capstone project for aerospace engineering

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Capstone Design Projects

Consider partnering with Penn State to sponsor a senior capstone design project. Projects are offered as part of the Learning Factory and provide practical hands-on experience to students in a number of engineering disciplines.

Interdisciplinary teams of students work together to tackle projects sponsored by industrial clients. These teams collaborate with engineering faculty, who serve as mentors and advisers, to devise ideas to solve engineering problems. Students take these ideas from concept to reality by designing, prototyping, and simulating real solutions in state-of-the-art facilities.

This program challenges students to apply the knowledge and tools acquired during their undergraduate education to solve real-world engineering problems. It provides a unique opportunity for industry to partner with Penn State to help educate the next generation of world-class engineers.

Benefits to Sponsors:

• Uncovering fresh ideas and solutions to real problems
• Investigating low cost, low risk new ideas
• Creating corporate exposure opportunities throughout campus
• Improving engineering education at Penn State
• Interacting with bright, energetic, creative young minds
• Networking with other companies and Penn State faculty
• Identifying opportunities for future research projects

How to become a Sponsor:

Contact the Learning Factory staff to talk about sponsoring a project. A sample of past projects can also be found on the Learning Factory site.

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The Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, established in 1961 and the only aerospace engineering department in Pennsylvania, is consistently recognized as one of the top aerospace engineering departments in the nation, and is also an international leader in aerospace education, research, and engagement. Our undergraduate program is ranked 15 th and our graduate programs are ranked 15 th nationally by U.S. News & World Report , while one in 25 holders of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering in the U.S. earned it from Penn State. Our students are consistently among the most highly recruited by industry, government, and graduate schools nationwide.

The department is built upon the fundamentals of academic integrity, innovation in research, and commitment to the advancement of industry. Through an innovative curriculum and world-class instruction that reflects current industry practice and embraces future trends, Penn State Aerospace Engineering graduates emerge as broadly educated, technically sound aerospace engineers who will become future leaders in a critical industry

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Department of Aerospace Engineering

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The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2569

Senior capstone projects

Project options Upcoming projects Past projects

Our undergraduate students participate in a rigorous design-and-build aerospace project. These projects provide focused mentoring, interdisciplinary teamwork, communication practice, and deep understanding of regulatory requirements, fiscal management, ethical considerations and market awareness.

Capstone options

We offer a variety of project opportunities within the industry, student organizations and in-house research. Students also have the option to propose their own projects. Our portfolio of past projects includes applications extending to search and rescue, wildlife conservation, critical deliveries, and environmental protection among others.

As part of the Industry Capstone Program , UW students and professionals tackle real-world, interdisciplinary engineering problems. Sponsors bring in projects from their organizations and provide support to teams of students who will design and build innovative solutions.

Students in select A&A-affiliated RSOs may choose to advance their annual projects through their senior capstone. Recent RSO capstones have included SARP, SEDS and A&A CubeSat.

Faculty-led research capstone projects advance the theoretical understanding of aerospace topics and can involve focused, specialized research or more expansive concepts. When sponsored by industry or government organizations, these projects generally entail wider aircraft design or space systems.

Large team projects must accommodate both domestic and international students, so the selected topics must not involve any constraints related to export-controlled material. Some projects may require US citizenship and/or NDA constraints.

2023-2024 projects

Industry-sponsored.

• AeroTEC UAVs Phase II Continue “reviving” two flight test vehicles from past Capstone programs and finishing the design and operation of a vehicle simulator.
• AeroEnvironment: Swarm Control Develop a low-cost, modular and reusable vehicle that allows a single person to prepare, launch, operate, and recover 12+ vehicles.
• Boeing: Regional Aircraft Full preliminary aircraft design for a 75 passenger regional jet, with performance verified through wind tunnel testing.
• LMCO: Lunar Electromotive Launch Build and test a conceptual design for a lunar propellant electromagnetic launch system, taking into account factors such as storage of fuel, lunar orbital mechanics, and stability of launch and orbit.

Registered Student Organizations (RSO)

• AACT: SOC-i Science Toolbox Develop a “science analysis toolbox” that processes science data from SOC-i, provides graphical and textual methods to analyze the data, and helps AACT Flight Ops determine next steps.
• Design Build Fly: Air Cargo Challenge Participate in the “Air Cargo Challenge” and meet travel configuration requirements and use hosting team GPS system.
• Husky Satellite Lab: LOST & FOUND in the Planetarium Perform end-to-end test of the “Deep Space Navigation Package” for HuskySat-2 and simulate the satellite’s view in the UW Astronomy Planetarium.
• Husky Satellite Lab: Check its Attitude Design, build, and test a low-friction 3-axis rotational test-stand for cubesats and also integrate with the Planetarium team to improve testing.
• SARP: Cryo QDC Design, build, verify and validate a cryogenic-rated quiz disconnect (QDC) that maintains oxidizer compatibility and is low-cost and reusable.

In-house research

• UW A&A: SCALOS Complete the preliminary design of a low sonic boom passenger airplane and integrate a new positioning system in the KWT.
• SPACE Lab: E-thruster Stand Design, build, test and validate an inverted pendulum thrust stand for testing pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) that fits inside a vacuum chamber and is easily removable.
• Illimited Lab: Multi-Medium Drone Build a drone that can fly approximately 15 minutes and swim approximately 20 minutes (has a buoyancy control system and is waterproof up to 10 meters).

Past projects

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• AeroTEC This team will develop next generation test capabilities by the development of physical test vehicles, test sites, and an accompanying simulator. The simulator will have true-to-life design and will be used for future test team training.
• AeroVironment This team will demonstrate the feasibility of deploying two quadcopter aircraft from the payload bay of a hand-launchable UAV. A quadcopter will then recover from tumble after deployment and execute a mission to fly to a GPS located target where it will relay video footage back to a ground station.
• Boeing Utility Freighter This team will design a purpose built freighter for use in servicing small airports in outlying areas. The freighter will prioritize sustainability and will be able to carry the same main deck ULDs used by heavy freighters along with carrying a mechanism for loading and unloading with limited ground handling equipment.
• Empowered Startups This team will design and manufacture a RC drone prototype to monitor and record real-time environmental conditions beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS). The drone will accompany software that uploads recorded data to a cloud and presents it in a user-friendly and easily processable format.
• HSL Thruster This team will develop a cold gas propulsion system for stable control of a cubesat in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This system will be functionable for a variety of ultrasmall satellites and will provide thrust to enable impulsive orbit maneuvers.
• NASA SCALOS This team will contribute to a 3-year NASA university-led Commercial Supersonics Technology project by studying and selecting supersonic commercial configurations that demonstrate acceptable low-speed performance and low-sonic boom characteristics. Their goal is to conduct research on the low speed performance of such configurations utilizing CFD and wind tunnel tests of scaled radio-controlled flight test models.
• NASA SUITS This team will work on developing an innovative spacesuit user interface leveraging augmented reality. The AR software will incorporate peripheral devices and provide Artemis astronauts with appropriate human-autonomy enabling technology necessary for the elevated demands of lunar surface exploration and terrestrial access.
• SARP Nose Cone This team will develop a carbon fiber nose cone utilizing more simple and efficient manufacturing techniques. The nose cone will sit atop a solid-propelled rocket and be aerodynamically and structurally optimized for projected rocket performance.
• SARP Electropump This team will develop the design tools necessary to manufacture electric turbomachinery for high performance rocket engines. The system will be able to handle cryogenic transport, meet current requirements in terms of SARP’s next-generation engines, and will aim to match industry capabilities.
• SARP Cold Gas Reaction Control System This team will develop a cold gas reaction control system for active control of the SARP rocket in a vacuum. This system will be functionable in space after rocket burnout and will provide stability and partially replace fin function during launch.
• Turion Space This team will develop a testing apparatus for space-rated attachment mechanisms purposed for active removal of space debris as well as service and manufacture operations of satellites in orbit. The test mechanism will be functional in vacuum to replicate a space-like environment.
• AeroVironment This team designed a solution for remote drone deployment via an AeroVironment puma LE mothership. Their objective is to stow and deploy compact LTE-capable rotorcraft drone twins within a puma mothership to enable precise, long-range rotorcraft missions.
• Amazon Prime Air By creating a backpack health monitoring system for an off the shelf drone, this team gathered data to predict the remaining life of the drone. Focusing on the drone arms and propellers as the main failure modes allowed the team to induce failures during testing and relate their project to real world risks.
• Bipropellant Rocket This team (part of SEDS@UW) developed a small gaseous, pressure-fed, bipropellant rocket engine with potential applications for in-space propulsion. The team partnered with engineering mentors at AFRL, Purdue, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Hermeus to tackle real-world problems in design, manufacture and test of rocket engines.
• BigIdeas Partners This team designed a modern replacement for the lauded DHC-2 DeHavilland Beaver (6-8 seat capacity) with increased performance and control while also reducing the carbon footprint of its operation. The goal of the project was to meet or exceed the performance of the Beaver aircraft while improving the handling characteristics, implementing a hybrid electric propulsion system, and reducing the overall cost.
• Boeing Utility Freighter The team designed a small freighter aircraft to service small airports in outlying areas and can carry main deck ULD/pallets. This project included manufacturing a wind tunnel model by primarily 3D-printed, high-temperature PLA construction with steel wire reinforcements.
• Electron Cyclotron Some challenges of coaxial Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) thrusters include decreased power transmission due to wall losses, and antenna lifetime limitations at high powers. The mission of this project was to develop an antenna that transfers power without being in contact with plasma, and to design a thruster that accommodates the new antenna. This has applications in satellite station keeping and long range space exploration.
• NASA SCALOS This team conducted conceptual design and supporting analysis work and continued the development of testing, prediction and simulation capabilities, in support of a the multi-year NASA-funded research on the characteristics of Supersonic Configurations At Low Speeds (SCALOS). The team will provide conceptual design results for a Supersonic Transport with integrated low-speed / high speed test and simulation aerodynamic results that would meet the requirements via a multidisciplinary integrated effort.
• Turion Space Space debris is one of the greatest threats to the low-earth and space economy growth. Turion Space, a company based in Irvine, California, is developing a low-cost spacecraft platform to perform active-debris-removal via on-board robotic arms, high-efficiency electric-propulsion, a machine vision system, and a unique set of docking mechanisms. In order to test their software with real cameras systems, the UW capstone team was tasked with creating a modular hardware-in-the-loop machine vision test-bench system inspired by systems used to test star-tracker cameras.

AeroVironment UAV

This team will demonstrate the feasibility of deploying one or more quadcopter aircraft from the payload bay of an RC plane. The quadcopter will then recover from tumble and execute a mission to fly to a GPS located target where it will relay video footage back to a ground station.

Garrett Jordan, Monica Kim, Max McGowan, Icevar Naguleswaran, Devon Smith, Chris Won. Advisers: Matt Keenon and Kristi Morgansen

Applewhite Baton

This team will lock down a configuration for the Applewhite Aero Baton Prototype. Applewhite wants to streamline compatibility of their parts. Additionally, they are creating and implementing an interface for autonomous deployment of the Baton (from an air vehicle).

Joseph Bellevue, Jillian Hottelli, Janet Liu, Brian Mach, Haley Stewart, Ethan Uehara  Adviser: Kristi Morgansen

Boeing Disaster Response UAV

This team will design an emergency response, high endurance UAV, carrying a payload that can provide cellular coverage to an operating area in addition to cameras. Some of their requirements include a minimum of 12 hours endurance and a takeoff and land within 1000 feet.

Isaiah Cuadras, Drake King, Jacqueline Marquette, Howard Peng, Sam Reissman, Eric Rubhaka, Quintin Serrano, Victor Via, Jinhee Xu, Mitsuki Yonder Advisers: Gary Cohen, Eli Levin, and Matthew Orr

NASA Supersonic Airplane Design (SCALOS)

This team will contribute to a 3-year NASA university-led Commercial Supersonics Technology project by studying and selecting supersonic commercial configurations that demonstrate acceptable low-speed performance and low-sonic boom characteristics. Their goal is to conduct design, analysis, and development of performance and S&C predictions via simulation software to further define the Supersonic Cruise Reference airliner concept for use by the NASA grant SCALOS effort.

Austin Chandra, Brendan Geffe, Nathan Han, Danny Beeson, Colton Hill, Anant Kapur, Shelby Lee, Zhangsheng Lian, Pascal Nagata, Anwar Moustafa, Ignacio Re, Michael Stemen, Vinsensius  Advisers: Eli Livne and Chet Nelson

6U Cubesat: Maratus Mission

This team will launch and operation a 6U satellite holding an optical payload designed to measure ambient gases between galaxies. Their goal is to collect data to improve the current computational model of the circumgalactic medium.

Nicholas Chu, Athil George, Thomas Key, Luke Kuklenski, Carie Lai, Jae Lee, Josh MacLurg, Nicholas Sianghio, Nicholas Toyama, Eric Wills Advisers: Charlie Kelly and Taylor Reynolds

SARP Propulsion: Aerospike Nozzle

This team will develop a subscale rocket engine utilizing an aerospike nozzle geometry with implementation of thrust vector control using fluid injection.

Kristina Dong, Josh Forsythe, Michelle Graebner, Adrian Lo, Jared Smythe, Zach Tom, Oliver Ruo, Chris van den Heuvel, Catherine Wilborn Advisers: Jim Hermanson and Ms. Nyssa Thompson

SARP Structures: Composite Recovery Coupler

This team will create a lighter, stronger Recovery Coupler for the current SARP rocket, Pacific Impulse, out of composite material.

Greg Boyce, Zach Gommi, Cat Hannahs, Gabby McDaniel, Toby Moreno  Advisers: Ed Habtour and Kiefer Dundas (Janicki Industries)

SEDS: RRC Multistage Rocket

This team will design, construct, and fly a 1 kg scientific payload to an altitude of 10K ft on a rocket with the use of only Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) motors.

Alex Barbera, Bao Truong, Caroline Paxton, Kyle Fisher, Noah Piper, Steven Tu, Taylor Mills, Wenkang Wang Adviser: Kristi Morgansen

SOC-i Cubesat: GNC Hardware

This team will create a GNC sensor and actuator system. This is done through a GNC operating loop, which runs continuously during flight to control the satellite’s altitude.

Branton Bradford, Ryan Lorette, William Pope, Alex Zhen  Advisers: Charlie Kelly and Taylor Reynolds

• Airbus | Battery Swapping System for Electric Aircraft
• Applewhite Aero | Baton, A Precision Delivery System
• Boeing | 50 & 76 Seat Regional Aircraft Family
• TLG Aerospace | Design for Robust Laminar Flow on High Lift Airfoils
• Vulcan | Improved Conservation UAV

See projects details

• Boeing | Dedicated Air Freighter Design
• Boeing | Thermoplastic Composite Control Surface Integrated Wing Design/Build
• GKN Aerospace | Next Generation Midsize Airliner Lipskin Design Trade Study
• Latécoère | Aircraft Door Flight Lock
• magniX | The All-Electric Air Tractor
• AeroTEC | Trailing Pressure Measurement System
• AT&T | LTE Antenna for Tethered Drones
• Blue Origin | New Glenn Booster Robotic Approach
• Boeing | Hybrid-Electric STOL Air Taxi Design
• GKN Aerospace | Effect of Embedded Dissimilar Materials on the Fatigue Life of Honeycomb Panels
• GKN Aerospace | Flow Characteristics of Manufacturing Defects on Lip Skins and the Effect on Specific Fuel Consumption
• Sagetech | Angle of Attack Sensor for Small UAS
• Vulcan Technologies | Poacher Discovery and Tracking from an Aerial Vehicle

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Capstone Design

Join the aerospace engineering senior capstone design experience.

The Senior Capstone Design experience aims to bridge the gap between classroom and industry by requiring students to use their knowledge and skills to complete an engineering design project equivalent to the assignments they will soon receive as aspiring professional engineers.

Projects are completed in groups, making it necessary for students to develop the skills needed to succeed in diverse industry design teams. In the curriculum, students face examples of real-life situations regarding operations and flight test, as well as business, technical and systems safety reviews.  Students generate a final capstone design review (CDR) and eventually produce, in the second semester, their AERO 402 project model – an actual sub-scale model or simulation - to make the capstone design experience a realistic engineering and business atmosphere.  The CDR is a crucial part of the course, which takes place about three months into the design process.  During the review, representatives from the Aerospace Corporation, Bell Helicopter Textron, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, NASA Johnson Space Center, Orbital Science and Raytheon are some of the companies attending to review each team's project and provide feedback, which is incorporated into the still-evolving designs.  Employers value graduates with capstone design experience because these students have gained broad experience by applying their extensive knowledge base to solve complex engineering problems as a team.

Seniors also make significant professional contacts through design projects with industry participants, guest lecturers and the annual Engineering Project Showcase.

Why are Senior Capstone Design courses important?

Courses use industry-based team projects and professional interaction to equip future engineers with important design, communication and presentation experience, and are the culmination of the Texas A&M engineering experience, as seniors apply their four years of classroom knowledge to solve realistic engineering problems.

The courses prepare our engineering students to use advanced technology to analyze and design engineering elements and systems according to industry standards.

Apply your knowledge and prepare for your future career

The Aerospace Engineering Senior Capstone Design program is a two-semester course sequence in which students will learn, synthesize and develop the skills of engineering practice with a lecture and studio/laboratory in each course. In the lecture portion, students learn the design process and the tools that encourage successful innovation. Then, students apply what they have learned over the last several years to define a real design project and build it!  The teams begin by producing a computer design, which, in the case of aircraft, is used to build a model that can be tested in Texas A&M's low-speed wind tunnel.  The results and experience by going through the process of designing, building, testing and finally, in some cases, flying their own aircraft, rocket or satellite gives students valuable exposure to the design process.  Student teams are generally four to eight students, developing their plan and defending their design to their course professor – a scenario, just like in real life.

Regardless of future paths our students will follow in aircraft, rockets, or space, the Capstone Design program introduces a unique transition from academics to application .  Students realize, in this final year, their new knowledge, confidence and a sense of accomplishment. 

We encourage students to participate in the Engineering Project Showcase.  For information about, contact  EASA .

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Capstone Senior Design Projects in Aerospace Engineering

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All undergraduates in Aerospace Engineering Sciences (AES) are required to take a two semester capstone projects course sequence. This sequence includes ASEN 4018 Senior Projects I: Design Synthesis (Fall semester) and ASEN 4028 Senior Projects II: Design Practicum (Spring semester). In this course senior students will develop a requirements-based design project in self-directed teams. The course is taught by a team of 10 faculty members and two staff members forming the Project Advisory Board (PAB). This document describes the scope of a typical Aerospace Enginereing Sciences Senior Design project. A list of recent projects sponsored by faculty members or proposed by students is given in Appendix #2. 

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Defining customer needs; considering technology, enterprise strategy, and regulations; developing concepts, techniques and business plans.

Creating the design; the plans, drawings, and algorithms that describe what will be implemented.

The transformation of the design into the product, including manufacturing, coding, testing and validation.

Using the implemented product to deliver the intended value, including maintaining, evolving and retiring the system.

Capstone Projects

Senior undergraduate students will have an opportunity to work on exciting capstone projects under the guidance of MAE faculty, as a part of the Project Design and Management II course (MAE435).

Students get to choose from a wide range of topics like formula race car design, satellite design, energy systems, biomechanics, mechanobiology, advanced materials, composites, sensors, robotics, and more.

Students quite often collaborate with students from other departments in the college as many of these projects are interdisciplinary in nature.

Course Description

The capstone projects are carried out as a part of Project Design and Management II course. The course begins with conceptual design ideas that are expanded into detailed design ideas. Product realization is applied to complete hardware. Course covers Gantt charts, preliminary design, evaluation and trading matrices, detailed design and analysis, oral and technical reporting including cost analysis. Ethics and patent issues are also included.

Senior Design Project Archive

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Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

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Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Program

Capstone Program

The two-semester Capstone program (MAE 4800 and 4810) provides an opportunity for students to solve real engineering problems while working closely with faculty and industry sponsors. Sponsors provide the project requirements, funding, and mentorship, the faculty provide overall project guidance and management, and the students provide the solutions.

The overall program goal is to improve students’ “design to realization” skills. Student progress is closely monitored through lectures, lab sessions, formal design reviews, informal meetings, and oral presentations. The program also incorporates cutting edge modeling and management software to help familiarize students with tools they will likely encounter during their careers.

Sponsors benefit by having one of their important engineering problems be the top priority of a student team. Often these projects are ones the sponsor may not have the time or resources to pursue internally. Having a committed student team dedicated to the project provides the sponsor with a very cost-effective solution. The sponsor also receives all IP, documentation, prototypes, and materials from the project. One additional benefit of the program is that students become familiar with a corporate environment and how things get done in that industry.

Multidisciplinary projects, including mechanical and aerospace engineering students and faculty and students from other USU departments, are encouraged. Projects of this type more closely resemble those they will encounter in industry.

Capstone I (MAE 4800) – Project Design

At the start of the first semester students select a project they would like to work on from among the potential projects submitted by sponsors. Student project teams are formed and each team meets with its sponsor to understand and refine the project requirements. These requirements, when combined with independent research, become the basis for the project design plan document. The document outlines the planned engineering methodologies, schedules, budgets, and any specialized materials.

During this semester, students present peer-critiqued formal design reviews. Sponsors are highly encouraged to attend these reviews and provide guidance.

Capstone II (MAE 4810) – Project Build

This semester’s focus is on the construction of the project. The teams create, test, refine, and demonstrate engineering prototypes. At the end of the semester, each team provides a written design document and delivers their final prototypes. The report summarizes the project, describes the alternate solutions considered, and details the selected final design. Each team also delivers an oral presentation of the completed project to the sponsor, faculty advisors, and peers.

Project Success

Three hundred plus capstone projects have been successfully completed over the life of the program. Some have resulted in marketable products and several more are in various stages of determining their marketability.

Several projects have received national and international recognition including multiple awards in government and industry sponsored student competitions. Some recent examples include:

• 1st Place in the 2018 AFRL Student Design Challenge
• 2nd place overall in the 2017 Human Powered Vehicle Competition, 1st place in the Women's Speed Event, 3rd place in the Men's Speed Event, and 2nd place in the Endurance Event
• 3rd place overall in the 2016 Human Powered Vehicle Competition, 2nd place in the Innovation Event, and 1st place in the Endurance Event

Projects completed for industry sponsors during the 2019-2020 academic year include test systems, new designs, proof of concept, automations, and product improvements.

Sponsorship

Projects are more likely to be successful when sponsors are involved with the project outcome. Sponsors are asked to designate a mentor from their organization to work with the student team. Mentors provide critical insights that help to ensure projects meet their design requirements. This mentorship is invaluable to a project’s success.

Our sponsors represent a broad cross-section of industry and government including companies in the manufacturing, construction, health care, education, aerospace, consumer, and defense segments. We gratefully acknowledge their support!

Some of our current sponsors include:

If you have a project you would like to sponsor, please contact us at [email protected] to set up a time to talk about the project and how best to schedule its inclusion in the program.

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Capstone Projects

Points of pride, scroll through the class of 2021's capstone projects below. click on any of the projects to view the full research poster.

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Capstone Design Projects

Capstone design projects provide an opportunity for student to apply the knowledge gained in their courses for the design of a complete engineering system in and environment and manner similar to actual industry practice.

The Baja design project is a senior capstone design course where a student team designs an all-terrain vehicle to specific standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers using a small engine for power. The students design, build and test the ATV in a year-long project that culminates in a major collegiate competition somewhere in the U.S. or Canada where at least 100 other universities from all over the world will meet to go through a rugged series of events including a four-hour endurance race over rough terrain.

EcoCAR 3 is the latest U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition series. As North America's premier collegiate automotive engineering competition, EcoCAR 3 is challenging 16 North American university teams to redesign a Chevrolet Camaro to reduce its environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and performance expected from this iconic American car.

The Formula SAE® competition sponsored by SAE International® challenges students from across the globe to design and fabricate Formula-style race cars for the non-professional weekend autocross racing enthusiast and compete in international collegiate racing competitions to determine the best overall design, performance, cost, fuel efficiency, and production feasibility. Formula SAE® promotes careers and excellence in engineering as it encompasses all aspects of the automotive industry including research, design, manufacturing, testing, marketing, management and finance.

Travel to Querétaro, Mexico, for eight weeks to earn nine credits toward your engineering degree by teaming up with Mexican students of similar disciplines and level, and gain industrial experience working full time on meaningful engineering projects with multinational companies in Querétaro. Student teams work under the advice of engineers from industry and faculty members from Mexico and the U.S. Local families provide room and board in a safe, healthy and friendly environment for a full cultural immersion. The program ends with a long weekend in Cancún.

Microgravity Research Team

Student teams conceive, propose, design, build and test their own microgravity experiment. The experiments are designed according to weight, safety and size constraints set by the course instructor. Teams currently conduct their experiments under conditions of microgravity using the WVU Microgravity Drop Tower or aboard a general aviation aircraft. They reduce and analyze their experimental results, and write a technical report to document their results. In past years, WVU Microgravity Research teams have conducted their experiments aboard a NASA reduced-gravity parabolic trajectory research aircraft.

Robotics capstone course consists of a multidisciplinary team of researchers mostly from Lane and MMAE departments. The goal of the course is to demonstrate the ability to synthesize knowledge from their undergraduate education to design a robot (e.g., a planetary rover) that will meet specific performance criteria, such as size, speed, functionality, endurance, accuracy, efficiency, or other pertinent measures as determined by the project and the instructor. Robotics capstone course competes the University Rover Challenge conducted by the Mars Society

Competitions Highlights:

• In 2014, WVU Robotics team won first place in four different competitions
• In 2016, WVU Robotics took top price at NASA Sample Return Robot Final Challenge

For the past 20 years DBF Teams have been competing at annual AIAA Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design Build Fly events. The objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge of the fundamentals of unmanned aerial vehicle design, construction, and operation.

Flight Vehicle Design

The objective of this course is to provide students with knowledge and experience in design of a major aircraft component and evaluation through experiments or simulation of performance and design requirements compliance. Specifically, the objectives are:

• Learn how to evaluate and respond to a given engineering design requirement for a major aircraft component.
• Learn key concepts related to aircraft component design, development, and testing.
• Learn basic organizational and communicative methods for effective engineering project management and product implementation.

Projects with Industry

This is a capstone design course taken in the senior year where teams of students are assigned to tackle a real problem in an industry or institution in West Virginia. It may involve mechanical design of a system, thermal design of a system, or an energy efficient design for a building or institution. This course was identified as one of the top 29 programs in the US for the inclusion of real world engineering into the curriculum. It is supported by the West Virginia Division of Energy.

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Capstone Aerospace Engineering Project

Singapore university of social sciences, capstone aerospace engineering project (eas499).

Applications Open:  To be confirmed

Applications Close:  To be confirmed

Next Available Intake:  To be confirmed

Course Types:  To be confirmed

Language:  English

Duration:  12 months

Fees:  To be confirmed

Area of Interest:  Science and Technology

Schemes:  To be confirmed

Funding:  To be confirmed

School/Department:  School of Science and Technology

Level:  4 Credit Units:  10 Presentation Pattern:  EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Learning Outcome

• Discuss the scope of your capstone project problem to be investigated
• Analyse the motivation / benefits / rewards of your project problem
• Review the literature to gather information about the project and the available solutions
• Examine the constraints / drawbacks in the available solutions
• Define the assumptions / conditions relevant to your project
• Formulate your project problem/ model / system
• Design / implement / simulate the system
• Test the system / model / software
• Compare your results with the solutions available in the literature
• Draft a detailed report on your project work
• Summarise the project work as a poster, defining the project problem, the solution(s), benefits of the solution(s) and any improvements that can be done
• Give an oral presentation

*Please select at least 1 field

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What Is a Capstone Project in Engineering?

For Faculty Lecturer Alyssa McCluskey , the capstone project at the University of Colorado’s Engineering Management Program (EMP) boils down to two things: agency and opportunity. 

Agency, because students can chart their own course. And opportunity, arising from that agency, allows students to become leaders on their own or within their organizations. McCluskey ought to know: Capstone worked for her as a student and she knew, eventually, it could work for others as well.

“In my civil engineering capstone, we could explore and create different solutions to the use of biosolids, and I was really proud of the report and presentation that we produced,” McCluskey says. “I did send the report to my future employer, a research institute in Boston, and was hired partially based on the document that I had sent them. And I just remember really enjoying the process. So I wanted to bring that to this Program as something to offer the students.

What Is a Capstone Project?

In the Engineering Management Program, students can now elect to cap off their engineering curriculum with a capstone project. The project can be anything that uses their management and engineering skills to make a product, design software or find innovative ways to affect change within their industry.

In the past, students were given a list of topics to write an 8-10 page paper using concepts learned throughout the program to culminate their degree. McCluskey found that the traditional method was serving neither students nor faculty well. This method seemed like just regurgitating material and lacked a meaningful experience for students to use what they learned throughout the degree.

Looking for more flexible options for CU students, the EMP decided to offer two paths for degree completion: completing the full coursework, 30 credit hours, or taking 27 credit hours of coursework and completing a final 3-credit capstone project in their final semester. 

“We made the capstone flexible so students can explore any ideas or topics of interest,” McCluskey says. “Anything from hot topics in project management to anything they found interesting over their courses in the EMP. I encourage them to look at courses they really enjoyed, talk with professors they enjoyed learning from, meet with professionals working in areas they are interested in and think of topics around that.”

A Diverse Range of Capstone Project Ideas

EMP just launched this program and there are four students in the first cohort, each working on a unique capstone project. All of them are focused on finding practical solutions to real-world problems.

One student’s capstone is about finding effective methods and tactics to increase employee engagement within the Office of Information Technology (OIT).

“This is a student who’s employed at OIT at CU,” McCluskey says. “And so she was asking how do we retain our employees and make them happy and want to stay? She found some startling statistics that close to 50% of employees are thinking of leaving.”

This capstone is especially topical given the nature of the Great Resignation where many employees are seeking better opportunities and are no longer willing to settle for the status quo.

“She did a number of surveys, listened to podcasts, took some courses and came up with a plan that she’s trying to implement within her department based on the capstone she worked on,” McCluskey adds. 

Another fascinating engineering capstone project idea was one student’s mission to make a more sustainable satellite, combining interests in both sustainability and the aerospace industry. 

“They developed a tool to quantify the environmental impacts of producing, launching and disposing of a satellite,” McCluskey says. After inputting the information into a spreadsheet, it comes out with “the carbon footprint of what the satellite would produce. And not only that but also ranking which areas you should spend your [resources] and get the most bang for the buck that’s most probably going to reduce your carbon footprint,” McCluskey says.

Given the concerns about orbital “space junk,” this capstone project addresses a need in aerospace that could be all the more germane as technology allows us to explore beyond our own planet.

And for the person on the move  whose arms are constantly full and trying to literally—and figuratively—juggle the messiness of life, one student came to the capstone project with an idea already in hand: “merge bottle technology”—magnetized stacking water bottles that allow you to carry different beverages or food in one place, even at different temperatures.

“What I saw was great,” McCluskey says. “As a parent, you’re having to carry all these things, right? Also, he found that people in the healthcare industry and first responders who might be on a shift for a long time were interested right away. You can keep something hot, you can keep something cold, you could put food in one and drinks in another. Teachers as well. They have all these bags and bunches of containers they carry around. So instead of having multiple water bottles for your coffee and your water, you could just carry one stack.”

Yet another capstone project focuses on the uncertainties inherent in software product development and how that uncertainty affects humans at the neurobiological level. 

“This student is in the software product management field, so she studied how we can better support employees to deal with uncertainty,” McCluskey says, “and she came up with four main things that companies can do to help their employees deal with that.”

The capstone project identified four key strategic theories—frequent stakeholder communication, a transparent roadmap with dependencies, iterative feedback opportunities and integration and focus on analytics—that empower product managers to ameliorate uncertainty among stakeholders during the software development process. 

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that students focus their capstone project not on abstract concepts, but on tangible strategies that have the potential for immediate real-world application. As a result, these capstone projects can help a student stand out as a desirable employee and a potential leader in their field or company.

Communication and Research: Soft Skills for Engineers that Pay Dividends

Many people—even many experts— know their field and products inside and out but struggle with communicating their ideas and knowledge to key audiences within their company or to clients. To help develop these skills, part of the capstone project incorporates a communication course. 

“This involves working on your writing, working on your presentation skills, and working on peer reviews,” McCluskey says. 

Good communication also means translating sometimes complex ideas and knowledge into a “language” that a wide audience can understand. That’s a skill that students refine over the course of their projects. 

“You may understand something so well that you’re using acronyms others don’t know and you just lose the reader right away,” McCluskey says. “So that’s something we spend some time on. What’s nice is that we switch throughout the semester with our peers as well as the instructors and advisors so that if anybody is unfamiliar with something, it’s highlighted.”

Another benefit of the capstone project is that it allows students to stretch and improve their research skills beyond the usual Google search. Rachel Knapp, assistant professor and applied sciences librarian at CU, spoke to the capstone cohort and went over online resources available to CU students via OneSearch and discussed best practices in research strategies—for instance, how to narrow a topic and get the best out of information searches and how to determine which journals you may want to publish in. If capstone students get “stuck” in their research or are not getting the results hoped for, they can set up an appointment with a CU librarian to help with ideas and options. 

Armed with this information, the capstone gives the students a chance to put into action much of what they’ve learned during the EMP and presents a valuable opportunity to live out what being an engineering manager is all about.

“They come in and they are the project manager of their capstones, ” McCluskey says. “So they get a chance to implement all the things you can think of that go into that: time management, building out your product schedule, problem-solving skills, thinking ahead, identifying what you might run into that’s going to cause a problem. They start to build their confidence because they’re now experts on this topic.”

Taking on a project of this nature flexes many skills including writing and planning, constructively giving peer feedback, and setting and achieving goals—while also making a student an attractive hire or a more effective contributor in their current position.

“The student who created the toolbox for the sustainable satellite,” McCluskey says, “is actually presenting to some higher-ups in his company who have expressed interest in what he’s done. So that’s not only letting our student be seen by people up in his organization but also giving him a way forward and fast track in that sense.”

“This is a Chance to Explore Something That Interests You”

For students, these ideas for capstone projects lead to something beyond typical coursework: the freedom to explore. Instead of listening to lectures and wondering, “Will this be on the test?” EMP capstone cohorts take the reins of their interests and bring those ideas to the world with the idea of solving a problem for individuals  (teachers/mothers/first responders) or an entire industry (more sustainable satellite building for aerospace).

“This is a chance to explore something that interests you,” McCluskey says. “You’re not coming to a class prescribed exactly what you have to learn. You get to choose where you want to put your time and where your interests lie. It’s a win-win: You’re getting credit for it, and you're also coming out with something that you might personally believe in or want to move forward with.”

McCluskey is proof positive of the benefits of the capstone. She still works with advisors she knew from 30 years ago. 

She says, “You’re really developing those relationships as well, not only with your classmates through working together in peer reviews and class, but also with your advisor and other professionals you interact with over the semester.” 

“I’m their guide on this adventure,” McCluskey adds. “I bring in some guest speakers so they can learn from outside experts. I try to base the guest speakers on student interests like entrepreneurship and journal editors for publishing papers to help spark and refine student ideas. I also have lectures and guest speakers on communication best practices throughout the course, and then help them stay on track.”

Advisors, faculty or working professionals who are chosen by each student, meet with them at least five times over the semester, all the while reviewing the work. These relationships may bear fruit later in a career and provide an important sounding board for bouncing around new ideas.

And in the end, the progress made quite literally puts a capstone on the Engineering Management Program.

“It gives you confidence and pride in the culmination of your degree,” McCluskey says. “It's not just a piece of paper, you actually have a product that you've developed and the ability that you can do something like this.”

Engineering Capstone Projects: For EMP, It’s Just the Beginning

For McCluskey, this is an exciting time. Seeing the four students come through the capstone project fills her with optimism for the future of the project and, more importantly, what it offers to EMP students willing to take on the capstone and flex their engineering skills.

She sees students come in with ideas that are all over the board and then with her help along with other advisors, refine the ideas so they are manageable and attainable. It is gratifying for McCluskey to hear what the cohort had achieved at the end of this pilot program.

“We had them present to all the advisors at the end of the semester and they offered beautiful presentations,” she says. “They were high quality. They were very articulate. They answered questions. It was fun to see the advisors’ excitement with the different products.”

It could be that one student's capstone becomes the cornerstone of another student’s in the future; that it could, as McCluskey says, “spawn another idea for the next capstone. There might be somebody interested in a project that someone else did before and they could take it to the next step.”

For now, the capstone project is offered only in the spring semester, but with growing interest, it could be offered every semester.

The hope is that each session of capstone projects will spur more inspiration and more innovation.

“I was ready for some bumps along the road,” McCluskey says. “I was able to be pretty agile and move where I saw the needs that were there. So I’m really excited to learn more from these students and watch more students grow from an idea to a product they’re proud of. So I’m excited to just have more of them.”

Learn More About the EMP Capstone

To learn more, please visit the Engineering Management Program website or email [email protected] for more information about the capstone project.

Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering

College of engineering, team oars voted best aerospace engineering project at spring 2024 capstone expo.

Capstone gave 13 Aerospace Engineering teams a platform to showcase their dynamic projects

From left to right:  Assistant Professor Alvaro Romero-Calvo, Oscar Haase, Samuel Stoknes, Vishal Rachapudi, Aiden Wilson, Elliot Kantor , and AE Chair Mitchell Walker.

Team Orbital Anomaly Recovery System (OARS), a five-person team sponsored by  Intelsat, won the most outstanding aerospace engineering project at Georgia Tech’s Spring 2024 Capstone Design Expo . There were 204 teams across three colleges, from 12 schools presenting their projects before 200 judges in the McCamish Pavillion. OARS team members include Oscar Haase, Elliot Kantor, Vishal Rachapudi, Samuel Stoknes,  and Aidan Wilson .

The AE School showcased 13 teams , each tasked with tackling a sophisticated aerospace engineering challenge. Undergraduate teams opted for either space exploration, vertical lift, or fixed-wing aerospace engineering courses to guide and drive their semester-long senior projects.

OARS Team from left to right: Vishal Rachapudi, Samuel Stoknes, Oscar Haase, Elliott Kantor and Aidan Wilson

"OARS' project leverages a good fundamental understanding of space systems engineering to solve a very practical industry problem. Their work has the potential of saving millions in operational costs to their sponsor, Intelsat, and paves the way for new collaborations between our school and industry partners. Working with them and Intelsat this semester has been a real pleasure," said 

Assistant Professor Álvaro Romero-Calvo

OARS 2024 Capstone Design Expo Poster

The team worked hard and they asked good, well-thought questions. It was a pleasure and refreshing to work with them.

Joe Chan, Flight Dynamics Director at IntelSat (team sponsor)

Intelsat created the OARS Team project. The company operates numerous geostationary satellites that stay above the same point over Earth and provide communications 24 hours a day. The OARS project focused on the issue of spinning satellites and created an algorithm to detect a spinning satellite and direct it back to the correct direction. 

“Satellites may spin because of micrometeorites or even a misfired thruster. We created a simulation to provide a better workflow and a better tool for Intelesat to correct the satellite and have it point back towards Earth so that people can regain their internet access as quickly as possible,” Rachapudi said.

They used a game engine called Godot to create the visual simulation. For the math and controls, they used MATLAB on the back end.

“The simulation is for Intelsat to verify and test what the control algorithm suggests as the correct thruster firings to produce the optimal reset pattern,” Rachapudi explained. “It’s basically a tool to visualize it and see what's going on because before, Intelsat’s workflow had them just looking at graphs and telemetry data in an Excel spreadsheet. But we created a visual tool for them actually to see what's going on.”

The biggest challenge the team faced was understanding where the satellite was actually pointing while it was spinning because the sensor data only works when the satellite is pointing at Earth. 

“Basically, the center is like a camera pointing at Earth, and there's a frame. If the Earth is out of that frame, then we have no idea where it's pointing, and we can’t see Earth. So, we had to figure out how to propagate that into the future and know where it would be pointing.”

The team also had to deal with the control algorithm. Actual vehicles don’t act perfectly, so when they apply a thruster, it doesn’t act instantaneously. So implementation had to account for physical lag and physical dynamic application of the thrust. They spent long hours working to perfect it. Rachapudi credits Stoknes with playing a big part in overcoming this challenge.

“What we did couldn’t have been done without the great people we had. The win is a testament to the team,” Rachapudi concluded.

Orbital 2 with Earth

Orbital Anomaly Software

Angle Rates and Tables

Ray cast orientation and path trace

Two teams tied for the best overall project, Interdisciplinary Team  Seekr Assistive Airport Navigation and Biomedical Team  Left Atrial Files . This is the second year in a row that two teams have taken the top spot. In a video , Atlanta Mayor and Georgia Tech Engineering graduate Andre Dickens congratulated the 2024 Capstone Expo participants.

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Aerospace students showcase senior projects to explore, excavate, rescue, and investigate our world and beyond.

• Capstone Design

Capstone Projects

Wheelchair hill assist device, sma actuated safety vent for lithium-ion battery pack, drip pan sliding mechanism, modified crop duster delivery system, slb compact polymer spring compression test, retractable arm prosthetic, fsae exhaust system, novel wheel lifting device, waterproof wheelchair motor, dye penetrant arm attachments for a bike robot, centralized ac vents for temperature control, regenerative braking system for a non-electric bicycle, fsae optimization of an upright assembly for formula race car, subsea hydraulic manifold proposal, body hydration sensor, foldable ice axe, battery testing chamber, water container transportation device, optimizing large commercial bolt monitoring methods, modification of the multi-spindle to address the unequal tightening among vehicle lug nuts, overspeed trip test system, cool solar panel, pressure testing downstream of non-reclosing pressure relief devices, pipe nipple installation machine (pnim), mechanically self-tying trash can add on, remote controlled garden seeder, robotic arm attachment for concrete printing drone.

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Capstone Design

The mechanical engineering curriculum includes a Capstone Design project. It is a two-semester sequence, ME 411 and 412.

The courses include lectures and assigned work on the major topics in design. Students are organized into teams of four to six students, and each team is assigned a project for the two-semester sequence. Each team is expected to organize and carry out the design tasks. Faculty or industry sponsors serving as advisors.

We are seeking proposals for projects to assign to the student teams. Projects need to allow substantial design and conceptualization potential, not merely design changes of scale or duplication of existing systems. It must be possible to complete them within the two-semester time-frame. Based on past experience, we have found three types of projects to be effective:

• Industry projects: Industry representatives would define the project requirements and provide guidance to the student team during the semester. These projects are often those which the company needs to have completed, but either does not have the resources to complete, or is willing to treat them as “back-burner” needs. Sometimes the project can provide an opportunity for a fresh look at efforts underway within the company. The company needs to identify a resource person within the firm to answer student questions, meet with the student team periodically for progress reviews and attend the final presentation at the end of the semester. We address any requirements for confidentiality with industry sponsors when needed. (You will note that information on industry projects on the website is limited for this reason.)
• Student Extra-Curricular Projects: Our students are involved in a number of extra-curricular projects such as the Solar Car, Big Blue, SAE Formula Car, Mini-Baja and Weightless Wildcats Zero-G experiments. There are often specific design efforts that can be carved out of these projects for the Capstone design teams. These projects also have opportunities for industry participation or sponsorship.
• Student Design Competitions: There are several engineering organizations that sponsor student design competitions in addition to those such as the solar car or Mini-Baja. For example, ASME develops a new contest each year, requiring novel approaches to design and build a device to meet specific requirements. Two recent contests required students to: (1) develop a device to purify water with only human power and (2) develop a device to separate recyclable containers. The AIAA Design-Build-Fly competition is another popular contest for our students. These projects also have opportunities for industry participation or sponsorship.

Recent Projects:

During a typical year, approximately 20-30 projects are completed during Capstone Design.  Of these, about 1/2 are industry projects and the remainder are extracurricular and student design competitions. Example project results are illustrated below (note again that industry projects are not included here due to confidentiality considerations):

• Automated Air Valve Assembly
• Toyota Sand Core Automation
• Moonroof Levelness
• Solar Car Tire Changer
• Toyota Door Auto Oiler
• Speedfest VIII Alpha
• NASA Robotic Mining Competition

How you can help?

We are seeking brief proposals for possible projects for the upcoming academic year. All we need is a paragraph or two describing the project requirements. We will contact potential sponsors for any needed clarification. If the project seems to be a good fit, we will present it with other projects to student teams in late August. Sponsors will be contacted by the students during the year as they define a project plan and carry out the work.

We do not require a financial contribution to the projects. If there are substantial hardware or equipment needs, these are provided by the sponsor. Financial support is always appreciated.

If you are interested, please send a brief paragraph describing your project by August 10 for the fall semester and January 10 for the spring semester to the following:

David Herrin 155 Ralph G. Anderson Building University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0503 859-218-0638 [email protected]

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• Engineering

Top Senior Capstone Project Ideas for Aerospace Engineering Students

• Thread starter NBAJam100
• Start date Apr 28, 2009
• Tags Project Senior
• Apr 28, 2009
• New quantum error correction method uses 'many-hypercube codes' while exhibiting beautiful geometry
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go to aiaa.org and look at their student design competitions. these would serve as a great senior project. I did the air-breathing engine design competition my senior year. It was a paper design, but some of their competitions actually require building something. You should do one of these during your junior year for practice. Some of these are individual and some are team based. they have RFP's that are pretty detailed and lay out exactly what is required by the design.  

FAQ: Top Senior Capstone Project Ideas for Aerospace Engineering Students

1. what is a senior capstone project.

A Senior Capstone Project is a culminating project completed by undergraduate students in their final year of study. It is a comprehensive and multifaceted project that integrates knowledge and skills gained throughout the course of their degree program.

2. How is a Senior Capstone Project different from other projects or assignments?

A Senior Capstone Project is unique in that it requires students to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world problem or issue. It often involves conducting original research, collaborating with others, and presenting a final product or solution.

3. What are the benefits of completing a Senior Capstone Project?

Completing a Senior Capstone Project allows students to demonstrate their mastery of their field of study and showcase their skills to potential employers or graduate programs. It also provides an opportunity for students to work closely with faculty mentors and gain practical experience in their chosen field.

4. How is a topic or project for a Senior Capstone Project chosen?

The topic or project for a Senior Capstone Project is typically chosen by the student in consultation with their faculty mentor. It should align with the student's interests and strengths, and also address a relevant and meaningful issue in their field of study.

5. How long does a Senior Capstone Project typically take to complete?

The duration of a Senior Capstone Project can vary, but it typically takes one academic year to complete. However, some programs may require multiple semesters or quarters to finish the project. It is important for students to plan accordingly and set realistic timelines for their project.

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Aerospace engineering (BSE)

Apply your creativity and imagination while developing research-based technical skills and create the next generation of aerospace designs.

Every year, students from all across the globe come to Tempe to study aerospace engineering at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. With award-winning faculty on-hand to advise and produce future engineers, the aerospace program takes cross-disciplinary research to new heights through imagination and technical aptitude.

Why aerospace engineering?

Our aerospace engineering programs prepare students for a variety of professional options. Concentrations in aeronautics, astronautics and autonomous vehicle systems (AVS) offer various avenues to see air and space travel in whole new ways. Creativity, imagination and research-based technical skills all combine to drive our students to an engaging and innovative development process.

Students in our aeronautics concentration learn tasks relevant to the design and analysis of aircraft, helicopters, missiles and other atmospheric vehicles. Students studying astronautics learn topics important to the engineering of rockets and spacecraft. Together the two programs give students a rigorous technical lens in solving real and timely engineering problems.

The concentration in autonomous vehicle systems  provides students with a general exposure to engineering of autonomous aircraft and greater depth in one area of specific importance to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The depth areas, or “tracks”, are 1) guidance, navigation and control (GNC) and 2) communications. The senior capstone project consists of UAV design and development.

• ASU is among five university research teams that are funded by NASA’s Aeronautics University Leadership Initiative to explore improving aviation.
• U.S. News and World Report ranked ASU #1 in Engineering Innovation.

Extra-curricular aerospace-related activities are available to all students like the Sun Devil Satellite Lab , a team designing and building an earth-imaging satellite.

Undergraduate resources

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Program information

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Degree offered

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) with concentrations in aeronautics, astronautics, and autonomous vehicle systems (see concentration information below).

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Location Tempe

Admission requirements

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

Freshman Transfer International Readmission Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Affording college

Scholarships Find and apply for relevant scholarships.

Be sure to check out Fulton Schools’ scholarships available to both new and continuing students at engineering.asu.edu/scholarships .

Financial Aid ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact, more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of financial assistance every year.

Program objectives and outcomes

The aerospace engineering undergraduate program has the following program educational objectives:

• Employment in the aerospace or other field in a position that capitalizes on the skills and abilities gained through the degree in aerospace engineering. Graduates will hold positions of increasing responsibility and leadership within their organizations.
• Admission into, and possibly graduation from, a graduate degree program in aerospace engineering or other technical field.
• Admission into a professional degree program, such as law or business, in accordance with the specific interests and abilities of the graduate.
• Through volunteering, entrepreneurial endeavors, community service, their employment, etc., graduates of the aerospace engineering program will demonstrate commitment to the Sun Devil ideals of global engagement, social embeddedness, social transformation and sustainability.

Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering program are expected to attain the following outcomes:

(1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

(2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors

(3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

(4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

(5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives

(6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

(7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Concentrations

Students must choose one of three concentrations: aeronautics, astronautics or autonomous vehicle systems.

Below are the major maps and technical electives for each concentration. A major map outlines a major’s official requirements, elective and required courses, and optimal course sequencing to help students stay on the right track to graduation.

Aeronautics

Aerospace engineering (aeronautics), BSE

The design and construction of aircraft structures and power units within the Earth’s atmosphere.

• Upper Division Technical Electives

Astronautics

Aerospace engineering (astronautics), BSE

The science and tech behind space flight and the machines designed to exit or work entirely beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.

Autonomous vehicle systems

Aerospace engineering (autonomous vehicle systems), BSE

Learn the ins and outs of design and development for unmanned vehicle systems.

• Track Focus Courses

Accreditation

The Aerospace Engineering, BSE program at Arizona State University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org . Student enrollment and graduation data are available at  engineering.asu.edu/enrollment .

Professional licensure

for Autonomous vehicle systems concentration

ASU academic programs are designed to prepare students to apply for applicable licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet education requirements for license or certification in another state.

ASU makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification information is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, jurisprudence exams, etc. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Arizona, it is strongly recommended that you visit the ASU Professional Licensure website for contact information of the appropriate licensing entity to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements.

Capstone Projects

Grainger Engineers aren't afraid of hard work. It's how we get results. Our work is resourceful, open to partnerships, and inspires the best in others. We nurture this industrious spirit by providing our M.Eng. students with the opportunity to tackle real-world collaborative Capstone Projects.

M.Eng. students in a Capstone Program course have an exclusive opportunity to complete a one-semester project in cooperation with an industry partner. The partner provides the project and a mentor. The student, working either independently or as part of a team, is responsible for working with their industry partner to satisfy project requirements, communicate progress, and complete the assignment.

Some of our corporate partners

Benefits for Students

• Personal choice. After reviewing available projects, you connect with the industry contact letting them know you’re interested in their project.
• Develop your professional identity while showcasing passion for the industry.
• Build your professional network while working closely with your industry contact and faculty advisor throughout the semester.
• Competitive advantage: relevant industry experience is one of the top things a recruiter looks for when hiring. 

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• Fresh perspectives & energy - Gain valuable insights and tackle challenges with a team of creative problem-solvers.

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It was a pleasure working with the students, faculty and staff for the Master of Engineering Capstone Program. The students were engaged and had the needed skills. Best of all, the team was able to deliver new ideas and prototype solutions important to PPG.

Kevin P. Gallagher, Ph.D. Scientist, Corporate Science & Technology, PPG

The MEng Capstone Project has been a tremendous success, and I am delighted with the results. I am deeply grateful for the support received on this significant and influential project. The team effectively offered insights into potential machine learning models for predicting opioid-induced respiratory depression, establishing a foundation for future progress. The cooperative efforts of students, faculty, and staff facilitated an exceptionally seamless process."

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Best Capstone Project Ideas for Students across subjects

Updated 02 Sep 2024

The most challenging aspect of crafting a top-tier capstone project is often getting started. The initial hurdle involves selecting a strong, impactful topic that aligns with your strengths and academic goals. A well-chosen topic not only highlights your potential but also sets the foundation for a successful project. Conversely, a weak topic can lead to a less effective outcome. To assist you in this crucial step, we’ve compiled a list of innovative high school senior capstone ideas and capstone project examples to guide you toward the right choice.

Understanding Capstone Projects: Purpose and Application

A capstone project is a culminating academic experience typically undertaken during the final phase of a degree program. Capstone project topics span various fields, such as economics, public health, and information technology, emphasizing the importance of selecting relevant and innovative themes for academic projects. It allows students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired throughout their coursework by tackling a real-world problem or challenge within their field of study. Capstone projects are expected in undergraduate and graduate programs, especially in disciplines like engineering, business, nursing, and information technology.

These projects are often required in educational settings, including universities and professional schools, as a means to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical context. Students usually work independently or in groups under the guidance of a faculty advisor, with the project often serving as a bridge between academic learning and professional practice. The results of a capstone project can take various forms, such as a research paper, a presentation, or a physical product, and are typically presented to a panel of faculty members or industry professionals.

How to Choose the Perfect Capstone Project Topic

Selecting a topic for your capstone project is a critical step in setting the foundation for your academic endeavor. The right topic will allow you to showcase the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout your studies while addressing a real-world problem. To start, brainstorm ideas that are relevant to your field and spark your interest. This personal connection can be key to maintaining motivation throughout the project.

Consider exploring innovative capstone project ideas, especially those that tackle urgent ecological issues and encourage sustainable practices.

Next, narrowing down your ideas by reviewing the existing literature is essential. This step will help you identify gaps in current research or practice, allowing you to contribute something new and valuable to your field. A topic that is too broad can become overwhelming, so aim for a specific issue that is manageable within the scope of your project.

Finally, seek feedback from your advisor or peers to refine your topic choice. Their insights can help you avoid potential pitfalls and ensure that your topic is both challenging and achievable. By carefully selecting a well-defined, relevant, and interesting topic, you’ll set yourself up for a successful capstone project that truly reflects your academic achievements.

Capstone Project Ideas for Students

Exploring our curated list of top high school senior capstone ideas can provide valuable inspiration if you're about to embark on your capstone project. These examples from the  capstone project writing service EduBirdie offer a solid starting point for selecting a topic that aligns with your interests and academic goals. For students interested in cybersecurity, delving into specialized cybersecurity capstone project ideas within this field can be particularly rewarding, as they provide opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios in a rapidly growing industry.

Capstone Engineering Project Ideas

• Renewable Energy from Ocean Waves
• Automated Irrigation System
• 3D Printed Prosthetics
• Smart Traffic Management System
• Earthquake-Resistant Building Design
• Solar-Powered Water Purification
• Wind Turbine Optimization
• Autonomous Drone Delivery
• Green Building Design
• Smart Home Automation
• Electric Vehicle Charging Station
• Waste-to-Energy Conversion
• Hydroelectric Power Model
• Intelligent Transportation System
• Noise Pollution Control
• Self-Healing Concrete
• Low-Cost Ventilator Design
• Advanced Water Desalination
• Bridge Structural Analysis
• Smart Grid Implementation

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

• Improving Patient Safety Protocols
• Telehealth Solutions for Rural Areas
• Pain Management in Post-Operative Care
• Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections
• Enhancing Communication in Critical Care
• Mental Health Support for Nurses
• Fall Prevention Programs
• Improving Medication Administration Accuracy
• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for the Elderly
• Palliative Care for Cancer Patients
• Nutritional Support for Diabetic Patients
• Stress Management for Nursing Staff
• Increasing Vaccination Rates in Pediatrics
• Chronic Disease Prevention Strategies
• Wound Care Management at Home
• Heart Disease Patient Education Programs
• Reducing Nurse Burnout with Mindfulness
• End-of-Life Care Improvement in Nursing Homes
• Postpartum Depression Screening and Support
• Developing Pain Assessment Tools for Non-Verbal Patients

Information Technology Capstone Project Ideas

• Cybersecurity Threat Detection System
• Blockchain-Based Voting System
• AI-Powered Customer Support Chatbot
• Cloud Data Backup and Recovery System
• Smart Inventory Management System
• IoT-Based Home Security System
• E-Commerce Website Development
• Mobile App for Smart Cities
• Online Learning Management System
• Virtual Reality Training Simulator
• AI-Based Image Recognition System
• Business Intelligence Data Analytics Dashboard
• Social Media Sentiment Analysis Tool
• Augmented Reality Shopping Experience
• IoT Environmental Monitoring System
• Machine Learning Recommendation System
• Cybersecurity Awareness Training Platform
• Healthcare Data Management System
• Online Exam System with Anti-Cheating
• Voice-Activated Personal Assistant App

Computer Science Capstone Project Ideas

• AI-Based Text Summarization Tool
• Real-Time Language Translation App
• Blockchain Secure Document Sharing
• Face Recognition Attendance System
• AI Predictive Maintenance System
• Virtual Reality Game Development
• Smart Personal Assistant with Voice Commands
• Real-Time Traffic Analysis Using Computer Vision
• Automated Code Review Tool
• Cloud-Based Online IDE for Coding
• AI-Based Video Editing Software
• Deep Learning Image Classification
• Interactive Virtual Tour System
• Smart Contract Development on Ethereum
• AI Health Diagnosis System
• Chatbot for Online Customer Service
• Machine Learning Stock Market Prediction
• Secure Mobile Payment System
• NLP for Sentiment Analysis
• AI Content Recommendation Engine

MBA Capstone Project Ideas<

• Digital Marketing Strategy for Startups
• Financial Analysis of Mergers & Acquisitions
• Business Process Optimization in Manufacturing
• Customer Retention Strategies for E-Commerce
• Sustainable Business Practices in Retail
• Impact of CSR on Brand Loyalty
• Market Entry Strategy for New Products
• Analysis of Supply Chain Management
• Franchise Business Model Development
• Globalization Impact on Small Businesses
• Financial Risk Management in Banking
• HR Strategies for Remote Work
• Brand Positioning and Competitive Analysis
• Business Plan for a Social Enterprise
• Consumer Behavior in the Digital Age
• Innovation Management in Tech Companies
• Corporate Governance and Ethical Practices
• Digital Transformation in Traditional Businesses
• CRM System Development
• Strategic Planning for Business Expansion

Accounting Capstone Project Ideas

• Impact of IFRS Adoption on Financial Reporting
• Forensic Accounting Techniques for Fraud Detection
• Cost-Benefit Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Tax Planning Strategies for Small Businesses
• Financial Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions
• Role of Auditing in Corporate Governance
• Effectiveness of Internal Controls in Fraud Prevention
• Technological Advancements in Accounting
• Valuation Methods for Startups
• Sustainability Reporting Impact on Investor Decisions
• Financial Risk Management in Multinational Corporations
• Comparative Analysis of Financial Ratios Across Industries
• Economic Recession Impact on Corporate Financial Performance
• Big Data’s Role in Modern Accounting
• Ethical Issues in Financial Reporting
• Cash Flow Management in Non-Profits
• Budgeting and Forecasting in the Public Sector
• Digital Currencies Impact on Financial Reporting
• Cost Accounting in Manufacturing
• Impact of AI and Automation on the Future of Accounting

Management Capstone Project Ideas

• Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Employee Performance
• Change Management in Large Organizations
• Employee Engagement Strategies for Remote Work
• Crisis Management Planning in the Hospitality Industry
• Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Development
• Strategic Planning for Business Growth
• The Role of Corporate Culture in Business Success
• Risk Management in Project Management
• Effective Succession Planning Process
• Technology's Impact on Modern Management Practices
• Improving Decision-Making with Data Analytics
• Sustainable Management Practices in Retail
• Conflict Resolution Strategies in the Workplace
• HR Management in Multinational Corporations
• Communication Strategies in Management
• Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Employee Morale
• Supply Chain Management Effectiveness
• Developing Strategic Management Frameworks for SMEs
• Implementing Work-Life Balance Programs
• The Role of Innovation in Competitive Advantage

Education Capstone Project Ideas

• Impact of Technology on Student Engagement
• Teacher Training for Inclusive Education
• Developing Effective Special Education Programs
• Analyzing Online Learning Platform Effectiveness
• Strategies for Reducing the Achievement Gap
• The Role of Parental Involvement in Student Success
• Curriculum Development for Multicultural Classrooms
• Addressing Mental Health Issues in Schools
• Class Size Impact on Learning Outcomes
• Implementing STEM Education in Early Childhood
• Strategies for Bullying Prevention in Schools
• Impact of Standardized Testing on Education
• Teacher Retention Strategies in Urban Schools
• Project-Based Learning Implementation in High Schools
• The Role of Arts Education in Holistic Development
• Improving Literacy Rates Through Community Programs
• Supporting English Language Learners in Schools
• Socioeconomic Status Impact on Educational Outcomes
• Developing School Safety Plans
• Evaluating Teacher Evaluation Systems

Marketing Capstone Project Ideas

• Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Loyalty
• Developing a Digital Marketing Strategy for E-Commerce
• Consumer Behavior Analysis in the Fashion Industry
• The Role of Influencer Marketing in Brand Promotion
• Market Segmentation for New Product Launches
• Content Marketing’s Effect on Customer Engagement
• Brand Positioning Strategies for Startups
• Effectiveness of Email Marketing Campaigns
• Role of Big Data in Personalized Marketing
• Cultural Differences Impact on Global Marketing
• Customer Retention in Subscription Services
• Ethical Considerations in Advertising
• Impact of Pricing Strategies on Consumer Perception
• Sustainable Marketing Strategy Development
• Effectiveness of Guerrilla Marketing Tactics
• Mobile Marketing’s Influence on Consumer Behavior
• Role of Public Relations in Crisis Management
• Social Media Content Strategy for B2B Companies
• Video Marketing’s Impact on Consumer Engagement
• Virtual Reality in Experiential Marketing

High School Capstone Project Ideas

• Exploring Renewable Energy Solutions for Schools
• Designing an Anti-Bullying Campaign
• The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
• Developing a Community Garden for Sustainable Living
• Creating a High School Recycling Program
• The Role of Music in Cognitive Development
• Exploring the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Students
• Developing a Peer Tutoring Program
• Analyzing the Impact of Technology on Study Habits
• Creating a School Safety Plan
• Investigating Local Water Quality
• Designing a Mobile App for School Events
• The Impact of School Uniforms on Student Behavior
• Exploring Historical Events Through Virtual Reality
• Analyzing the Effects of Nutrition on Academic Performance
• Developing a Mental Health Awareness Campaign
• Studying the Impact of Extracurricular Activities on Student Success
• Designing an Eco-Friendly Transportation Plan for Students
• Exploring the Effects of Video Games on Cognitive Skills
• Creating a Financial Literacy Program for Teens

Capstone projects provide students with a valuable opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-world problems, effectively bridging the gap between theory and practice. Whether in fields like engineering, nursing, information technology, or business management, these projects demand creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students demonstrate their expertise by addressing complex challenges—such as renewable energy, telehealth implementation, or digital marketing strategies—and contribute innovative solutions to their industries.

Capstone projects culminate students' academic journeys, enabling them to integrate and apply their knowledge in practical ways. Whether focused on technology development, educational improvement, or business optimization, these projects empower students to significantly contribute to their fields, preparing them for professional success and advancing industry practices.

However, tackling a capstone project is a complex task that not everyone can manage alone. If you're struggling, law essay writing service EduBirdie is here to help you succeed, ensuring that your hard work results in the highest grades possible.

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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Northeastern grads engineer tube-bending prototypes to streamline electricians’ work

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Tubender, which creates multiple bends on a continuous length of tubing, was created as a senior capstone engineering project.

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Electricians install metal conduit in buildings every day to protect electrical wiring from damage and mitigate fire hazards. 

As they route the wiring, electricians need to bend the conduit, but there are no quick and easy solutions to do this on site. They can use a manual tube bender or a simple-powered device to make a single bend at a time — or they can ship the conduit to a prefabrication shop that bends and cuts it to specification. 

These approaches are inefficient and wasteful, say Jaison Patel and Joshua Baum, mechanical engineers and recent Northeastern University graduates, who are working to bring a programmable and portable tube-bending machine to market. 

Their startup company that is  developing the machine is called Tubender . The original prototype, which creates multiple bends on a continuous length of tubing, was created as a senior capstone engineering project.    

“You get to program in all of the bends that you want to do in the tube,” Patel says. “You start the program, and it creates all those bends in one go, so you don’t have to keep readjusting the tube. There’s a lot less room for error.”

Metal tubing has a lot of applications, Patel says. In the future, he says, their machine can potentially be used in other fields, such as by the automotive, aerospace, architecture, furniture, building or shipbuilding industries.

“We can currently already bend copper, aluminum and steel [tubes]. We’re not really limited on the material,” he says.​​

The first prototype was created by Patel and four other engineering students in the fall of 2022. After they completed the capstone project, most of the students moved on. But Patel saw potential in the idea beyond the classroom and pursued it as a business. 

Patel met Baum, a 2023 Northeastern mechanical engineering graduate, through a mutual friend, and together they co-founded Tubender.

“Jaison has been shifting more into the business development role and running the whole operations of the company,” Baum says. “That’s why he brought me on to take care of the technical side.”

In reality, both are doing a little bit of everything, he says, as there is a lot to do at this stage of their business.

The partners decided to focus on targeting commercial electricians.

For the last year they have been developing a modified and improved second prototype. Unlike 20-foot stationary machines at prefabrication shops, the Tubender is about 5 feet long and can fit into the back of a pickup truck.

“With our machine, they can bend everything on site. They have access to that technology on site, instead of having to do all that back and forth with shipping the tubes,” Patel says.

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Tubender’s journey has been supported by Northeastern’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. The startup has benefited from several programs and resources, including the Husky Startup Challenge , where it won initial funding, and Generate , a student-led product development studio that helped with software and hardware development.

Recently, Tubender secured a grant from the Alpha Fund, an advanced prototyping fund at Northeastern open to graduate students, graduates, staff and faculty.

The next critical step for the company will be to get the prototype into the hands of potential users — commercial electricians. The feedback from these early adopters will be crucial in refining the product and ensuring its commercial viability.

“We’re not trying to be the cheapest solution. We’re trying to be the best,” Patel says.

As they continue to build their business, Patel and Baum are also gearing up to attract future investors.

While at Northeastern, Baum’s co-ops were at a particulate measurement solutions manufacturer Auburn FilterSense as a manufacturing engineer, and at a California-based startup, Takachar , where he worked closely with the CEO on turning excess biowaste into fuel. 

“That was really where I fell in love with the idea of working at a startup,” Baum says. “And when I got the opportunity to meet Jaison and decided to start my own company, there was no hesitation there.”

Patel completed three co-ops — as a custom product design engineer at a mechanical testing machines manufacturer, Instron ; at a metal 3D printing company, Desktop Metal ; and at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory , where he worked on designing parts for the landing legs of the Sample Retrieval Lander for the Mars Sample Return mission.

“I liked all the experiences and they were very valuable, but they taught me what I didn’t love to do,” Patel says. “I just like to work in a smaller team, move fast and wear a bunch of hats.”

“We really believe in what we’re doing right now and know that we can take this really far,” he says.

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