Human engineering first emerged in the 1950s with the aim of developing increasingly complex technologies by building on new insights into our cognitive abilities and limitations. Adapting machines to humans hinges on designing easy-to-use interfaces and integrating human factors into how they are operated. It's the very basis of human-machine interaction in the modern world.

 “With the exponential increase in the complexity of systems and the controls required to operate them, particularly in the markets that are critical for us like defence, aerospace and transport, the requirement to build human factors into system specifications has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years," explains Thierry Beauvais, in charge of Processing, Cognition & Control at Thales.

The requirement to build human factors into system specifications has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years.

The ability to build user-centric systems is therefore a key challenge not only in terms of performance, but also as a way to improve training and safety. And to meet this challenge, we need to break with the negative perception of humans as the “weak link” in the system.

The Odicis cockpit developed by Thales, winner of the 2012 Janus de la Prospective award from the French design institute (Institut Français du Design), is a fine example of the kind of innovation that is a key driver of this approach.

This cockpit was developed at Thales Avionics as a multidisciplinary project by human factors experts, medical professionals and pilots working closely with designers in a collaborative effort.

“This electronic display system was designed from the outset around the human and the pilot and ways to leverage their strengths – creativity, initiative, insight and logic – and address their physical and cognitive weaknesses,” says Denis Bonnet, who heads the Avionics Division’s Cockpit Innovation department.

Odicis offers a simpler interface that reflects the ways humans reason and taps into that understanding to maximise functionality and usability. For example, when poor weather prevents the pilot from flying in normal visual flight conditions, Odicis projects a synthetic picture of the external environment onto the cockpit display screen.

Suitable for any civil or military helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, the Odicis demonstrator features a single touchscreen display, marking a breakthrough in information delivery and visibility and bringing the flight crew greater flexibility. This innovation addresses three key requirements in aviation: flexible cockpit architectures, efficient use of available display space and continuity of information. Presented to great acclaim at the last Paris Air Show and expected to enter the market in 2020, Odicis can look forward to a bright future.

Odicis won the gold award in the Technical Innovation category and the Thales People's Vote at the 2012 Thales Innovation Awards.

Image copyright: Philippe Coni/Thales