News

Seven people stand in front of jet in hangar with American flag hanging vertically in background

Aerospace industry cluster initiative gains momentum

Thursday, May 21, 2026
Iowa NASA EPSCoR, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Eastern Iowa Airport convened aerospace companies, university researchers, community college instructors, and economic development partners in Iowa City to discuss what it takes to build an aerospace cluster in Iowa.
Two jets airport with blue skies and ground below. White jet wing with "Navy" in foreground and yellow and blue jet in background.

OPL supports autonomous wingman demo

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The University of Iowa's Operator Performance Laboratory continues to be a go-to flight test center to support the evolution of human-machine teaming. OPL recently hosted collaborators from Lockheed Martin for a demonstration.
Sandboxx video capture

OPL real world flight tests of Lockheed Martin’s CCA tech validates simulations

Monday, September 29, 2025
Sandboxx News highlighted the contributions of the University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab in the development of Lockheed Martin's Collaborate Combat Aircraft (CCA) technology.
Aero-TV interviews Schnell

Aero-TV: Helping aviators see through degraded visual environments

Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Aero-TV interviewed Thomas "Mach" Schnell, University of Iowa engineering professor and director of the Operator Performance Lab, about technology being developed to help pilots see in degraded visual environments.
Screengrab from regents presentation

Schnell presents research to Iowa Regents

Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Operator Performance Lab Director Thomas "Mach" Schnell presented an overview of the research at OPL and broadly at the Iowa Technology Institute to the Iowa Board of Regents during its June meeting.
Beau Benzing, left, Kyle Smith, right, pose in front of a white jet.

OPL, Air Force Test Pilot School partnership benefits students

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
The partnership between the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force has made the College of Engineering a destination for Test Pilot School officers seeking a PhD.
Tom Schnell sitting in a cockpit

Schnell wins Regents Award for Faculty Excellence

Tom “Mach” Schnell, University of Iowa professor of industrial and systems engineering and incoming director of the Iowa Technology Institute, is among six faculty members selected by the Iowa Board of Regents for extraordinary contributions and sustained record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Overhead view of airport hangar

OPL honors student researchers for innovation in flight testing

Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) has announced awards for three students whose outstanding contributions led to flight test innovation.
Overhead view of airport hangar

OPL hosts Discover Your University tour on April 23

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
The University of Iowa's Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) is a world-renowned flight test laboratory that conducts research on human-in-the-loop and intelligent autonomous systems
Two Delfin L29 jets in the air

Sandboxx News analysis highlights OPL contributions to AI testing

Monday, February 10, 2025
University of Iowa's Operator Performance Laboratory has played an important role in advancing the next generation of fighter jets, which will mainly be artificial-intelligence-powered drone fighters taking their cues from pilots in nearby stealth jet, according to a recent analysis by Sandboxx News.