AAE 490 Orbital Analysis

The design and operation of spacecraft is a multidisciplinary endeavor covering many aspects of engineering. This course provides an introduction to the physics of the orbits and the space environment as well as mission trajectory analysis including constraints, launch windows, ground tracks, communications and tracking, station-keeping maneuvers, attitude determination and control, relative motion and contingencies.

Prerequisites: AAE 203, AAE 251 and familiarity with Matlab computational and plotting tools. Previous or simultaneous experience in AAE 340 is helpful but not required.

AAE 590 Multi-Agent Autonomy and Control

This course will introduce techniques to coordinate multiple autonomous agents in a distributed way. By distributed is meant achieving global objectives through local coordination among nearby neighboring agents. The course will prepare students with basic concepts/tools in control, graph theories, and optimizations, and introduce research topics in multi-agent systems including flocking, sensor networks, distributed fusion, UAV formations, cyber-security, and so on.  

Prerequisites: Matlab; Linear Algebra; Control Theories 

AAE 590 Applied Control in Astronautics

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the theoretical and practical foundations of control techniques with an emphasis on their application to spacecraft control. The student can expect to learn how to: optimize low-thrust interplanetary space trajectories via Pontryagin’s minimum principle; design nonlinear orbit controllers via Lyapunov’s stability theorem; perform real-time trajectory guidance for Mars powered landing via convex programming; and analyze performance of controlled space systems under uncertainty.

Prerequisites: It is preferred that students have basic background in orbital mechanics (e.g., AAE 490 Orbital Analysis, AAE 532 Orbit Mechanics) and linear algebra.

AAE 590 Manufacturing of Composite Materials

The objective of this course is to examine the phenomena involved in the net-shaped manufacturing of structures composed of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Phenomena include Darcy flow, permeability and compaction of fiber beds, thermoset reaction kinetics, polymer transitions, composite properties, anisotropic heat transfer, anisotropic flow, composite post manufacture performance. Modern computer simulations for manufacturing processes will be demonstrated and made available for student use.

Prerequisites: Senior status

AAE 590 Computational Combustion and Propulsion

Fundamentals and hands-on experience on combustion modeling and simulations

Prerequisites: knowledge on at least one topic among combustion theory (e.g., ME525), turbulence theory and modeling (e.g., ME611, AAE612), computational fluid dynamics (e.g., AAE412, AAE512). Undergraduate students who have taken AAE 338 or equivalent are welcome to consider this course. Please contact the instructor first before signing up.

AAE 590 Satellite Constellations