Design and optimization of virtual cockpit integrated display system

The virtual cockpit integrated display system designed can favorably meet the need of flight simulation, which was in the form of, one head-up display plus three head-down multi-function displays. Through analysis of the demand of real-time information during the different flight phases, the layout of the images of the multi-function displays was accomplished, while the display and switch of various information images can be realized. The most important information was emphasized in the image and the instrument, and backup images were also taken into consideration. Furthermore, virtual mechanical instruments were included in the system, so that the reality and reliability of the display system were upgraded. In order to optimize the system, the collocation of the switch keys, the format of the information items and the color of the images were improved, based on some conclusions of visual ergonomics. The system offered a friendly human-machine interface for the flight simulation. This paper focuses on the need of the simulation system and the demand of ergonomics, and discusses the design and optimization of virtual cockpit integrated display system. In the first section, the paper introduces the design of the frame of the system appearance; in the second section, on the basis of the information originating from the simulation system, the head-down displays are designed, and according to the importance grade of the information, the layout of the images are detailed; in the third section, the paper introduces the optimization of the system, which is useful to visualize and standardize the information and to shorten the response time of the pilot.