3rd_year_projects

Supervised third year Aerospace projects

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: PBL Hovercraft Propulsion
Aim:

To develop the propulsion aspects of a Hovercraft PBL resource pack

Objectives:

Design and build electric ducted fan thrust measuring rig
Measure fan thrust for varying throttle and inlet conditions
Measure pressure distribution through fan
Identify appropriate learning objectives
Develop learning resource pack

Description of Project:
As a Problem Based Learning (PBL) exercise for the new engineering course, first year students will be required to research, design and test a bench top hovercraft based around two electric ducted fan units. This project will investigate the propulsion aspects of the proposed problem and develop suitable material for a learning resource pack
Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Experimental. Work to carried out at Barton
Workshop Requirements and Time: One week technician time
Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Bench space

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: PBL Hovercraft Airframe
Aim:

To develop the airframe aspects of a Hovercraft PBL resource pack

Objectives:

Design and build airframe test rig
Measure lift force for varying skirt height and throttle position
Measure under surface pressure distribution
Identify appropriate learning objectives
Develop learning resource pack

Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Experimental. Work to carried out at Barton
Workshop Requirements and Time: One week technician time
Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Bench space

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Unmanned Air Vehicle GPS
Aims:

To develop and integrate command and control software for an airborne GPS unit
To upgrade existing telemetry software

Objectives:

Review previous work on GPS development
Further develop radio modem telemetry system software to include flight data downlink
Further develop code for command and control of GPS
Demonstrate use of GPS for flight path measurement
Integrate GPS data with flight control system

Description of Project:
A differential global positioning system (GPS) is to be used to determine the position of an unmanned air vehicle. Previous projects have established the hardware and communication links between the plane and the ground station. The present project is concerned with further development the GPS control software and integration of GPS data with the flight control system

Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Computing using C. Some basic electronics and flight testing.

Workshop Requirements and Time: None

Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Bench space

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Unmanned Air Vehicle Dynamics
Aim:

To obtain in-flight measurements of a UAV angular rates

Objectives:

Review performance specs of available low cost gyros
Purchase gyros and develop calibration rig
Calibrate gyros
Develop data acquisition software for the PC104
Obtain in flight measurement of aircraft rates
Compare measured rates with simulation results

Description of Project:
A sensor system for measuring angular rates of an unmanned air vehicle is required for simulation validation and flight control system augmentation. Rates will be measured using relatively low cost gyros used for model helicopter yaw stabilisation. Data acquisition will be performed by a PC104 single board PC on board the aircraft.

Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Experimental - wind tunnel experiments and basic electronics. There may be some computing involved (mainly modifying existing C programmes)
Workshop Requirements and Time: Two weeks technician time

Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Bench space

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Unmanned Air Vehicle Aerodynamic Attitude
Aim:

To obtain in-flight measurements of angle of attack and sideslip

Objectives:

Investigate strategies for measuring angle of attack and sideslip
specify sensor and data acquisition requirements
Calibrate sensors in wind tunnel
Integrate measurement system with flight computer
Obtain in-flight measurements of angle of attack and sideslip and compare with simulation results

Description of Project:
A sensor system for measuring angle of attack and sideslip of an unmanned air vehicle is required. Aerodynamic angles will be measured using pressure sensors, with data acquisition performed by a PC104 single board PC on board the aircraft.

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Unmanned Air Vehicle Simulation and Control
Aim:

To validate an aircraft simulation using flight test
To implement basic in-flight speed and height control

Objectives:

Review existing aircraft simulation model
Establish flight test procedures
Obtain basic speed and climb rate data from existing air data system for varying throttle position
Obtain rate and aerodynamic attitude data for elevator and rudder step inputs
Validate model
Implement control laws and validate performance

Description of Project:
A simulation model of the Manchester Unmanned Air Vehicle and a basic control system have been developed. This project is concerned with the experimental validation of the system model using in-flight data obtained from the aircraft. The student will be required to develop a practical understanding of flight dynamics and stability and control.

Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Simulation (using Simulink) and experiment
Workshop Requirements and Time: None
Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Bench space

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Paper Aeroplane Aerodynamics
Aim:

To obtain quantitative measurements of paper aeroplane performance

Objectives:

Design and build wind tunnel model
Investigate effect of Reynolds number on normal force measurements
Obtain static longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic derivatives
Compare results with free-flight experiments
Investigate effect of geometry modifications
Obtain on and off-surface flow visualisation images

Description of Project:
Paper aeroplanes are often used to demonstrate principles of flight dynamics and stability and control in a lecture theatre. This project will use wind tunnel experiments to obtain quantitative measurements of the aerodynamic derivatives of a traditional paper dart. Flow visualisation techniques will also be used to identify and describe on and off-surface flow patterns. Models will be made from thin gauge aluminium sheet.

Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Experimental. Work to carried out at Barton
Workshop Requirements and Time: Two weeks technician time
Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Project wind tunnel, two weeks testing.

Supervisor: Dr W.J.Crowther
Project Title: Water Rocket thrust Measurement
Aim:

To measure the thrust produced by a water rocket

Objectives:

Design rig for measuring bottle thrust and internal pressure and temperature
Establish data acquisition system and calibrate sensors
Obtain thrust and pressure measurements for increasing launch pressure
Validate existing bottle thermodynamic and thrust models

Description of Project:
The water rocket is used as introductory project for first year aerospace students. To broaden the learning experience a rig is required that can be used to measure the thrust generated during the rocket boost phase (typically only 0.2s).
Nature of Project (e.g. Computing, Experimental, etc.) Mainly experimental. Some simulation work using Visual Basic
Workshop Requirements and Time: Two weeks technician time
Experiment Facilities Required and Time: Data acquisition PC and sensors.

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