“This is a milestone for our college and for Florida Atlantic University,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Having access to this advanced military-grade flight simulation technology on our campus elevates our research enterprise. The Jayhawk simulator will serve as a cornerstone of aviation training, research and education at FAU, strengthening our leadership in AI, autonomy, human performance and aerospace systems, while opening new doors for collaboration across the university and our federal and industry partners.”
The simulator 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. As a mid-tier training device incorporating MR capabilities and a 3D-freedom motion platform, the system blends physical cockpit controls with immersive digital environments to create a highly realistic, data-rich research setting. The open-source, non-CUI software architecture allows investigators to modify flight models, integrate experimental algorithms, test adaptive autonomy frameworks, and evaluate advanced sensor fusion strategies in real time. Unlike live-aircraft testing, which can cost thousands of dollars per flight hour and is constrained by safety and operational limits, the simulator enables flying in repeatable, high-risk and degraded-condition scenarios in a fully controlled environment.
Beyond its primary role in aviation-focused research, the T-1A Jayhawk simulator establishes a versatile, high-fidelity platform for a wide range of interdisciplinary studies across FAU. Its mixed-reality, motion-enabled environment allows faculty and students to explore human–machine interaction, autonomous decision-making and real-time sensor fusion in complex, dynamic scenarios that would be unsafe or cost-prohibitive in real-world conditions. Researchers can study cognitive performance, situational awareness, stress and decision-making under pressure, while testing new interfaces, control architectures and AI-driven support systems.
“The T-1A Jayhawk simulator provides us with a reconfigurable, high-fidelity experimental platform to advance both foundational and applied research in autonomous decision-making, real-time sensor fusion, and trustworthy AI for safety-critical environments,” said Dimitris Pados, Ph.D., principal investigator, Schmidt Eminent Scholar Professor of Engineering and Computer Science in FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, director of CA-AI and an FAU Sensing Institute (I-SENSE) faculty fellow. “We will be able to rigorously test how intelligent systems perform alongside human operators and develop technologies that are robust, resilient and aligned with mission requirements.”
The flight simulator also serves as a laboratory for neuroscience and biomedical research, enabling experiments on cognitive workload, motor control, fatigue and human performance in immersive, controlled settings. Its capabilities support cross-disciplinary work in cybersecurity, systems engineering, robotics and advanced manufacturing, providing a safe venue to prototype, evaluate and refine emerging technologies.
Additionally, the simulator fosters collaborations with industry, government and community partners, offering hands-on training for students across engineering, computer science, human factors and related fields.
“In this way, the Jayhawk simulator is a campus-wide engine for innovation, education and leading-edge experimentation in AI and complex systems,” said Batalama.
The expanded research footprint will directly support active federally funded projects, including NIH-supported computational neuroscience research and AFOSR, AFRL and NSF-funded work in secure and trustworthy cyber-physical systems at CA-AI and FAU Engineering.
“This capability changes what we can do as a research institution,” said Pados. “It empowers our faculty and students to explore complex, real-world challenges in a safe, rigorous and highly adaptable environment. The Jayhawk simulator is more than a technological asset – it is an enabling platform that will help FAU continue shaping the future of autonomous systems, intelligent technologies and next-generation aerospace innovation.”
The flight simulator is housed at FAU Tech Runway on the Boca Raton campus in newly allocated space designed to support multiple high-impact research initiatives.
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About FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science:
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for innovative research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Master of Science in AI (first in Florida), Master of Science and Bachelor in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.
About the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI)
The Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI) at Florida Atlantic University is an interdisciplinary research center focused on advancing the theory and practice of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Located in the Engineering East building on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, the center brings together experts in AI, machine learning, sensing, and real-time communications to develop solutions for land, sea, air, and space applications. With a mission to accelerate innovation in connected autonomy, CA-AI plays a key role in developing smart, resilient systems — from autonomous navigation and adaptive networks to decision-making in complex environments. With support from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense, Schmidt Family Foundation, and other partners, CA-AI is committed to education and workforce development, including the creation of Florida’s first M.S. program in artificial intelligence. Through impactful research and educational initiatives, CA-AI is shaping the future of networked AI robotics for a smarter, more resilient world. Learn more at www.fau.edu/engineering/research/c2a2.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University serves more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses along Florida’s Southeast coast. Recognized as one of only 13 institutions nationwide to achieve three Carnegie Foundation designations - R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” “Opportunity College and University,” and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification - FAU stands at the intersection of academic excellence and social mobility. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, FAU is also nationally recognized as a Top 25 Best-In-Class College and cited by Washington Monthly as “one of the country’s most effective engines of upward mobility.” To learn more, visit www.fau.edu.
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