Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Joseph Lipson, Senior Brennan Flanagan Trevor Sterbens Brandon Godfrey Jeremiah Sepich
Lead Presenter's Name
Joseph Lipson
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Barbara Chaparro
Abstract
Aircraft carrier flight decks are one of the most dangerous work environments in the world, where dozens of aircraft must be moved, fueled, and armed within strict time limits. Currently, Flight Deck Handling Officers track aircraft positions using a physical board with wooden pucks that can be knocked out of place or become outdated during fast-moving operations. This study looks at whether using AI tools helps people design a better digital version of this tracking system. Participants with little design experience were randomly selected and then randomly assigned to one of two groups — one that could use AI tools such as Claude, Gemini, or FigmaMake, and one that could only use Figma by itself or create a hand drawn version. Both groups were given the same scenario and time limit to design a prototype covering a top-down deck view, aircraft status indicators, elevator and hangar coordination, a launch countdown, and safety alerts. Designs from both groups will be evaluated based on military human engineering standards, Human Factors principles, task completion time, a rubric we created, the System Usability Scale, and the NASA Task Load Index. We expect participants who used AI tools to produce better, more organized designs while experiencing less mental strain throughout the process. This study hopes to offer insight into how AI can support safer and more effective interface design in high-pressure, real-world environments.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Commons, Operational Research Commons, Systems Engineering Commons
High Tempo Air Operations
Aircraft carrier flight decks are one of the most dangerous work environments in the world, where dozens of aircraft must be moved, fueled, and armed within strict time limits. Currently, Flight Deck Handling Officers track aircraft positions using a physical board with wooden pucks that can be knocked out of place or become outdated during fast-moving operations. This study looks at whether using AI tools helps people design a better digital version of this tracking system. Participants with little design experience were randomly selected and then randomly assigned to one of two groups — one that could use AI tools such as Claude, Gemini, or FigmaMake, and one that could only use Figma by itself or create a hand drawn version. Both groups were given the same scenario and time limit to design a prototype covering a top-down deck view, aircraft status indicators, elevator and hangar coordination, a launch countdown, and safety alerts. Designs from both groups will be evaluated based on military human engineering standards, Human Factors principles, task completion time, a rubric we created, the System Usability Scale, and the NASA Task Load Index. We expect participants who used AI tools to produce better, more organized designs while experiencing less mental strain throughout the process. This study hopes to offer insight into how AI can support safer and more effective interface design in high-pressure, real-world environments.