Silver Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design · 2026
Sky Ar Aviation Companion
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Aselsan Ags
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 18,828
- Verification code A14ABF691A · Verify this award
About Sky Ar Aviation Companion
Sky Ar is an augmented reality flight software developed for pilots of legacy aircraft. Sky Ar projects essential flight data into the line of sight of the pilot through augmented reality glasses, reducing head down time. A companion tablet application supports flight planning, data synchronisation and configuration before departure. Overlays are customised by flight phase, so only relevant terrain, weather or notice information is shown. The system uses personal devices, so no physical cockpit modification is required.
Hüma Dulgeroğlu's Sky Ar Aviation Companion represents a significant contribution to the evolving field of augmented reality interface design, positioning itself at the intersection of aviation technology and human-centered computing where the demands of professional piloting meet the possibilities of spatial information overlay; this thoughtfully conceived system addresses the complex challenge of presenting critical flight data within the pilot's natural field of vision while maintaining situational awareness of the physical environment, a design problem that has engaged aviation engineers and interface designers since the earliest development of head-up display technology; the work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of information hierarchy, deploying a considered chromatic coding system wherein cyan elements denote navigational waypoints, chartreuse indicators highlight active data streams and analytical functions, and amber tones signal notification states requiring attention, creating a learnable visual language that may reduce cognitive load during demanding flight operations; the presentation strategy employed here, showing the AR glasses positioned above their companion tablet interfaces, effectively communicates the ecosystem nature of the design, suggesting seamless data synchronization between ground-based mission planning and airborne execution phases; technically, the interface design reveals careful attention to contrast ratios and legibility considerations essential for varying ambient light conditions encountered during flight, with the dark-mode aesthetic serving both aesthetic coherence and functional requirements for reduced eye strain during extended use; the geometric mesh pattern underlying the composition suggests the mathematical precision inherent in navigational computing while visually unifying disparate device form factors into a coherent product family; viewers might contemplate how such tools reshape the ancient human endeavor of flight, transforming the pilot's relationship to sky and terrain through layers of digital augmentation that render invisible atmospheric conditions visible and distant waypoints immediately present within one's gaze.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Sky Ar is an augmented reality flight software that enhances pilot situational awareness. Using a Bring Your Own Device (Byod) approach, it provides a non invasive digital layer without physical cockpit retrofits, reducing cost and material waste. The system projects essential flight data into the line of sight of pilot and allows flight planning and Ar configuration through a companion tablet application.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Sky Ar is a software platform integrating a tablet app with Ar glasses. The tablet enables flight planning, data sync, and analysis, while Ar overlays project real time information into the view of pilot. The system supports customizable layers by flight phase, lightweight Byod integration, secure data handling, and optimized low latency rendering for clarity in challenging visibility conditions.
- Tags
- ar, aviation map, artificial reality, byod, ar glasses, interface, user experience, no-hand usage, user interface
- Production Technology
- Inspired by real habits of pilots, it transforms familiar workflows into Ar enhanced usability across multiple device types. On ground tablet control allows full setup before flight, enabling hands free use in the air for both gesture capable and incapable devices. Embracing the Byod principle minimizes material waste from retrofits while expanding accessibility. Sky Ar understands its users, offering a seamless, intelligent experience that makes advanced technology feel effortless.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part of this design activity was finding solution to legacy aircraft improvement that can enhance awareness during flight while minimizing material waste. The challenge was not only technological, but systemic: redefining how advanced awareness tools can be delivered without physically altering the aircraft itself.
- Project Duration
- Project Duration: 1 Year
Project Location: Turkiye - Operation Flow
- Sky Ar ensures usability through an intuitive tablet workflow and hands free Ar operation, helping pilots stay focused on flight. The interface structures planning, data sync and analysis into clear stages to reduce cognitive load. Ar overlays are customized by flight phase, showing only relevant data such as terrain, Notam or weather. This reduces head down time and supports continuous visual focus on the external environment.
- Research
- The design research behind Sky Ar was applied and human-centered, aiming to improve pilot situational awareness cost-effectively. Through interviews, observations, surveys, and cockpit simulations with legacy aircraft pilots, we identified risks of low visibility and costly retrofits. Testing Ar devices showed that a Byod approach delivers safer, clearer experiences while extending the usability of legacy aircraft, making aviation more sustainable and efficient.
- Inspiration
- The idea behind Sky Ar was born from pilot insights. Many operators of legacy aircraft bring personal tablets into the cockpit at their own risk to improve situational awareness, often using multiple apps for weather, terrain, and navigation data. Pilots highlight challenges in low visibility conditions and the high cost of modern awareness systems, which lead to risky flights or material waste from retrofits.
- Image Credits
- AI creation tools used for image creations.