Presagis accelerates multi-touch cockpit display development with next-generation software

MONTREAL, Canada, 26 March 2015. Presagis, a provider of modeling, simulation, and embedded graphics software, is launching its next-generation software for human machine interface (HMI) development, VAPS XT 4.1. The software boasts a new multi-touch and gesture development framework formulated through close collaboration with major airframe manufacturers.

"The proper use of multi-touch and gestures in the cockpit is a subject of great interest for our customers right now, and they need tools that allow them to experiment with different types of interaction quickly,” explains Paul Jennings, head of innovation and embedded graphics at Presagis. "We have been working closely with the major airframe manufacturers and avionics systems suppliers for over three years on gesture input and multi-touch functionality. We have been investing in development tools they can use to experiment on a desktop in the lab, and to implement the same specification on an embedded system without change, reducing development timescales and risk."

It enables human factors specialists and HMI designers to build and test new cockpit interactions and reduces the need for redesign in the later development stages. A library of predefined, commonly-used gestures (swipe, tap, zoom, pinch, and more) enables designers to get started quickly and drastically reduces the amount of hand coding required to implement gesture recognition on both desktop prototypes and on the final embedded platform. The multi-touch and gesture recognition capability is platform independent; it can be deployed to multiple platforms including tablets, phones, desktop PCs, and embedded platforms.

VAPS XT 4.1 also adds a new performance monitoring feature that enables visual profiling of an application, making it easy to identify and optimize performance problem areas early in development. Also introduced in 4.1 is a modular porting layer that maximizes reuse of code across different embedded hardware platforms and cuts recertification time and costs. A number of runtime performance improvements enable display applications to execute faster with lower CPU usage, officials say.

VAPS XT offers HMI designers, systems engineers, and embedded engineers control and flexibility for creating interactive real-time graphical displays for avionics and other safety-critical embedded applications.

VAPS XT is an object-oriented C++ avionics software development tool which is used for both ARINC 661 and non-ARINC 661 display development, and which offers qualifiable code generation for rapid development of DO-178 B/C certifiable software. With an open development environment and integrated logic capabilities, VAPS XT provides the essential features for the design and deployment of certifiable cockpit displays and a single toolset supporting all phases of development from initial concept to deployment.

For more than 25 years, Presagis has been providing graphical modeling tools enabling its customers to produce graphics HMIs with optimized code for embedded systems. Through Presagis VAPS and VAPS XT, these HMIs have been deployed to thousands of aircraft worldwide. In addition, VAPS XT has proven itself for over for 15 years as a DO-178 qualifiable software tool for the creation of certifiable software which is used for ARINC 661 and non-ARINC 661 programs. Presagis HMI development tools have been used to reduce certification risks and costs in over 30 programs around the world, and are currently used by major avionics systems integrators, including: Boeing, BAE Systems, Datel, Barco, CMC Electronics, Lockheed Martin, THALES Avionics, and SAAB.

Presagis provides commercial modeling, simulation, and embedded software solutions to the aerospace, defense and security, and critical infrastructure markets. Presagis combines an open simulation development framework with expert professional services to help customers streamline development workflows, reduce project risks, and deliver game-quality immersive simulations. With more than 20 years experience of developing certifiable software, Presagis reduces its customers certifiable development schedules, shortening time to market. The company serves hundreds of customers worldwide, including many of the world's most respected organizations such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, BAE Systems, and CAE.