Aviation Adventures is the loose umbrella under which various programs at the Orlando Science Center have been developed. This has included VR-based simulator exhibits for their flight lab, summer programs using
mixed types of software, remote programs, and mobile applications. Each of the below entries describes in more detail the nature of the individual programs.
Design: I have been responsible for designing individual missions and standalone games and tools with a priority on meshing them with measurable metrics to be analyzed by a development partner(s). I have also provided
a large portion of the supporting visual media used in association with any game content as either a training tool or an introductory element.
Scripting: Using XML and the visual and text scripting in P3D, I developed over fifteen different singleplayer missions and four different multiplayer missions. I created several new aircraft in part or in whole
for use in the aforementioned missions.
Development: I created several tools and apps to support or to facilitate some of the missions, including a "lite" mission builder (for use by end users), an aircraft design tool (for use by end users), and briefing/tutorial
apps. I also created a stand-alone browser game with remote saved progression and scoring. Additionally, I made several prototypical "exhibit assistants" designed for tablet use in the museum.
Art: I some small 3D art assets for the simulator using Softimage XSI and GMAX. I also made all the 2D art for the browser game.
UI: I developed all the player-facing gauges for use in the simulator exhibits. I also designed and iterated upon the interfaces for all of the tablet-based media we created for OSC.
Support: I was responsible for ongoing support of the simulator software used at the science center. I helped facilitate parts of the initial exhibit as well as some of the summer programs.
Mobile Flight Lab (2021)
The Mobile Flight Lab is a traveling program designed to deliver flight simulation paired with hands-on activities to organizations that might not be able to facilitate a field trip to OSC. It uses VR headsets
and a turnkey laptop setup to allow facilitators to efficiently switch between flight simulation and hands-on projects. Its thematic focus is on practical applications of aviation.
Mobile Flight Lab crop-sensor drone mission
Aviation Adventures - Remote (2020)
This standalone browser game is a collection of thematically-tied games that test players' understanding of aviation concepts as well as understanding of their historical milieu. It uses a user account system
to allow for progression across devices and statistics tracking. This was developed in the context of a pivot from face-to-face experiences to remote ones.
Aviation Adventures - Remote menuAviation Adventures - Remote barnstorming game
Summer Program (2019)
The 2019 Aviation Adventures program was a five-day program that covered a wide range of aviation- and simulator-themed experiences, including an aircraft-to-simulator creation exercise, a mission-building
scenario, and a virtual aircraft carrier crewed by several different players simultaneously. This incorporated a unique pre- and post-test design in the simulator that enabled the science center to gather
metrics on knowledge acquisition on the part of participants.
Summer Program '19 player-built aircraftSummer Program '19 aircraft builderSummer Program '19 aircraft carrier captain view
Multiplayer Flight Lab Expansion (2019)
This small expansion to the Flight Lab's content comprised a team-versus-team scenario that combined a territory control mechanic with flight simulation.
Flight Lab multiplayer expansion with panel overlaid
Summer Program (2018)
The 2018 summer program was a five-day program designed to expose players to unusual types and uses of aircraft, including amphibious craft, weather aircraft, and rotorcraft. It included singleplayer missions
daily and had multiple capstone multiplayer missions, all played in headset VR.
Summer Program '18 hurricane hunter aircraft with gauges overlaid
Flight Lab (2018)
The Flight Lab is the Orlando Science Center's primary aviation and flight exhibit. At its launch, it included two different short experiences. These experiences were designed to be run in VR with a split
responsibility between a pilot and a co-pilot, with co-pilot material presented on secondary screens and tablets.
Flight Lab F-35 tutorial mission
FutureOrb apps (Prototype, 2019)
This series of tablet apps were designed to present location-based content to museum guests for the Flight Lab, DinoDigs (paleontology area), and the HIVE (makerspace area). This included four different apps that
each included supporting information for their areas as well as instructions for activities to participate in, once there.