view of system status functionality, several examples are given to show how it aids pilots and supports other PA functions. System status architecture is described. Performance testing and evaluation results for PA are presented. Positive characteristics and drawbacks of the current architecture are summarized.<>