Aerospace Group Design Project

University of Surrey; Reading; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

Groups of students carry out a complete aerospace vehicle design study, in response to a project customer need. Each student group will first complete a system requirements review, considering functional, performance and regulatory requirements.

In the next phase, the group evolves an initial concept to address these requirements, considering technology maturity levels, leading to a preliminary design review. In the final phase, the baseline design is refined and matured, leading to a critical design review.

Team organisation, planning and project decisions are controlled by the group. Project tasks are progressed through a mix of individual and team working. Group and individual activities are communicated to the project customers through weekly meetings, minutes of meetings, oral presentation and reporting.

Each member should demonstrate integrated team working, technical achievement, task leadership and chairing/minuting of meetings.

Assessment Pattern

Assessment type: Unit of assessment - Weighting.

• Coursework SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS REVIEW (SRR) - 10
• Coursework PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW (PDR) - 25
• Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) PERFORMANCE SEMESTER 1 - 20
• Coursework CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW (CDR) - 25
• Oral exam or presentation ORAL PRESENTATION AND DEFENCE - 5
• Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) PERFORMANCE SEMESTER 2 - 15

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• ability to understand, identify and document functional, performance and regulatory requirements (SRR)
• ability to evolve a solution, against a set of requirements, through initial concept ideas, down-selection, outline design (PDR) and detailed refinement (CDR)
• ability to work effectively in a group, together with demonstrating specific task leadership and planning
• ability to develop new individual skills, understanding and knowledge
• ability to present work clearly and concisely

Learning and Teaching Methods

Introductory lecture to highlight the differing project phases, how assessment is carried out, the role of the project customers and what is expected from students. Subsequent lectures are provided during the early stages of the project and include systems engineering processes, regulatory frameworks and relevant topics in aerospace vehicle design.

Weekly meetings between each student group and one or more module staff acting as project customers. All group members should present progress each week, enabling customers to feedback through comments, questions and constructive criticism.

Employability

This module provides students with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate professional skills which are central to a career in aerospace engineering. Students will gain a working knowledge of the lifecycle stages of a complex aerospace vehicle design, using a systems engineering approach.

Digital Capabilities

As a member of a group tackling a complex engineering design, students will address numerous project activities that arise, within which various software capabilities may be relevant.

Global and Cultural Responsibilities

Allocation of students to each project group is random, so all students will experience working with a new team of people. This will require students to engage effectively and respect the interests of people from various backgrounds and cultures.

Sustainability

The project briefs provided to students at the start of the project represent real world aerospace vehicle design challenges, within which sustainability is central, alongside performance, cost, risk etc.