Our lab received an NSF CAREER award titled "CAREER: Using virtual reality to advance research and learning and promote positive skill transfer in complex environments with applications in enhanced flight training." You can find more information on what we hope to accomplish with this grant here. This page will host education and research outcomes and products from this grant in an open-source format.

Flight data plugin for X-Plane for LSL implementation

Our lab has developed a lightweight plugin for X-Plane which streams user-selected "datarefs" or flight parameters to Lab Streaming Layer (LSL) in real time. This plugin is useful for real-time visualization in instructor stations or for human-in-the loop studies. In our case, we are using it to time-sync our flight data to other participant data, such us heart rate sensor information and eye tracking parameters.

You can download the plugin, editable code, and documentation here. We have published a paper and a poster describing the work behind this implementation which may be useful if you are trying to edit it.

Flight data converter

This application is coming soon. We have developed an application to covert flight data between three formats: X-Plane, Garmin G1000, and Flight Data Recorder. Converting allows us to have a unified format for our work regardless of the source. In more practical terms, though, converting G1000 data to the Flight Data Recorder format will allow you to replay a real flight from your training on the flight simulator so you can review your maneuvers and identify mistakes.

We are in the process of creating a self-paced training course to provide students with the knowledge required to pass the FAA knowledge test and the oral portion of their checkride. This course is still under construction, but in the meantime, instructors and students can use the lesson plans and other training materials (student workbook, presentations) we have made available here.

Coming soon. We are developing scaffolding training modules aviation enthusiasts can use to learn how to fly in the simulator. These modules are compatible with X-Plane 11 or 12.