Expert system-conventional processing interface

A cockpit information manager which utilizes expert-system technology requires a flexible, modular approach to interfacing the expert-system decision logic to the aircraft control and display functions. Existing cockpit display hardware dictates inflexible software control. To avoid this constraint, an interface must incorporate both the features of object-oriented design and the realities of device input/output. Past efforts in this direction are reviewed, and the Virtual Avionics Development System and its interfaces which meet the stated requirements are described.<>