From adaptive interfaces to cyber-physical systems: innovations transforming flight safety
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Olivier Ferrari
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The rapid digitalization of aviation has redefined how pilots interact with flight systems, transitioning from manual control to highly automated and cognitively adaptive environments. Building on the foundations of adaptive human–machine interfaces and recent advances in neuroergonomics, this paper explores the continuum from adaptive cockpit design to the emergence of fully integrated cyber-physical systems (CPS) that redefine flight safety. Drawing on the pioneering works of Alain Philippe Gruchet, the study examines how adaptive visualization, psychophysiological monitoring, and cognitive modeling have evolved into closed-loop architectures capable of perceiving, reasoning, and acting in synchrony with the human operator. The discussion highlights three major shifts: from static to adaptive information display, from task-based to state-based automation, and from isolated systems to interconnected CPS networks. By synthesizing developments across avionics engineering, cognitive neuroscience, and safety certification, the paper identifies how these innovations collectively create a new paradigm of “human-aware” aviation technology.
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Authors
Olivier Ferrari
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References:
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