Robert Anglin
Well Known Member
Yes we have done this over the years. The Ergonomics of panel instruments and all other switches, valves, knobs, exset.. How the will be used, in what order the will be used, how often they will be used, the safety of using them along with situational awareness at the same time they will be used. Yep, I agree with you whole hartedly. Going that extra step and taking the time to look at this aspect of building has good merit. I have mostly done this over time, by just setting in the aircraft and going over, how and what a person can do and needs to do in flight and on the ground, before you start up, when you start moving, during take-off, abort situations, flight, interring the pattern, working the pattern, transmission to roll out. I have found that if you mock these aspects of your uses, of both the aircraft and its systems. Before you install anything and as you install everything, you will be a lot happier, safer and not have to work as hard to fly. Yep never hurts to set and think it through, plan it out, mock it up and test your findings. I like your idea, D.R., we have just done it the old school way. It would be nice to see what you come up with, out of the computer. Go far it, I like learning from others ideas. AND thanks for the work you do for us all.
Yours as always. R.E.A. III #80888
Yours as always. R.E.A. III #80888
[ed. Here is the text being talked about from the 1/13/15 edition...dr]
Thoughts Regarding an On-The-Bench Panel U.I. Project
I'm having initial thoughts of what is 'down the road' regarding panel changes on our family RV-6 (first flight 2002 and on its third panel). This round I was thinking first of taking measurements of four spots (picture below) using string, or wire, fishing lure hardware or whatever, and converging those lines to a point at the bridge of my nose.
With these measurements I would then construct a wire jig to quickly and accurately recreate the distance-to-eyes and panel angle in my home office using a folding table, a panel blank, and my adjustable office chair. Four pieces of fishing line tied together to some old glasses frames and some numbered hooks is the investment.
Now the fun begins with paper printouts of avionics on the panel blank. Where to put the AOA, switches, labels, EFIS screens, backup screens, iPad/Phone and more using MY arms and MY eyes with MY bifocals, etc. Get the switches and screens exactly where they work for my arm sweep and sight lines (thinking IFR here). Wedges required to perfectly read an EFIS on the other side of the panel - and how many degrees. Are MY arms long enough to reach this and that without moving my body/head? Or switching hands? Important stuff with the hood on I'm finding out. With today's remote transponders, comms, autopilots and more, you could end up with a very clean setup.
Build the panel in my home office with sufficiently long service loops, and with the proper power supply on the bench spend all the time necessary to configure a majority of the software. Drop it in. If it took a good long while to accomplish, where's the harm? It would be a lot of fun as well as a new skill set...and it wouldn't require a daily 1-hour round trip to the airport.
Anyone do this already? Thoughts?
Nerds of the world unite! dr
Thoughts Regarding an On-The-Bench Panel U.I. Project
I'm having initial thoughts of what is 'down the road' regarding panel changes on our family RV-6 (first flight 2002 and on its third panel). This round I was thinking first of taking measurements of four spots (picture below) using string, or wire, fishing lure hardware or whatever, and converging those lines to a point at the bridge of my nose.
With these measurements I would then construct a wire jig to quickly and accurately recreate the distance-to-eyes and panel angle in my home office using a folding table, a panel blank, and my adjustable office chair. Four pieces of fishing line tied together to some old glasses frames and some numbered hooks is the investment.
Now the fun begins with paper printouts of avionics on the panel blank. Where to put the AOA, switches, labels, EFIS screens, backup screens, iPad/Phone and more using MY arms and MY eyes with MY bifocals, etc. Get the switches and screens exactly where they work for my arm sweep and sight lines (thinking IFR here). Wedges required to perfectly read an EFIS on the other side of the panel - and how many degrees. Are MY arms long enough to reach this and that without moving my body/head? Or switching hands? Important stuff with the hood on I'm finding out. With today's remote transponders, comms, autopilots and more, you could end up with a very clean setup.
Build the panel in my home office with sufficiently long service loops, and with the proper power supply on the bench spend all the time necessary to configure a majority of the software. Drop it in. If it took a good long while to accomplish, where's the harm? It would be a lot of fun as well as a new skill set...and it wouldn't require a daily 1-hour round trip to the airport.
Anyone do this already? Thoughts?
Nerds of the world unite! dr
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