Advanced Aerospace Technologies

Aerospace Group Design Project: Design

The aim of this module is for you to solve a complex aerospace engineering design challenge. The project will be undertaken in groups and will require you to apply knowledge from your previous and current modules for the design on a unmanned aerial vehicle. You will also have to develop your project management and group working under realistic industrial conditions. You will apply systems engineering principles and your engineering knowledge and understanding to the design and development of an aircraft to meet client requirements. You will use industry related design tools (e.g. finite elements and computational fluid dynamics) to complete your designs. The module will be largely self directed and you will be expected to, at times, work outside of your current knowledge and understanding in solving this challenging engineering problem. Considerable independence, initiative and creative and critical thinking will be required.

10 credits

Aerospace Group Design Project: Build and Test

The aim of this module is for you to realise the designs that you have previously developed to produce an unmanned air vehicle to meet the requirements of a client. The module will consist of the continued
evaluation of the design, the realisation of the air vehicle and its subsequent testing, followed by a review and proposals for design improvements. The module will be largely self-directed - you will be expected to work outside of your current knowledge and understanding in solving this challenging engineering problem so considerable independence, initiative and creative and critical thinking will be required.

10 credits

Aerospace Individual Investigative Project

The project is designed to develop your technical knowledge and understanding, technical and personal skills and an appreciation of the wider context of their studies. It gives you the opportunity to apply and develop further their knowledge and skills by applying them to a specific problem area. It is also intended to develop a greater level of your independence. The specific aims of the project are to:-provide you with the freedom to explore possible solutions to real engineering problems, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding of practical aerospace engineering.-enable you to exercise independent thought and judgement in conducting a technical investigation.

60 credits

Optional modules:
Industrial Training Programme: Aeromechanics (details to be confirmed)

Advanced Aerospace Propulsion Technology

This module enhances students' foundational knowledge by introducing a more specialist Level 7 understanding of major aero propulsion devices. For example, the rocket design will be mastered from the design lessons and innovations of the rockets of historical importance. The more in depth analysis of the alternative air breathing engines such as ramjet, scramjet, and synergistic air-breathing rocket engine will be investigated. Then the advanced gas turbine off-design performance will be analysed. The advanced gas turbine combustion will also be investigated. Finally, the recent explosive development of electric/hybrid propulsion and aircraft will be examined.

15 credits

Advanced Dynamics

In this module we will explore how linear/nonlinear structures vibrate and how we can model them in order to understand and optimise their complex behaviour both analytically and numerically. We will uncover the behaviour of theoretical nonlinear models and we will explore and evaluate the fascinating world of advanced dynamics, random vibration, nonlinear systems and chaos through lectures and dedicated reading. We link advanced engineering with concepts from physics and maths that are of core importance in the new era of engineering, considering structures from light aerospace structures to offshore wind turbines and space shuttles. Furthermore, we will discover the world of Hamiltonian mechanics by capturing its fundamental physics. The learning will be supported by dedicated tutorial sessions.

15 credits

Advanced Engineering Fluid Dynamics

The module introduces advanced subjects in fluid mechanics and focuses on the theory and applications of the fundamental physical laws governing fluid flows. The Navier-Stokes and the continuity equations are revisited and the energy and the general Scalar Transport Equations for fluid flows will be derived. Creeping flows, laminar/turbulent boundary layer flows, shock and expansion waves, drag rise and supersonic aerofoils, etc. will be discussed. A key skill developed is problem solving in the area of advanced fluid mechanics through how equations, models and boundary conditions may be adapted and simplified to describe a wide variety of engineering fluid flows.

15 credits

Advanced Materials Manufacturing

This unit introduces key concepts with regards to Materials 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution. Modelling and simulation is a key enabling technology within Aerospace Technology Institute's strategy to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050. Modelling allows for the rapid insertion of new materials and manufacturing processes, in addition to the improved understanding and optimisation of current methods. 

This unit aims to provide knowledge and experience of modelling tools that will underpin the UK's future advanced materials manufacturing base and obtain knowledge and experience of applying process modelling to solve industrial problems.

10 credits

Aviation Safety and Aeroelasticity

This module covers the area of engineering related to aeroelasticity and safety by means of analytical techniques and study cases. The students will develop a fundamental knowledge of aeroelasticity and its implications for aircraft design and operation and evaluate aircraft loading; be able to analyse different manoeuvres using heave/pitch aircraft models; and be able to calculate internal loads in different manoeuvres. The course will provide students with an understanding of aeroelastic phenomena including flutter and divergence. This course provides the methodology and techniques for prediction/detection of a number of aeroelastic effects.

15 credits

Computational Fluid Dynamics

The module introduces fundamental concepts of Computational Fluid Dynamics from the governing physical principles to their mathematical definition, approximation and numerical solution, with an emphasis on the importance of experimental and theoretical validation. The course explains the typical steps for a robust use of CFD analysis to predict the behaviour of complex fluid flows encountered in typical engineering applications, including turbulent flows. Students will consolidate their understanding by performing and critically assessing the results of a CFD analysis of a typical and industrially relevant fluid problem.

10 credits

Design and Manufacture of Composites

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of both the design and manufacture of polymer composites and is presented in two sections. First, design of composites is taught via tutorials and practicals on classical laminate theory and ESAComp software. An extended series of worked examples provides students with the basic tools they need to design effective composite parts. Second, manufacture of composites is taught via lectures. Students will learn multiple routes for making composite parts alongside practical issues such as defects, machining/joints, failure, testing and NDT, repair and SMART composites.

10 credits

Finite Element Techniques

The module aims to give students a thorough knowledge and understanding of the principles of the Finite Element Method. The approach will be based on energy methods (Principle of Minimum Total Potential Energy). Formulation of statics problems using 1D elements (bar elements, shaft elements, beam elements and beam-column elements), and truss elements will be taken up. Finally, a simple 2D element for plane stress/plane strain case will be formulated. Throughout the module, assembly, application of boundary conditions, and solution procedures will be discussed with examples. The students will be expected to apply this knowledge given a problem. The use of a commercial finite element code will be provided via laboratory sessions, where various modelling strategies, appreciation of the scope of application, check validity, and the ability to interpret results will be covered.

The fundamentals of the method and the ability to apply it to various situations will be tested via a written exam. The practical use of the commercial finite element software will be assessed via a mini-report. Feedback during the term will be provided via an online quiz.

10 credits

Industrial Applications of Finite Element Analysis

The module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles of finite element modelling and its application to solve industrial engineering problems. A set of industry-relevant problems will be provided to students along with experimental results for model validation. Students will be allocated one of their preferred projects and will have to devise a modelling strategy to solve their particular problem. Knowledge will be drawn from lectures introducing the theory behind finite element modelling of dynamic problems for modal and transient analyses, non-linear problems including contact, material behaviour and large deformation as well as fracture.

15 credits

Industrial Training Programme: Aerospace Materials and Manufacturing

This module will provide an insight into the design, manufacture and in-service performance of aerospace materials and components. This will normally be a collaboration with Rolls-Royce (Derby) who will set a real technical challenge. In small groups you will undertake experimental work and present a report that will require an in-depth literature review. To supplement the main technical challenge there will be focused technical seminars on relevant topics. These topics will be provided by both academics and engineers. In addition, we will provide seminars on employability skills, data handling, quality and safety in the aerospace materials sector.

15 credits

Managing Innovation and Change in Engineering Contexts

This module introduces you to the importance of innovation in manufacturing and service organisations whose primary business activity is engineering and/or technology. Innovation management is introduced as the thoughtful combination of new product/process development and change management. Through case studies, theoretical frameworks, and tools you will come to understand innovation at multiple scales: international, national, regional, organisational and team, with particular emphasis on how organisations manage and exploit the commercial risks and opportunities inherent in innovation, and how project teams and engineers can respond to innovation challenges effectively. The module is aimed at engineering students of any discipline.

15 credits

Optional modules:

Advanced Control

The aim of this module is to provide you with an introduction to some of the advanced control techniques used in modern control engineering research and industrial applications. The module will cover both theory and practice, involving analysis and design.

Different control techniques and applications may be covered in different years. In all cases, the basic principles and concepts of a particular control technique will be introduced, and comparisons and contrasts will be made with other techniques. Subsequently, the design, analysis and implementation of advanced controllers or control laws will be covered, starting from the requirements of the basic control problem for the application at hand (i.e. stability in the presence of constraints; disturbance and noise rejection). Controller design will be illustrated by industrially-relevant case studies.

15 credits

Antennas, Radar and Navigation

This module is about understanding the fundamentals and common applications of antennas and radar systems. The basic characteristics of some of the commonly used antennas, and antenna systems, will be examined in the context of practical design and application. The radar part of the module will introduce the basic concepts of radar and examine various types of commercial and military radar system in common use. The application of radar and other methods in airborne navigation and landing systems will be discussed. Throughout the module emphasis will be placed on 'first-order' analysis techniques in order to reduce the use of advanced mathematics.

10 credits

Electronic Communication Technologies

This module aims to provide you with a range of skills that are required when designing circuits and systems at high frequencies. Topics covered will include: electromagnetic interference mechanisms, circuit design techniques, filtering, screening, transmission lines, S-parameters, Smith charts, equivalent circuits for passive and active devices, radio frequency (RF) amplifier design, noise performance and nonlinearities of RF circuits and systems.

15 credits

Energy Storage Management

This module looks at the storage and management of energy in electrical systems. It will consider:

(a) Fuel cells: the basic principles of hydrogen fuel cells, reaction
rate, cell interconnection, the bipolar plate, fuel cell types, ancillary components of a fuel cell system, advantages and disadvantages of fuel cell technologies.

(b) Batteries and supercapacitors: battery chemistries, energy/power densities of different batteries. Differences between electrochemical energy storage and electrical energy storage in supercapacitors, performance characteristics, charging, modelling, thermal effects, and measurement.

(c) Mechanical: Principles of mechanical energy storage, flywheels / compressed air. Mechanics of energy storage, precession torques and counter-rotating systems for vehicles. Energy management will include the ancillaries required to connect energy storage to the grid, including dc-dc and dc-ac inverters in addition to battery modelling approaches commonly used for state of charge and state of health monitoring.

15 credits

Hardware-in-the-Loop & Rapid Control Prototyping

This course represents an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of designing and implementing advanced controllers upon a challenging, real-world control problem. Uniquely, each student will be issued with their own, portable control hardware for the duration of the course. Students will learn how to interface such a system to industry standard software using a data acquisition device, before developing their own simulation models of the hardware. These models will be used to synthesise a feedback controller, and verified in simulation before being implemented upon the hardware. The resultant controller will then be refined in a cycle of rapid control prototyping.

10 credits

Industrial training programme (ITP) in Avionics

This unit will provide an insight into the avionics, data processing and autonomous systems. This will be collaboration with GE Aviation Systems (Cheltenham). GE Aviation Systems will set a real technical challenge and small group sizes will undertake experimental work and present a report that will require an in-depth literature review. To supplement the main technical challenge there will be focussed technical seminars on relevant topics. These topics will be provided by both academics and industry engineers. In addition, GE Aviation will provide seminars on employability skills, data handling, quality and safety in the aerospace materials sector.

15 credits

Mobile Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Robotics and autonomous systems are having an increasing impact on society and the way we live. From advanced manufacturing and surgical robots to unmanned aerial systems and driverless cars, this exciting area is presenting increasing technological challenges. This module provides you with the advanced knowledge and understanding to apply control and systems engineering concepts to the closely related disciplines of robotics and autonomous systems. The module covers theoretical and technical analysis, and design aspects of mobile and manipulator robots with reference to their applications. The module further covers advanced techniques in autonomous decision making for robots and autonomous vehicles.

15 credits

Modern Control & System Identification

This module introduces you to advanced state-space control systems analysis and design methods for multivariable systems. The focus is linear time-invariant (LTI) systems in the continuous-time domain, although an introduction is also provided to discrete-time cases and nonlinear cases. You will also be introduced to system identification techniques. System identification uses observations of inputs and outputs from physical systems and estimates dynamical models directly. The theoretical framework and the computational algorithms are explored using synthetic and real problems to show how models can be estimated and validated for future use.

15 credits

Motion Control and Servo Drives

This module investigates, in detail, the performance and operational characteristic of both modern a.c. and d.c. variable speed drives and actuation systems, as well as their applications in electric/hybrid vehicle traction.

15 credits

Multisensor and Decision Systems

The ability to use data and information from multiple sources and make informed decisions based on that data is key to many applications, e.g. manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, finance and healthcare. Through effective use of multisensory data and decision making we can reduce uncertainty, improve robustness and reliability, enhance efficiency and ultimately improve the performance of systems. In this module you will develop an in depth knowledge and understanding of multisensor and decision systems and the underlying mathematics and algorithms. You will develop your confidence in solving complex problems requiring the application of multisensory and decision techniques to a wide variety of applications.

15 credits

Real-Time Embedded Systems

Many systems, for example; a control system, fault detection system or health monitoring system are required to work in real-time. Such systems can be developed and implemented using a CPU and external devices in an embedded system application/device to perform the desired tasks in the 'real' world. This module covers the hardware associated with building an embedded system and how the desired functionality and thus real-time operation of an embedded system can be realised through software/hardware.

15 credits

Testing and Verification in Safety-Critical Systems

This module provides an introduction to the processes and problems of building complex software such as for use in aerospace applications. Topics covered can be split into four major groups: safety, specification languages, concepts of software engineering, different methods of software testing. A substantial amount of time will be spent on the ideas of software testing and specific testing techniques.
a. Safety includes software and systems safety, methods of performing hazard analysis, human factors and the IEC 61508 standard.
b. Specification languages such as Statecharts.
c. Software engineering concepts focus on the software lifecycle, safe language subsets, software testing and maintenance.
d. The software testing part is concerned with advanced approaches to generating software tests. You should be aware that there are limited places available on this course. 

15 credits

Theory of Distributed Systems

The aim of this module is to set out a strong theoretical basis for the analysis and design of concurrent, distributed and mobile systems. We will use the process calculi to model and reason about complex systems, studying both its formal semantics and its many uses, via a number of examples. You should be aware there are limited places on this course.

15 credits