Business & GA

Thales (Booth 789) is showing visitors the future of cockpits, thanks to its iDeck Avionics Prototyping Advanced System (APAS) simulation tool.

The iDeck enables airframers and customers to design, validate and test their future avionics suite configurations and functionality prior to full-scale development. Thales says this drastically reduces the development cycle.

The iDeck is based on a generic hardware platform connected to a simulated aircraft environment, including all phases of flight and integrating complete sets of sub-systems and functions such as interactive Flight Management System, Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), Head-Up Display (HUD), digital map and cockpit controls.

At NBAA, the iDeck features a business jet configuration including cockpit controls, sidesticks, nose wheel steering, rudder pedals, autothrottle, as well as spoiler and landing gear levers

This configuration allows Thales to work closely with airframers on any new business jet programs, and define and validate different functions and concepts within the cockpit from an early stage in the development process.

iDeck has some revolutionary features, such as touch screen controls that give tactile feedback thanks to vibrating screens, mouse-controlled avionics and the ability to move the mouse pointer straight across from one flat panel to another as though the flight displays were one big sheet of glass.

Emmanuel Grave, senior vice president, Thales Avionics, says: “This method significantly contributed to quick prototyping and early concept evaluation on the Airbus A350 XWB program. The iDeck will never fly – it is a ground-based simulator and prototyping tool. But it helps us develop new core systems and future evolution in avionic architecture.”