Since the first commercial “glass cockpit” appeared in the late 1980s, flight decks have steadily shifted from rows of analogue dials to large-scale touchscreen panels that can be instantly reconfigured to show navigation, system status, weather and flight performance metrics in a single interface.
This shift has streamlined cockpits and improved the organisation of information, but it also changes the nature of interaction. Touchscreens are proven in both consumer and professional environments, and modern cockpits systems are rigorously tested. In aviation, turbulence, high workload and occasional gloved operation, adding tactile cues can make certain interactions feel more natural and help reduce unnecessary visual checks.
Haptics in cockpits
Haptic technology, or haptics, provides tactile feedback that lets users “feel” their interactions with a touchscreen. In a cockpit, this means that when a pilot presses a button or selects a control, they receive immediate physical confirmation through a vibration or pulse that the action has been registered.
When a touchscreen input is registered, a precisely timed mechanical response is triggered. Actuators beneath or around the display physically move the surface, with each actuator type producing a distinct kind of feedback.
Piezoelectric actuators deform almost instantly when voltage is applied, creating sharp, localised cues like the click of a mechanical switch. Electromagnetic actuators drive a small magnetic mass using a coil, enabling more complex vibration patterns or directional signals. Vibration motors deliver broader, less targeted pulses across the display surface.
Designing haptics for aviation, however, is significantly more complex than for consumer electronics. Cockpits expose components to persistent vibration from engines and airflow, turbulence-induced motion and rapid changes in acceleration, all of which can easily mask or distort the tactile cues intended to guide the pilot.
Haptic responses must therefore be strong, consistent and precisely timed, remaining clearly distinguishable without overwhelming the pilot or interfering with other sensory inputs. Achieving this level of precision and reliability depends on the underlying control electronics, which coordinate actuator signals, manage timing and filter interference – responsibilities that fall to the processors.
Processing inputs
Processors control each haptic response by interpreting signals from the touchscreen’s capacitive sensors and converting them into precise commands from the actuators. They also adjust the voltage, current or pulse width driving each actuator to shape the intensity, duration and pattern of the feedback.
While general-purpose central processing units (CPUs) are adequate for consumer haptics, such as smartphone vibrations or game controller feedback, there is a better choice for aviation-grade systems.
An ASIC is often preferred because it aligns much more cleanly with the intent and objectives of DO-254 (Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware). DO-254 requires rigorous requirements capture, traceability, verification and validation for complex electronic hardware. An ASIC implements a narrowly defined, fixed hardware function, which significantly limits design complexity and state space, making it easier to demonstrate complete requirements coverage, timing and predictable behaviour.
From a long-term supply and lifecycle perspective, ASICs align better with aviation programs, which typically demand 20 to 40 years of stable availability. General-purpose CPUs are frequently discontinued or revised, forcing redesigns and costly re-certification. An ASIC can be manufactured unchanged for decades under controlled production agreements, providing predictable availability and strong resistance to obsolescence.
Cockpit haptics demand reliable, ultra-low-latency control simultaneously across multiple actuators. Feedback must also remain consistent and perceptible despite vibration, turbulence, temperature fluctuations and electromagnetic interference (EMI). ASICs can meet these stringent requirements.
Unlike general-purpose processors, ASICs are designed to execute specific, dedicated tasks. Their architecture can be customised to manage haptic feedback, with specialised circuits for generating precise actuator drive signals and for modulating voltage, current or pulse width to control vibration amplitude, duration and waveform, while synchronising multiple actuators in real time. Integrated timers and control loops enable microsecond-level response and reliable performance, ensuring that tactile feedback is immediate, reproducible and reliable under all flight conditions.
Hardware-level filtering, noise suppression and compensation algorithms can be embedded directly on the chip to counteract EMI, preserving signal integrity and ensuring each tactile cue is clear and consistent. Optimised signal paths and parallelised actuator control reduce latency and power consumption, allowing ASICs to deliver high-performance haptic control within the tight thermal and space constraints of cockpit electronics.
Advanced haptic technology, powered by purpose-built ASICs, delivers the tactile certainty pilots need to operate. This integration of touch, technology and pilot skill restores the harmony between muscle, mind and mechanism, reducing cognitive load and supporting intuitive control even under the most challenging flight conditions.
Author: Ross Turnbull, director of Business Development at Swindon Silicon Systems
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