Research Conference

John Lauer

ENGL 250

Research Conference

4/4/2014

2014 Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference

               When I first go to the conference, it seemed like it would be pretty boring. But after looking around at all the booths and talking to some researchers, it was actually pretty cool and interesting!

               I went around 2:00 pm on Friday for Session V, to look at the only booth that had a researcher in the Mechanical Engineering field. The booth was about the “Characterization of Information Automation on the Flight Deck” and was led by Rachel Dudley. Her major specifically is: Mechanical Engineering and Human Computer Interaction. I was led to this booth because it had the most to do with my major, but also interested me in the sense that not only was research being done on how to properly engineer and program a flight deck, but also looking at the safety of humans when operating and controlling a plane.

               If you have ever looked at the flight deck on a plane, you will realize how crazy complicated it really is. There are so many buttons and switches that control all aspects and commands the plane must be told to lift off and land the plane with no casualties. The automation systems in the plane are in charge of informing the flight crew when something is going wrong with the engine or flight system, and then the pilot and his crew must work together to solve any problems and keep the flight safe for all passengers. One of the problems with this is how complicated flight deck systems are, so making them more user friendly and easier to solve problems on is the first step to a safer flight. The paper that the researcher has written, went over the human factor issues and challenges that the aircraft flight deck systems may go through, and how to reduce any risk and problems that happen during a flight. The big idea here is that planes and other automotive devices go through many problems throughout their life, and if other systems can be implemented to eliminate those risks and help the technology grow in smartness and effectiveness, then important systems like planes can be more trusted and no one will die from errors in automation systems.

               This was actually a real cool booth, where not only engineering is involved but human computer interaction is considered in operation of those devices. A lot of people want to get a system working right, but when humans have to interact with it and operate it, what kind of designs can be put towards making the device easy to work and smooth with controls. Design is one part of mechanical engineering that I can consider focusing on in the future, and this gave me a good example of one unique thing I could do in my field someday.