Florida Atlantic University has received an in-kind grant from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research consisting of a T-1A Jayhawk mixed-reality and 3D motion flight simulator valued at approximately $4.5 million. The simulator has been awarded to the university’s Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the College of Engineering and Computer Science and will be available to researchers across the institution as well as external industry partners.
The system replicates the cockpit configuration, flight characteristics and operational environment of the T-1A Jayhawk, a medium-range, twin-engine jet aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force for advanced pilot training. Designed as a mid-tier training device, the simulator integrates mixed-reality capabilities with a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform. Physical cockpit controls are combined with immersive digital environments to create a controlled research environment capable of generating operational flight data.
The simulator operates on an open-source, non-controlled unclassified information software architecture, allowing researchers to modify flight models, integrate experimental algorithms and test autonomous systems in simulated flight conditions. Investigators will also be able to evaluate adaptive autonomy frameworks and sensor-fusion technologies in real time. The platform enables researchers to conduct repeatable tests in high-risk or degraded scenarios that would be difficult or costly to perform with live aircraft.
According to Stella Batalama, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, access to the system expands the university’s research infrastructure in areas including artificial intelligence, human performance, autonomy and aerospace systems. She said the simulator will support aviation training, research and education while facilitating collaboration with federal agencies and industry.
The platform is intended to support interdisciplinary research across multiple academic areas. Faculty and students will be able to study human–machine interaction, autonomous decision-making and real-time sensor fusion in simulated operational environments. The system also allows researchers to examine cognitive performance, situational awareness and decision-making under pressure while testing new interfaces and control architectures.
Dimitris Pados, director of the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence and principal investigator on the project, said the simulator provides a configurable experimental platform for work in autonomous decision-making, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence systems designed for safety-critical environments. He said researchers will be able to examine how intelligent systems interact with human operators and assess the reliability of emerging technologies.
Beyond aerospace applications, the simulator can support research in neuroscience and biomedical engineering, including studies of cognitive workload, motor control and fatigue in immersive environments. The platform is also expected to be used in projects related to cybersecurity, robotics, systems engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The facility will support federally funded research programs already underway at the university, including work supported by the National Institutes of Health as well as projects funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation that focus on cyber-physical systems.
The simulator has been installed at FAU Tech Runway on the university’s Boca Raton campus in space designated for research and technology development initiatives. The facility will also provide training opportunities for students in engineering, computer science and related disciplines.
Photo credit: Florida Atlantic University
