Tampa International Airport is taking its spirit of innovation beyond the terminal with a new interactive exhibit opening this week at the Museum of Science and Innovation (MOSI). Created in collaboration with Sotereon.AI, the exhibit introduces children and families to the history and future of aviation technology, from the world’s first regularly scheduled commercial airline flight between St. Petersburg and Tampa to the Airport’s groundbreaking automated people mover system, which helped set the standard for airports around the world.

The exhibit also gives visitors a hands-on look at how airports use LiDAR and artificial intelligence to monitor passenger flow, track wait times, and respond quickly when issues arise. Interactive displays let kids explore how the technology works while engaging with fun on-screen characters. Sotereon.AI helped develop and test the LiDAR solutions featured in the exhibit and donated equipment for display, while TPA’s Information Technology team also contributed to the project.

For TPA’s Manager of Emerging Technology, David Golden, the exhibit is about more than aviation history; it’s about inspiration. “I hope kids get inspired,” he said. “I hope they are inspired to be free thinking, innovative, and a positive impact on the community.”

Golden says while he's worked on multiple public facing projects within the airport environment, this was his first opportunity to work on a science museum exhibit.

“It was very rewarding and a lot of fun,” Golden said. “From collaborating with the museum and Sotereon, to working with our Communication team on refining and perfecting material for the audience, to seeing the interactive portion come to life, it has been such a great experience.”
The exhibit also highlights the growing need for STEM talent across aviation and other industries, encouraging young visitors to imagine new possibilities and maybe even pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Golden said MOSI’s reach makes the exhibit especially meaningful, noting that the museum welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. “That’s over 300,000 opportunities to inspire to innovate, think freely, and dare to venture into the unknown,” he said. “I hope this exhibit gives someone the courage to be different and try what hasn’t been tried before.”
The new display was unveiled to the public this week at