I've always admired flight sim videos where checklists were performed using audio capture and thought for a long time about purchasing some of the commercial offerings. However being a commercial software developer and a tight git I decided to (whilst teaching myself C#) roll my own. I won the superb A2A C172 and a slightly modified version of it's paper checklists as my test case.

 

The current release (0.4) is based on the .Net Framework v4 and the Microsoft Voice Recognition API. It is configurable via an xml checklist file. The app will "speak" to you using the Microsoft Speech Engine by default or you can record your own wav files and have the app play those in place of the MSE. The supplied A2A C172 checklist comes with a complete set of wav files recorded by yours truly. I tried to get my wife to record the checklist items but it was just a bit too nerd for her

 

A run through of the app is shown in the following video:

 

 

...and you can see it working with FSX here:

 

 

A2A member "Airworthy" wrote his own version of the checklist for the RealAir Beech Duke Turbine. Here is his video demonstrating its use:

 

 

Other people have also used this app successfully with Falcon4 BMS so it's use is not restricted to just MSFSX.

 

It is an open source project and all the code is hosted on Google Code. If you want to get your hands dirty and make some mods then please feel free to.

 

The latest release will always be available from the following link.

https://code.google.com/p/voice-activated-checklists/

 

As of v0.4 I've split the checklist files from the main application executable so I can better manage releases. Download the A2A Checklist Files zip and the latest release to give it a go yourself.

 

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts and of course I'm always delighted to hear of people using it (videos would be great )

Hi Paul,

 

I saw your post on the A2A forum.  I viewed this twice but the view count didn't increment.

 

Jim

Thanks Jim. I can see now the topic views are at 70. Couldn't see a single view before.

I will gladly help you bump this up. The software can be used for any aircraft in FSX and is quite simply awesome. Payware voice activated checklist tool for free, you cant complain about that!

 

I use it extensively with our C172 and find it does help bring the immersion up a little and every little helps in the land of sim B)

Can the checklist be activated by key press?

Yes it can. That functionality was included in v0.2 after it being requested.

 

Saw this on the A2A forum, I'm responding here because my A2A forum account isn't activated yet,

 

A really nice flexible tool you've made. Sadly the current version errors on my system, some issue to to with class registering/referencing or whatever. MS really messed up the transition to 64 bit with respect to legacy applications and modules, and then exasperate these issues in their SDKs. The closest thing I could find to explaining is this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3671673/setwindowshookex-failing-in-net-4-0-on-32-bit-machine-with-module-not-found

 

Thankfully your 0.1.x version doesn't use Gma.UserActivityMonitor.dll as you hadn't implemented the key-presses yet. So I've managed to give it a go. I've even edited the checklist to remind me of the few things I always seem to forget. I also added a few aliases for some replies.

 

I'm glad you kept it open source, if the error can't be resolved, I can always strip out the global key-press stuff and build it myself. I can see other people adding direct FSX integration so the co-pilot can do his stuff and you can just fly.

Sorry you're having problems using the latest version of the app. I'll take a look when I'm not hammered in my day job.

 

using 0.1.x is a good compromise as the later versions only really added functionality and didn't fix any show stopping bugs.

 

On  a side note, I've had over 300 downloads of the various versions, but little in the way of forum feedback or custom checklists. If anyone reading this is using it then please spare a moment to post your experience and maybe even share any customisations that you've made to the checklists.

Hi, watched your movie and it looks really interesting, 

 

I will try to test it today, 

 

Many Thanks 

 

Greg

its really good, ive been working on correct checklist for A2A cherokee. id like to be able to add voice commands to its repertoire though so the checklist confirmation reply isnt as repetitive but I just dont know how :s K

Hi

 

@ Kevinfirth - I have solved it to additional voice commands for each option 

 

<item name="Request IFR clearance" vcommand="Requested,Done"/>

<item name="SQUAWK Set" vcommand="Set,Entered,Done"/>

<item name="Altimeter set" vcommand="Set,Entered,Done"/>

<item name="Autopilot Altitude Set" vcommand="Set,Entered,Done"/>

 

In this way after few checks of the list and propable answers you do not need to say "check" every time  

 

I have spend some time on creating a flow / checklist for B737 NGX. 

I have modified xml file based on A2A C172.checklist but of course list was much more longer than original. 

I have to say that this kind of software is exactlly what I was looking for !!!!!! 

 

I have two questions though : 

 

1. Is there any way to change the names of checklists or it is compiled in exe file.

2. During tests in FSX at some point of my long checklist system is jumping into other checklist - that is why I am asking if there is any limit of commands for one checklist ?

 

Many Thanks for the answers !!!

 

Best Regards

 

Greg

Glad you're enjoying the app.

 

When editing the checklist file, you can specify any voice command you want the app to listen to against each checlist item. Just specify a comma separated list of words against the "vcommand" tag.

Paul, sorry to be dim, I thought there was a hardcoded list of responses, that can be seen in a column on the left (when in debug mode I think?). Are you saying thats not an exhaustive list? I think I may have got the concept wrong in my head and be limiting myself then

 

I could set it to require a response for example, of "altimeter set to airfield QNH"?

@ Kevin, 

 

Looking how the system works from my point of view you can have difficulties with so long reply - its the best to be one word - or set of single words. 

 

Best Regards

 

Greg

1. Is there any way to change the names of checklists or it is compiled in exe file.

2. During tests in FSX at some point of my long checklist system is jumping into other checklist - that is why I am asking if there is any limit of commands for one checklist ?

 

1. In the options you can specify whichever checklist file you want, You can have a checklist file for each plane you fly.

2. I've not come across this issue myself and afaik no one has reported it either. If you can find repeatable steps that give this problem. Then let me know and I'll look into the code.

Paul, sorry to be dim, I thought there was a hardcoded list of responses, that can be seen in a column on the left (when in debug mode I think?). Are you saying thats not an exhaustive list? I think I may have got the concept wrong in my head and be limiting myself then

 

I could set it to require a response for example, of "altimeter set to airfield QNH"?

 

That list of accepted commands in the debug tab is a mix of some hard coded responses and also voice commands that have been parsed from the currently active checklist file.

 

You may have issues with such a long reply, however, the apps chance of success increases by training Microsoft Speech recognition to recognise your voice.