Einsatz elektronischer Sprachein- und -ausgabe im Hubschraubercockpit

The workload of helicopter pilots can be characterized by high visual demands and two continually busy hands. Analyzing the situation, some very critical tasks could be found (especially in helicopters with only one pilot), where additional input facilities and information channels are needed. It was experimentally tested in a helicopter simulator which improvements can be reached by integrating voice input, voice output and speechfiling systems. A specially designed voice system using a connected word recognizer, a voice output system with formant synthesis as well as a speechfiling system controlled by voice command were implemented in the simulator and tested with 10 pilots in several sessions. Tasks like frequency selction for communication channels, voice output for checklists and emergency procedures and speechfiling of flightplans, weather data etc. were selected. Recognition results as well as subjective evaluations show that the voice channel is a valuable addition for existin g communication forms especially for helicopters with only one pilot.