September 14, 2007
OPL's open house draws 80 people
The Operator Performance Laboratory, a subdivision of the Center for Computer Aided Design (CCAD) at The University of Iowa, held an open house Thursday night. The event started at 5:30 p.m. at the Iowa City Municipal Airport, which is home to the Flight Operations Hangar.
The attendees rode a charter bus out to the event, and upon arrival were greeted by OPL staff members. The event, designed to showcase OPL's technologies, allowed guests to have an interactive experience with OPL's different research projects.
The event displayed the Computerized Airborne Research Platform (CARP), which is an A36 Bonanza that has been equiped with equipment designed at OPL. The newest of this equipment is being used in OPL's latest project, State Sensor Investigations and Operator State Classification and Feedback Algorithms. The Indigo Thermal Camera, used to distinguish the location of facial features, was active. Visitors were able to sit in the pilot seat and get a first-hand experience of which instruments and techniques are being used in OPL's current research.
The technologies developed by OPL are not only used in the CARP, but also in the Instrumented Lexus. The Lexus, a privately sponsored vehicle, was also set up as a hands-on display. Guests were able to sit in the car while an OPL staff member explained the various modifications that were made to the car. Meanwhile, on a large TV, a demo of the eye-tracking software was given. The same TV later displayed live EEG data of an OPL staff member.
This event marked the second showcase of OPL's current technology at the Flight Operations Hangar this summer.
