Program Description

NAS Innovation and Emerging Concepts (NIEC)

The NIEC provides a real-time, emulated NAS environment that allows for concept development and validation, integration, and operations analysis capabilities through Human-in-the Loop simulation testing and data analysis. Future NAS prototype systems and procedures are developed and integrated into the NIEC to support studies that measure and validate concept feasibility, human performance, usability, changes in workload, and safety.

Key Capabilities

• A real-time, rapid prototyping and simulation environment that simulates the NAS while integrating new prototypes and future concepts
• Technical Center and external laboratory integration
• Gate-to-gate simulation environment which includes a tower simulator, emulations of terminal and enroute airspace systems, as well as a cockpit simulator
• Voice communications and datacomm capabilities
• Data collection capabilities including:
• Workload Assessment Keypad or (WAK)
• Eye Tracking
• Infrared overhead cameras
• Screen capture
• Ambient audio
• Comm recordings / Push To Talk or (PTT)
• DESIREE data collection and analysis tools

Benefits

• Rapid prototyping for cost effective research and development of new concepts
• Representation and integration across multiple NAS domains in one facility
• Inclusion and integration of future capabilities with ability to connect to, or emulate most systems of the NAS
• Human-in-the-loop simulation capability for high fidelity human factors studies