Achieving a hands-free computer interface using voice recognitionand speech synthesis [for Windows-based ATE]

Software designers at Hill Air Force Base have developed a voice recognition and speech synthesis system (Voice Control) for use with the F-16 Analog Test Station Sustainment (FATSS) project. The Voice Control system is reliable, speaker independent, and has a total added hardware price tag of under $50.00 per station. In contrast to traditional voice recognition systems, operator training is not required. OO-ALC has developed a general-purpose internal interface (Voice Control) to the Speech Recognition and Text-To-Speech engines provided by Microsoft. Voice Control can be accessed by any 32-bit Windows software, which has windows messaging capability. This is available to standard programming languages such as LabWindows CVI, Borland or Microsoft C/C++, Visual Basic, or even commercial packages such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft Word. Through Voice Control, the computer uses both video and voice prompts to request input from the operator. The operator is allowed to enter data and to control the software flow by voice command or from the keyboard or mouse. The Voice Control system allows for dynamic specification of a grammar set, or legal set of commands. The use of a reduced grammar set greatly increases recognition accuracy. The computer voice enables the operator to focus his attention away from the computer screen, which is required for activities such as probing a circuit card and taking readings. When the operator takes readings, the computer, to insure reliable entry, echoes his voice entries. With electronic tuning, speech synthesis allows the operator to hear the resulting reading, enabling him to focus on the circuit card instead of constantly turning his head to see the computer screen. This paper describes the capability and functionality of the Voice Control system     

无线列车调度实现数据话音同传

为了保证行车安全,在无线列车调度系统中,利用话音压缩/扩展技术实现同一无线信道数据话音同时传输.在分析和比较了几种话音编码方式的基础上,确定本系统采用连续可变斜率增量调制方式(CVSD)编解码方式,该编解码方式具有较好的抗误码特性及量化信噪比.根据CVSD的编解码特性,提出了话音压缩/扩展技术在系统中的具体实现.采用TMS320C3X系列DSP芯片实现了该系统功能.     

Human Factors R&D Requirements for Future Aerospace Cockpit Systems

Cockpits are rapidly changing from dedicated instruments to multifunction displays, integrated controls, and computer controlled subsystems. Solid-state displays, voice recognition, and artificial intelligence are just a few of the emerging technologies that will help the pilot perform his mission in the future. Early investigations involving mission analysis, sensor data, software development, and evaluations will be required to insure total integration. These new technologies will require extensive human factors research in the areas of anthropometry, displays, controls, human/computer interface, automation, and workload assessment to support the integration process. This research will help provide weapons systems that have increased survivability and reduced pilot workload. This paper addresses some of the human factors research that will be needed to help develop future cockpit systems. It also reviews the basic evolution of the crew station and some of the emerging technologies that will drive human factors research in the 1990s. In the past, crew systems were designed to provide each aircraft function with a corresponding instrument display, such as airspeed indicator, altimeter, attitude direction indicator, vertical velocity indicator, etc. The bulk of the information had to be integrated by the pilot. Present systems are in a state of transition. We are rapidly moving from individual instruments to multifunction displays. The C-17, HH-60, F-15E, B-1B, F-111D, and F-16C/D aircraft use multifunction, cathode-ray tube displays, some of which are color. Another trend is the continued increase in the use of integrated controls.     

Radar synthetic vision system for adverse weather aircraft landing

A synthetic vision system (SVS) is described for aid in landing aircraft in poor weather conditions. The system consists of a scanning millimeter wave radar, heads-up display and real-time signal processing hardware. A suite of fast image processing algorithms are used for enhancing and displaying of the imagery. The system has been tested in number of tower and flight demonstration during actual adverse weather conditions. The significance of the work is in both system demonstration of the overall concept and the novelty of its signal processing algorithms     

The Network Vehicle-a glimpse into the future of mobile multi-media

The Network Vehicle is the Delphi Automotive Systems' vision for the future convergence of computers, the communications infrastructure, and the automobile. It features many advanced functions such as: satellite video, Internet access, virtual navigation, remote vehicle diagnostics and control, games, mobile office, automotive web site, and customized real-time stock quotes and sports scores. These features are enabled by an integrated planar antenna that is capable of multiple satellite reception, a client-server network architecture, and unique human-vehicle-interfaces such as color reconfigurable head-up and head-down displays, steering wheel controls, voice recognition, text-to-speech, and large touch screen active matrix liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The software applications are written in Java, using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to reduce the complexity and cost of the source code     

Integrating Voice and Data on Circuit-Switched Networks

Integrating voice and data traffic on a common network using circuit switching is considered. A reasonable design methodology was employed to probe a variety of economic issues. Among these were the cost benefits of voice digitization, the effect of data terminal user behavior, and the overhead of network signaling.     

舰艇编队网络化反导作战指挥体系研究

网络中心作战条件下,传统作战指挥体系已经无法满足作战指挥需要,文章从指挥体制和指挥方式两方面探讨了适应舰艇编队网络中心作战模式的新型指挥体系;基于网络中心作战模式下舰艇编队作战指挥特点,分析了传统指挥体制和指挥方式的不足,提出一种由动态网络型指挥体制和动态分权式指挥方式构成的新指挥体系,并分析了其在指挥可靠性、整体性和时效性方面的优势。     

航空发动机推力衰退缓解的神经网络控制

针对航空发动机气路部件性能退化导致的推力下降问题,提出一种基于变增量线性规划(LP)优化 神经网络控制方法用于航空发动机推力衰退缓解控制。该方法通过内环控制转速和发动机压比,外环修正发动机指令信号以缓解发动机推力衰退。其中内环非线性自回归滑动平均(NARMA-L2)转速控制器由神经网络训练得到;外环指令修正回路利用变增量LP优化方法调整发动机指令信号。以某型小涵道比涡扇发动机为对象进行仿真验证,结果表明,在4组仿真条件下,设计的控制方法在保证性能退化的发动机不超限的条件下使推力衰退至少缓解了46.5%,验证了该方法的有效性。     

General aviation aircraft avionics: integration & system tests

The avionics of current-day aircraft is termed as modular integrated full glass cockpit. Unlike lots of dials and gauges, the pilot will interact with Multi-Function Displays (MYD). This means that the systems are coupled with multi-function displays, communication and navigation radios with control units, multi-mode interactive instruments for control and navigation, recording and fault management systems, airframes and health monitoring diagnostic capabilities. Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI) is an important measure of good avionics and cockpit layout, which implies the optimization of man-machine interface, enhancement of the economy, and safety of flight operations. This presents the avionics architecture of a 14-seat Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) for general aviation, which has multi-role commuter capabilities. LTA is a twin turbo-prop, multi-role aircraft, with air taxi and commuter services as its primary roles. The avionics is built on the digital communication mode for both command and control with current requirements of TCAS, digital Autopilot, and AMLCD multi-purpose glass displays. The LTA Avionics suite is grouped into six major groups based on functionality: Display System, Communication System, Navigation System, Recording System, Radar System, and Engine instruments and other cockpit displays. This paper also covers details about the extensive tests carried out to prove the avionics design in terms of functionality, inter-operability, interference, and compatibility. Various practical integration and flight-test issues, methodologies, and details of the scenarios is presented herein.     

Tracking and data acquisition for space exploration

The tracking and data acquisition systems provide the key link between the remote spacecraft and the scientific experimenter on the ground. The operation of the space experiment takes place through the links of command, telemetry and tracking. The evolution from the early very simple spacecraft missions toward more complex and sophisticated missions has been paralleled by a similar evolution in the tracking and data acquisition systems. The early Minitrack interferometer tracking system still carries the major tracking workload for space missions; however greater tracking accuracy requirements for more recent missions, such as the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory and the Apollo mission, have brought about the development of unified tracking and data acquisition systems which utilize hybrid pseudo-random code/sidetone ranging techniques. The data acquisition has evolved from analog telemetry systems to the present day heavy use of PCM digital telemetry. Likewise the command systems have evolved from early simple on/off command systems into PCM digital command data systems. The trend is toward greater real time control of more complex functions on board the spacecraft. Newer spacecraft are incorporating computer-type systems in the spacecraft which require programming and memory load through the ground command link. The most attractive concept for the next generation network for tracking and data acquisition is a network consisting of synchronous-orbit Tracking and Data Relay Satellites for covering launches and low-orbit earth satellites plus a few selected ground stations for supporting spacecraft in high earth orbit and lunar orbit.     

多乘员弹射指令系统延迟时间仿真计算

 指令系统延迟时间的计算尚无明确有效的方法,大多依靠实验和经验来确定。为给某型飞机指令系统设计提供依据,减少实验次数和费用,提出风险系数法,通过比较风险系数大小来计算指令系统延迟时间。计算表明,“0 0”弹射是计算延迟时间的决定性条件,其他条件则不起决定性的影响,而且,单纯依靠延迟时间不能达到有效的发散效果,还必须配备轨迹发散系统。通过与发散火箭的优化组合,该型飞机指令系统延迟时间为125 s和135 s,发散火箭总冲110 N·s,作用时间50 ms。此外,并列乘员火箭包燃烧尾焰灼伤风险很小,与实验结果相符。通过与相关数据的对比,该方法能够为多乘员弹射指令系统的设计提供有效的参考依据。     

测控信息传输可靠性保障方法研究

随着IP（互联网协议）在测控领域的广泛应用,丢包、时延等IP网络特性对测控信息传输的可靠性提出了挑战。针对遥/外测、引导及上行控制类数据在信息传输各个环节的技术特点,本文深入研究了各类测控数据的信息传输模型及工作流程,提出了适用于不同场景的可靠性保障方法,并通过数学仿真进行了计算分析。仿真结果表明,队列中断选切策略可有效保障遥/外测及引导类信息的可靠传输,N判M模式下的上行控制类信息传输可靠性优于N选1模式。     

飞机引导控制指令研究

飞机引导控制指令的选择直接影响到飞行控制性能,对引导控制指令的种类和优劣进行研究具有重要意义。首先,以纵向为例,分析认为可选择的引导控制指令有俯仰角指令、法向过载指令和垂直速率指令;然后,在几个合理假设的基础上,采用理论分析方法对上述三种引导控制指令进行比较,所得结论如下:在抑制风对迎角、高度的干扰,以及抑制参数摄动对高度的干扰等方面,能力由高到低分别为过载指令、垂直速率指令和俯仰角指令。最后,通过仿真对上述结论进行了辅助验证。     

Digital air/ground communications for air traffic control

The early 1990's communications for air traffic control (ATC) uses analog single channel radios with conventional amplitude modulation (AM) in the very high frequency (VHF) band. To overcome eventual saturation of the current system, a sample “next generation” ATC communications system has been designed to increase capabilities and provide a graceful transition from the current system. The new ATC communication system must address problems with the modulation format and a balance between increased channel capacity and overall cost. The controller/pilot workloads can be reduced in that the information segments allow for either semi-automatic or fully automatic handoff or frequency change. The principal performance factor is the addition of data, fully integrated with voice, while offering an increase in throughput. The architecture is structured to put priority on the uplink voice messages while offering significant information capacity capabilities for external data sources. When digital data and voice communication systems mature in the ATC environment, a natural evolution to more data traffic and less voice will occur. At that time, a simple restructuring of the channel assignments and priorities could offer increased throughput for connection to ground based data sources such as high capacity routers     

How well does voice interaction work in space?

The methods and results of an evaluation of the Voice Navigator software package are discussed. The first phase or ground phase of the study consisted of creating, or training, computer voice files of specific commands. This consisted of repeating each of six commands eight times. The files were then tested for recognition accuracy by the software aboard the microgravity aircraft. During the second phase, both voice training and testing were performed in microgravity. Inflight training was done due to problems encountered in phase one which were believed to be caused by ambient noise levels. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Only one of the commands was found to offer consistently high recognition rates across subjects during the second phase     

Confluence of navigation, communication, and control in distributedspacecraft systems

This research details the development of technologies and methodologies that enable distributed spacecraft systems by supporting integrated navigation, communication, and control. Operating at the confluence of these critical functions produces capabilities needed to realize the promise of distributed spacecraft systems, including improved performance and robustness relative to monolithic space systems. Navigation supports science data association and data alignment for distributed aperture sensing, multipoint observation, and co-observation of target regions. Communication enables autonomous distributed science data processing and information exchange among space assets. Both navigation and communication provide essential input to control methods for coordinating distributed autonomous assets at the interspacecraft system level and the intraspacecraft affector subsystem level. A technology solution to implement these capabilities, the Crosslink Transceiver, is also described. The Crosslink Transceiver provides navigation and communication capability that can be integrated into a developing autonomous command and control methodology for distributed spacecraft systems. A small satellite implementation of the Crosslink Transceiver design is detailed and its ability to support broad distributed spacecraft mission classes is described     

Wearable computers open a new era in support resource management

Our aerospace customers are demanding that we drastically reduce the operating and support costs of our products. In today's aerospace maintenance environment, the vast majority of maintenance technicians are using paper technical publications, with fixed troubleshooting trees, and manual or semi-automated post maintenance documentation. Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) are at this time being deployed with portable maintenance aids, often an electronic notebook-sized data presentation system, some with expert system based troubleshooting aids. Many of the IETM based systems still require post maintenance documentation and, the maintenance control function is at best, updated when each maintenance task is completed and the vehicle departs. Advances in wearable computer technologies allow us to integrate the maintenance technician with a highly automated, tightly managed support system that will significantly reduce support costs and turn-around times while improving the quality of maintenance. A “Portable Maintenance Terminal” is a wearable computer configured to meet a maintenance technician's information and communication needs. The Portable Maintenance Terminal (PMT) will place the maintenance technician in the loop with the support system. Wearable computers are intended for use in locations where easy access to a desktop computer or laptop is not practical, or where operators are required to have their hands on the job rather than being busy with a computer. The wearable PMT can provide a hands-free, heads-up, networked computing environment     

Digital Avionics?The Best is yet to Come!!!

This paper reviews some of the history and background of digital avionics and offers some tantalizing possibilities for the future. There are payoffs in many areas from digital avionics; however, the ultimate benefits are increased mission effectiveness and lower costs. Two major U. S. Air Force avionics programs designed to increase mission effectiveness are reviewed. Major barriers to the expanded use of digital avionics in civil transports as a means to lower operating costs are examined. The paper also examines lightning effects, architectures, optical components, displays, and voice interactive control which are current research areas that promise to yield significant advances for digital avionics systems. Finally, in a notice of optimism, it is concluded that the best is yet to come. As good as contemporary avionics are, we have only begun to visualize their ultimate potential.     

Service Orientation Principles in Integrated Communication Environments

Today, every modern organization aspires to improve its performance through better use of information technology. As communication technology improves, organizations can operate over wider distances and can even assemble operational components on an ad-hoc basis to meet requirements of a specific objective. Future air traffic communication studies are already discussing whether to operate IP networks that are combining voice and data transport. The problem is that although voice and data are using a common infrastructure, they remain separate at the application level. Probably, some service providers have already enjoyed reduced network infrastructure and operational costs by merging voice and data transport, but the majority may have failed to realize the significant cost, productivity, and service differentiation capabilities that converged, collaborative applications could bring. This elaborates mechanisms needed for a robust and globally interconnected network environment (including infrastructure, systems, processes, and people) in which data is shared timely and seamlessly among users, applications, and platforms. Such an environment enables substantially improved situational awareness and shortened decision-making cycles. Stepping ahead, our contribution discusses standards making application or service convergence a reality.