The advanced cockpit environment: computer image generation systems and flat panel displays

Trends concerning real-time, high-quality airborne 3D computer image generation systems and flat panel displays are reviewed. It is pointed out that the rapid trend toward the use of full-color display devices and raster graphics image generation systems in the cockpit is in part due to advances in sensors, programmable graphics generators, and electrooptics. Although many newer display and control system technologies have yet to reach maturity for flight applications, the rate of improvement in recent years suggests many new technologies will overcome the present shortcomings during the 1995-2000 time frame. High-performance graphics engines, powerful floating point processors, and massively parallel graphics architectures will be used to increase the rendering speed, functionality, and reliability, while reducing power, space requirements, and cost of cockpit display processors. Flat panel displays will replace dedicated instruments and traditional cathode ray tubes in the cockpit and enhance maintainability, reliability, and crew-system performance