Title: New methodology to explore the role of visualisation in aircraft design tasks

Authors: Evelina Dineva; Arne Bachmann; Erwin Moerland; Björn Nagel; Volker Gollnick

Addresses: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), German Aerospace Center, Blohmstr. 18, 21079 Hamburg, Germany ' Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), German Aerospace Center, Blohmstr. 18, 21079 Hamburg, Germany ' Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), German Aerospace Center, Blohmstr. 18, 21079 Hamburg, Germany ' Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), German Aerospace Center, Blohmstr. 18, 21079 Hamburg, Germany ' Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), German Aerospace Center, Blohmstr. 18, 21079 Hamburg, Germany

Abstract: A toolbox for the assessment of engineering performance in a realistic aircraft design task is presented. Participants solve a multidisciplinary optimisation (MDO) task by means of a graphical user interface (GUI). The quantity and quality of visualisation may be systematically varied across experimental conditions. The GUI also allows tracking behavioural responses like cursor trajectories and clicks. Behavioural data together with evaluation of the generated aircraft design can help uncover details about the underlying decision making process. The design and the evaluation of the experimental toolbox are presented. Pilot studies with two novice and two advanced participants confirm and help improve the GUI functionality. The selection of the aircraft design task is based on a numerical analysis that helped to identify a 'sweet spot' where the task is not too easy nor too difficult.

Keywords: empirical performance evaluation; visualisation; aircraft design; multidisciplinary optimisation; MDO; multidisciplinary collaboration; collaborative engineering; graphical user interface; GUI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2014.065356

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2014 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.220 - 241

Received: 03 Dec 2013
Accepted: 01 May 2014
Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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