Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
The paper reviews the developments in avionics over thelast seventy years, focusing on the impact ofcomputer technology during the last ten years. Thedevelopment of aircraft navigation systems isdescribed, including present day satellitenavigation and terrain reference navigation. Thetechniques used in aircraft displays are outlinedincluding CRTs and LCDs and covering head updisplays, helmet mounted displays and syntheticdisplays. The systems architecture which forms thebasis of modem avionics is described, covering themajor aircraft databuses in use including recentdevelopments in integrated modular avionics.Developments in real-time software, which has becomea major cost in many programmes, are covered,leading to the techniques used to ensure aircraftreliability, particularly fault tolerantarchitectures and also safety systems for healthmonitoring and recent research in ‘pilotassociates'. The paper also summarises developmentsin flight control systems for both civil andmilitary aircraft. The paper concludes with a briefreview of future developments in avionics,speculating on the role of pilot in futureaircraft.