Faculty Advisor: Adjunct Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Program Start Time: TBD (meetings will take place for around one hour per week)

Research Practicum Introduction

What lies beyond the Earth's atmosphere has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue for humanity. The realm of aerospace engineering beckons those with an insatiable curiosity about the cosmos and a profound interest in the mechanics of flight, propulsion systems, and the innovative technologies that enable humanity to explore the skies and beyond.

In this research practicum, we embark on a journey into the heart of aerospace engineering, introducing students to delve into the captivating world of aeronautics and astronautics.This program stands as an unparalleled opportunity for students to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application within the realm of aerospace engineering. With a profound focus on aerospace structures and materials, it offers a comprehensive exploration of the practical dimensions of this specialized field.

Through this practicum, students will not only expand their theoretical understanding but also engage in hands-on, supervised applications of aerospace concepts and theories, facilitating a profound learning experience. Students will contribute to a project under development in which every student tackles an aspect of the study, completing their own individual written paper/report.

Final Deliverables

Besides weekly individual reports, the collective project submissions will be split into two phases, one phase every 6 weeks. The first phase includes a first draft with a complete insight of the entire outcome of work. A literature review/introduction and formulation should be completed. The results, analyses and conclusions are expected in the final report. A recorded 10-15 minutes PowerPoint presentation is also expected with the final project submission.

Standards of Assessment

To excel, students must commit to the weekly schedule, submit deliverables on time. If missing the deadline, students should request prior permission for extension. Students should also attend the weekly meeting. Due to the short term, if any difficulties pause the work, the students must immediately reach out to the advisor to come up with quick solutions, facilitate the work and eliminate obstacles.

Possible Topics For Final Project

• Design and simulation of unmanned aerial vehicles based on specific mission requirements: A structural and aerodynamic study.

• Computational algorithm coding for aerospace applications.

• Design of autonomous payloads for microgravity environment testing.

• Fluid settlement and transfer in microgravity in the absence of surface tension.

• Design of autonomously deploying structures for space habitats.

• Or other topics in this subject area that you are interested in, and that your professor approves after discussing it with you.

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 3-5 students

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Workload: At least 6-7 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 9-12th grade students who are interested in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics and computer science.

• Prerequisites:

• Mandatory:

  • Apply with a short essay of 250-500 words on “Describe your interest in one aspect of aeronautical/aerospace developments, technologies or advances.”

  • Completion of courses in pre-calc/calculus, or algebra and physics.

• Optional but highly recommended:

  • Backgrounds in engineering, CAD drawing, or other engineering-related introductory courses

  • Previous involvement in engineering projects are optional but highly recommended