Competencies
Initial Architecture
On-Site Experience Audit
Robotic User Interface
Hardware Selection
Real-Time Visualization
Real-Time Visualization
Partnership Context
Collaborating for Safety and Precision: Flying Circle Partners with NNSA to Design a Cutting-Edge Nuclear Security System
Flying Circle was engaged early in the FNMIS project to design a user-centered interface for a high-security system supporting nuclear material identification. Sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), FNMIS provides a crucial tool for detecting and analyzing materials like plutonium and uranium, even when concealed within complex structures.
Our task was to design a UX that allowed researchers and operators to interact seamlessly with this advanced system, including remote control of robotic hardware like the neutron generator and fission detectors. Collaborating closely with physicists and Department of Energy researchers, we refined the interface through continuous feedback and real-world testing.
The result was a precise, intuitive UX that empowered users to remotely adjust settings, visualize data, and monitor scans in real-time. By focusing on usability, safety, and precision, we created a system that was not only easy to use but also capable of handling complex, high-stakes operations with confidence.
Challenge to Robotic Control
Precision Control of Remote Hardware in a Radiation-Sensitive Environment
The FNMIS system relies on complex hardware components, including the neutron generator, fission detectors, and target positioning modules, which need to be controlled remotely due to radiation safety concerns. The challenge was to design an interface that allows operators to interact with these critical hardware systems safely and precisely without direct access.
Solution
Precision Control of Remote Hardware in a Radiation-Sensitive Environment
A precise, remote control interface that allowed operators to manage the neutron generator, fission detectors, and target positioning modules with accuracy. The UI represented each hardware component in real-time, providing users with visual feedback to adjust settings remotely, ensuring safety while maintaining the precision necessary for high-stakes nuclear material identification.
Challenge : Working While Collecting Data
Managing Long Scan Times with Real-Time Interactivity
FNMIS scans often require multiple rotations and complex measurements that take significant time. Researchers needed a way to interact with the system during the scan, monitor progress, and adjust parameters in real-time without interrupting the process.
Solution
Real-Time Scan Monitoring with Dynamic Visual Feedback
To address the challenge of long scan durations, an interactive visualization was developed to display scan progress in real-time. The visual interface updated continuously, showing key parameters such as target rotations, detector resolution, and vertical slices as the scan progressed. This allowed operators to track progress, make adjustments to settings, and interact with the data live, ensuring that operators could monitor and manage the scan without having to wait for completion.
Glass Cockpit-Inspired Design
Drawing from aviation design principles, a streamlined, minimalist interface was developed that displayed only the most essential information. This approach kept the system intuitive and easy to navigate, even during complex, high-stakes tasks, enabling users to focus on critical
It Matters How You Slice It
Custom Visualizations for Nuclear Material Data
FNMIS required custom data visualizations to display complex measurements and scans, such as neutron measurements and spectral densities. Standard visualization tools lacked the precision needed for nuclear material analysis, making it challenging to represent this data in a meaningful and actionable way for researchers.
Approach to Analysis
Custom Visualizations for Nuclear Material Data
Flying Circle collaborated directly with physicists and researchers to understand the specific data needs and accurately translate those into visual representations. The focus was on creating interactive visualizations that supported real-time analysis and decision-making.
Outcome
Tailored Visualizations for Real-Time Analysis
Custom visualizations were developed to represent cross-power spectral density, Poisson PDFs, and correlation histograms. These tools allowed researchers to interact with data, selecting the most relevant visual representation and zooming in for precise analysis, improving both accuracy and speed.
Empowering Users with Precision and Confidence in Critical Operations
FNMIS required custom data visualizations to display complex measurements and scans, such as neutron measurements and spectral densities. Standard visualization tools lacked the precision needed for nuclear material analysis, making it challenging to represent this data in a meaningful and actionable way for researchers.
The collaboration with physicists and Department of Energy researchers ensured that the system was not only accurate but also intuitive, enabling researchers to make faster, more informed decisions in the field. The resulting interface improved operational safety, data visualization, and control, ultimately enhancing the overall efficiency of nuclear material identification and research.
This project highlights the critical role of thoughtful design in complex, technical environments, proving that when user experience is prioritized, it drives both innovation and impact.
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